What Size Van Do I Need for a Delivery?
Picking the wrong van either leaves your goods behind or costs more than necessary. This guide matches common loads to the right vehicle so you can book with confidence.
Small van (around 2.3–2.9 m³)
Small vans carry boxes, bags and compact equipment — roughly 25–35 archive boxes or a few hundred kilograms. They cannot take a euro pallet because the load bay is too narrow. Best for city-centre jobs where parking is tight and the load is genuinely small.
SWB and MWB vans (around 5.8–8 m³)
Short wheelbase vans take a single euro pallet and around 800–1,000 kg. Medium wheelbase vans add roughly 30 cm of length for long boxes and light two-pallet loads. If your delivery is palletised, this is where the van range starts.
LWB and XLWB vans (around 9.6–15 m³)
Long wheelbase vans carry two to three pallets and are the standard choice for bulky multi-box deliveries. Extra long wheelbase vans extend the body to around 4.2 metres of load length — ideal for pipes, boards and rolls rather than extra weight.
Luton van and 7.5T lorry (around 17 m³ and up)
Luton vans suit furniture, house moves and four to five pallets, and often include a tail lift. A 7.5 tonne lorry is the step up for heavy freight — around 2,400–3,500 kg payload and 8–12 pallets. If your load weighs more than a tonne or spans more than four pallets, compare a 7.5T quote.
Still unsure? Match by load
Documents and small parcels: motorbike or car. Boxes up to around 350 kg: small van. One pallet: SWB van. Long items up to 3 m: MWB. Two to three pallets: LWB or XLWB. Furniture or four-plus pallets: Luton van or 7.5T lorry. When in doubt, describe the load in your booking and compare quotes for two vehicle sizes — the price difference will tell you which is worth it.
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