Box Truck Sizes and Dimensions by Cargo Capacity

Common box truck sizes include 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 24 and 26 feet. Smaller trucks suit compact deliveries, while larger bodies provide more room for furniture, business inventory and palletized freight. Some fleets also offer longer options, including U-Haul’s 29-foot moving truck.

A box truck has an enclosed cargo body mounted on the same chassis as its cab. It is a type of straight truck. The advertised length usually describes the cargo body, while the vehicle’s overall length also includes the cab.

To select a truck, check its usable cargo dimensions, door opening, payload and loading equipment. This guide compares published U.S. rental examples. Specifications and licensing requirements differ by vehicle and country.

What are the common box truck sizes for commercial use?

For planning, compare three broad groups: 10–12 feet for compact loads, 15–20 feet for furniture and smaller delivery routes, and 22–26 feet for larger shipments. These are size groups, not official weight classes. A truck’s weight rating and configuration determine its class.

Common box truck sizes and dimensions chart

The figures below belong to specific provider examples. They are not universal specifications for every truck of that length. Capacity figures are the providers’ published volumes and maximum loads, not calculations from the listed dimensions.

Published dimensions can include space above the cab or other areas that do not form a full-height rectangular floor. For pallets and long items, confirm the uninterrupted floor length. Do not assume that multiplying the advertised length, width and height reproduces the supplier’s usable-volume figure.

How do box truck dimensions affect cargo capacity and payload?

Cargo volume measures available space in cubic feet. Payload measures the weight the vehicle can carry. A longer body can increase volume without increasing the cargo weight allowance.

For example, Penske lists 1,200 cubic feet for its 22-foot moving truck and 1,700 cubic feet for its 26-foot moving truck, with a 10,000-pound maximum load for both. The larger truck offers more room for bulky freight, but no additional published weight allowance in that comparison.

Check four separate limits:

Interior dimensions determine whether the shipment fits inside.

The rear-door opening determines whether each item can enter.

Payload and axle limits determine whether the weight is acceptable.

The liftgate, ramp and floor ratings determine how the freight can be loaded.

For a dispatch calculation, subtract the truck’s actual ready-to-load weight from its GVWR. That weight should include fuel, occupants, installed equipment and tools. The remaining difference is only a gross-weight allowance: axle, tire, body, equipment and other applicable limits may allow less cargo.

As a hypothetical example, a truck rated at 26,000 pounds and weighing 16,500 pounds before freight is loaded has 9,500 pounds of remaining gross-weight allowance. It cannot carry a 10,000-pound shipment simply because the body has enough space.

Which companies offer box truck sizes for delivery businesses?

Penske, Enterprise Truck Rental, Ryder and U-Haul offer different combinations of truck sizes and loading features. The best fit depends on the cargo, loading location, rental terms and vehicles available locally. Use the comparison below as a shortlist, then confirm the exact unit.

For deliveries to a warehouse, confirm deck height and dock compatibility. For a customer without a dock, confirm the liftgate’s platform size and rated capacity. A truck with enough cubic space can still be unsuitable if the loading equipment does not match the freight.

What box truck sizes suit small moving businesses?

A small moving business can begin by comparing 12–16-foot trucks for compact jobs and 20–26-foot trucks for larger inventories. Select the vehicle from a measured inventory, expected weight, access conditions and number of trips.

These are planning starting points, not fit guarantees. Rental companies use different room and bedroom estimates, and a home office or garage can add substantial cargo. Confirm each item’s dimensions and include protective packaging, moving equipment and crew in the load plan.

Where can you find detailed box truck specifications?

Start with the rental company’s official vehicle page and comparison chart, then request the specifications for the actual truck assigned to the job. For a purchased or custom-built vehicle, obtain both the chassis specification and the body builder’s drawing.

Ask for clear interior length, width and height; rear-door clearance; continuous floor length; exterior height and total vehicle length; GVWR and axle ratings; ready-to-load weight; and liftgate or ramp limits. Record whether any quoted dimensions describe the body exterior rather than its usable interior.

For a larger shipment, see our 26-foot box truck dimensions and capacity guide for more detail on loading and freight preparation.

How should you choose a box truck for palletized freight?

Measure the complete loaded pallets, including overhang and wrapping. Confirm their weights, whether they can be stacked, and the space needed to secure them. Then check the floor layout and door clearance against the assigned truck.

A simple floor-plan example shows why dimensions matter. Twelve 48-by-40-inch pallets arranged two across and six rows deep occupy 80 inches of width and 288 inches of length before loading clearance or restraints are allowed for. This is a geometric example, not a guaranteed capacity for every 26-foot truck.

Weight may be the tighter limit. Twelve loaded pallets weighing 900 pounds each total 10,800 pounds. That exceeds a truck’s 10,000-pound cargo allowance even if the floor plan fits. Splitting the load or choosing a suitably rated vehicle would be necessary.

Confirm the receiver’s dock or ground-level unloading arrangement before dispatch. If a shipment needs to be divided between smaller delivery vehicles, cross-docking can support the transfer. If unstable or oversized pallet loads need adjustment, ask about pallet rework.

Need to transfer or store freight before delivery?

OLIMP Warehousing Solutions connects businesses with warehousing and logistics providers for cross-docking, short- and long-term storage, pallet rework and freight redelivery. If your load needs to be transferred, held between appointments or prepared for another delivery attempt, share the location, pallet dimensions, total weight and required timing with our team.

Contact OLIMP about warehousing and freight support.