Truck Size Matters More Than People Think
Choosing the right truck size for your Ottawa move directly impacts cost, time, and risk. Too small means multiple trips (doubling time and cost) or items left behind. Too large means paying for unused capacity. The right size enables a single-trip move with everything safely transported.
For DIY rentals, size selection is your responsibility. Most rental companies provide rough guidelines but don't help you actually estimate. For professional movers, the company handles truck selection — but understanding the logic helps you verify they're sending appropriate equipment.
Truck size also affects access at your homes. Large trucks may not fit in suburban driveways, narrow Ottawa downtown streets, or condo loading zones — sometimes a slightly smaller truck (or two trips with a smaller truck) is the only option.
Truck Sizes Available in Ottawa
Standard truck sizes available in Ottawa for 2026:
- Cargo van (250-400 cubic feet): Studio apartment, single rooms, box-only moves.
- 10-foot truck (400-500 cubic feet): Studio or 1-bedroom apartment, small loads.
- 15-foot truck (700-900 cubic feet): 1-bedroom apartment, small 2-bedroom.
- 17-20 foot truck (1000-1200 cubic feet): 2-3 bedroom apartment, small home.
- 22-24 foot truck (1300-1500 cubic feet): 3-bedroom home, small townhome.
- 26-foot truck (1700-1900 cubic feet): 3-4 bedroom home, most homes.
- 28-30+ foot tractor-trailer (2500-3500+ cubic feet): Large homes, luxury moves, long-distance.
Truck Size Recommendations by Home Size
General recommendations (assumes typical furniture and possessions):
- Studio / bachelor: 10-15 foot truck
- 1-bedroom apartment: 15-17 foot truck
- 2-bedroom apartment: 17-20 foot truck
- 3-bedroom apartment / townhome: 20-22 foot truck
- 3-bedroom detached home: 22-26 foot truck
- 4-bedroom detached home: 26-foot truck or two 22-foot trucks
- 5+ bedroom luxury home: 28-foot truck or 26+22 combination
Adjust upward for: hobby collections (books, music, sports equipment), large furniture (king beds, sectionals), workshops, garages.
How Professional Movers Calculate Truck Size
Professional Ottawa movers calculate truck size from in-home estimates, weight estimates from inventory, and historical data from similar moves. Most use 7-12 cubic feet per "average" furniture item plus 1-1.5 cubic feet per box.
For a 3-bedroom home with typical possessions:
- 15-20 large furniture pieces × 8 cubic feet = 120-160 cubic feet
- 50-80 boxes × 1.2 cubic feet = 60-96 cubic feet
- Plus loose items, lamps, awkward pieces = 100-200 cubic feet
- Total: 280-456 cubic feet — fits in 22-26 foot truck with proper loading
Movers add 20-30% buffer for inefficient loading, awkward items, and discoveries during loading. This is why a "20-foot worth of stuff" often gets a 22-foot truck.
Multiple Trip Considerations
Sometimes a multi-trip move with a smaller truck makes sense over a single-trip with a larger truck:
- Origin and destination both in tight urban Ottawa areas where large trucks can't access
- Long-distance moves where smaller trucks have better fuel economy
- Moves with significant breakdown by destination (some items to storage, some to new home)
- When the largest available truck still wouldn't fit everything in one trip
Multi-trip moves typically take 30-60% more time than single-trip moves of the same volume. They also add fuel cost and may require additional crew time. For most 2-bedroom and larger Ottawa moves, single-trip with appropriate truck size is the most cost-effective choice.
DIY Rental Truck Tips
If renting a truck for a DIY Ottawa move:
- Reserve early: Truck inventory limited at month-end and summer weekends.
- Inspect before driving: Document any existing damage with photos.
- Practice driving: 22-26 foot trucks handle very differently from cars. Drive an empty truck around quiet streets before loading.
- Confirm height clearance: Most rental trucks are 11-13 feet tall — check route bridges and underpasses.
- Buy insurance: Personal auto policies don't cover rental trucks. Rental company insurance is expensive but necessary.
- Return on time: Late return fees are punitive ($30-$100 per day plus fuel).
- Refuel before return: Rental company refueling charges are 50-100% above retail price.
Loading Efficiency Tips
Maximize truck capacity through proper loading:
- Load heaviest items first along the cab wall (mattresses, dressers, washer/dryer)
- Place boxes against the load on top of furniture and along walls
- Pack mattresses upright between heavy items, not flat
- Use awkward items (mirrors, headboards) as wall cushioning between heavy pieces
- Build "tiers" floor-to-ceiling, not just floor-loaded with empty space above
- Strap each tier to truck wall before loading the next
- Reserve last-loaded space for unboxed items, lamps, and final-pack items