How to Choose the Right Truck Size for Your Move: A Practical Sizing Guide for Melbourne’s East

Assess Your Home Size and Contents

Hiring a truck that's too small means multiple trips and wasted time, while one that's too large drains your budget on unnecessary rental costs.

The first step in choosing the right truck is understanding what you're actually moving. Walk through your home and identify all furniture and boxes. A good rule of thumb is that a small one-bedroom apartment typically requires a 2-3 cubic metre truck, while a 3-4 bedroom house usually needs 5-8 cubic metres or more. Consider not just large items like lounges and beds, but also kitchen appliances, wardrobes, and storage boxes—these smaller items add up quickly.

Take photos of your major furniture pieces and create a simple inventory list. Measure oversized items like refrigerators, dining tables, and entertainment units, as these take up significant space and can dictate which truck size you'll need. Don't underestimate the volume of boxes—a typical bedroom can fill 15-20 moving boxes, and three bedrooms means 45-60 boxes before you even count kitchen items and garage contents.

Calculate Cubic Metres Based on Room Count

A practical calculation method is to estimate by bedroom count. One-bedroom homes typically require 2-3 cubic metres, two-bedroom homes need 3-5 cubic metres, three-bedroom homes require 5-7 cubic metres, and four-bedroom homes usually need 7-10 cubic metres. These figures assume standard furniture loads without excessive clutter or oversized special items. If you have a garage full of tools or garden equipment, add an extra cubic metre to your estimate.

Keep in mind that furniture arrangement matters too. A sparsely furnished modern home might fit in a smaller truck than a traditionally furnished home of the same size. Ask the team at Global Truck Rentals about your specific situation—they can provide recommendations based on what you're moving. It's always better to have a little extra space than to run out halfway through loading.

Account for Special Items and Multiple Trips

Some moves involve items that require special consideration. Pianos, pool tables, large artwork, or vintage furniture pieces might need extra space or careful positioning. If you're moving fragile items or antiques, you may want a slightly larger truck to allow for proper padding and secure placement rather than cramming everything tightly. Heavy items also affect how efficiently space is used—a truckload of dense furniture fills the space faster than a load of lightweight boxes.

Consider whether a single trip is realistic or if multiple trips make more sense financially. Sometimes two trips in a smaller, cheaper truck cost less than one trip in a large truck, especially for shorter moves within the Croydon, Ringwood, or Mooroolbark areas. Calculate the distance and petrol costs alongside rental fees to determine the most economical option. Global Truck Rentals' team can help you weigh these options based on your specific moving requirements.

Right-Size Your Decision: Tips to Avoid Costly Mistakes

Before finalizing your truck rental, use a detailed checklist: photograph your home and furniture, measure doorways and hallways at your new location (ensuring your large items will actually fit through), and honestly assess your packing timeline. If you're packing gradually over several weeks, you'll need more space to store boxes in the truck. If you're packing everything in 48 hours, a tighter load is feasible. Discuss your moving timeline with the rental team to get honest advice about capacity.

Ask about truck dimensions, internal height clearance, and weight limits—not just cubic metres. Some furniture items are awkwardly shaped rather than dense, and knowing the truck's interior height matters for tall bookcases or wardrobes. Get a quote for your estimated size, but also ask what the upgrade cost would be if you need to change sizes on moving day. Having flexibility can save stress and give you peace of mind. For residents across Warrandyte, Kilsyth, Bayswater, and Chirnside Park, booking your truck with experienced local operators ensures you get honest sizing advice tailored to east Melbourne moving conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Measure the width and height of both your current doorways and those at your new location before moving day. Measure furniture diagonally and lengthwise—sometimes a lounge or bed needs to go through at an angle. Visit your new home beforehand if possible and photograph doorways and hallway widths to compare against your furniture dimensions.

One large trip is typically faster but may cost more in rental and fuel. Two smaller trips give you more flexibility and can be cheaper depending on distance, though they require more time and coordination. Calculate total costs including fuel and your labour time to determine which option suits your budget and schedule.

Yes—truck rentals have weight limits you must respect for safety and legal reasons. Overloading affects braking, handling, and tire integrity. Discuss weight distribution with your rental provider, and avoid stacking boxes excessively high where they could shift during transport.

Contact your rental company immediately—some providers offer same-day upgrades or can dispatch an additional small truck. This is why booking with local, responsive companies in the eastern suburbs makes sense. Having a contingency plan or choosing a slightly larger truck upfront provides peace of mind.

Get Your Moving Truck Sized Right

Let Global Truck Rentals help you choose the perfect size for your east Melbourne move.

What Our Customers Say

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Elliot Jackson
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Couldnt recommend enough! Small family run business that offers reasonable pricing. Truck was great & will certainly use these guys again. Worth calling if you are needing help.
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Richard Fraser
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Used Gary many times for truck and van hire, top bloke honest and very easy to deal with, nothing ever to much trouble. Very flexible and helpful
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Staycee Remminga
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Fantastic service was able to organise a truck for us on short notice. Truck was clean and in good condition. Very friendly. Highly recommend.
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Fiona Fitzgerald
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Gary is a legend. The team are very easy going. Made the rental process a breeze. Trucks are in great condition. Would 100% use their services again. Thanks guys
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Ali shirazi
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My dad and I needed a truck for moving and heard about these guys through word of mouth. Honestly, best rental experience we’ve had. The team is super friendly, easy to deal with, and really know their stuff. The trucks are in top shape, clean, and reliable. Booking was a breeze, and the whole process was stress-free. If you’re in the area and need a rental, these are the guys to go to. 10/10, couldn’t recommend them more.
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Tania Lock
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I have used Global Truck Rentals 5-6 times over the last 20 years and have always found them friendly, helpful and very competitive on price. This past weekend I again hired a truck to move and Garry the legend went above and beyond with his customer service! I highly recommend these guys to anyone that needs a truck rental.
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Costa Gatsios
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Good experience, truck was a bit tired but it did the job.
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Jasmine Robertson
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Gary was incredible, as a young female going into men run businesses it can be intimidating. But Gary made me feel so welcomed and also went above and beyond for my request. Thankyou Gary
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John S
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Truck rental was easy, got a brand new truck for our move. Preauthorisation for extra km's etc was returned in 2days like every other pre-auth. Great service and would use again.
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