Getting the truck size wrong on moving day is one of the most avoidable problems in a house move — and it causes real headaches. Too small and you’re making two trips (and paying for the extra travel time). Too large and you’ve overpaid for unnecessary capacity.
Here’s a practical guide to moving truck sizes for Perth home moves in 2026, including what fits in each size and how to choose the right one for your home.
Moving Truck Sizes Available in Perth
Perth removalist companies typically operate trucks in these categories:
| Truck Type | Approximate Volume | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Small van (3–4m³) | Cargo van / Transit | Studio or single-room move, urgent items |
| 4.5 tonne truck | ~25–30m³ | 1–2 bedroom apartment or small home |
| 6.5 tonne truck | ~35–45m³ | 2–3 bedroom home (standard) |
| 8–10 tonne truck | ~50–60m³ | 3–4 bedroom home |
| Dual truck operation | 70m³+ | Large 4–5+ bedroom home |
These volume figures are approximate — actual usable volume depends on how furniture is loaded, how much disassembly happens, and how efficiently the truck is packed. Professional removalists consistently fit more into a given truck than most homeowners expect.
Room-by-Room Estimate Guide
The most accurate way to estimate truck size is to count what you’re moving, not just the number of bedrooms. Two 3-bedroom homes can vary enormously in furniture volume.
Here’s a rough guide to cubic metres per room type:
| Room / Area | Estimated m³ |
|---|---|
| Single bedroom | 5–8 m³ |
| Double bedroom (standard furniture) | 8–12 m³ |
| Master bedroom with walk-in | 12–18 m³ |
| Living room (sofa, TV unit, coffee table) | 10–16 m³ |
| Dining room (table + 6 chairs, sideboard) | 6–10 m³ |
| Kitchen (appliances + boxes) | 5–8 m³ |
| Home office | 5–10 m³ |
| Bathroom (boxes only) | 1–2 m³ |
| Laundry (washer + dryer + boxes) | 3–5 m³ |
| Garage / shed (tools, bikes, equipment) | 5–20 m³+ |
Add these up and add a 20% buffer for boxes, oddly shaped items, and packing materials.
Quick Reference: Home Size vs Truck Size for Perth Moves
| Home Size | Recommended Truck |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom apartment | 4.5T (25–30m³) |
| 2 bedroom apartment or small home | 4.5T–6.5T |
| 3 bedroom home (average furnishings) | 6.5T (35–45m³) |
| 3 bedroom home (fully furnished, garage) | 8T or two trucks |
| 4 bedroom home | 8–10T, possibly two trucks |
| 5+ bedroom home | Two trucks |
A 3-bedroom home is the most variable category. A sparsely furnished share house with minimal belongings may fit in a 6.5T. A fully furnished family home with a double garage, outdoor furniture, a trampoline, and years of accumulated belongings may need two trucks.
What Affects Truck Efficiency?
Disassembly
Furniture that’s been disassembled loads significantly more efficiently than assembled items. A queen bed frame, for example, takes roughly twice the truck space assembled compared to broken down into flat components. IKEA-style furniture in particular loads in a fraction of the assembled volume.
At Local Removal, we offer furniture assembly and disassembly as part of our service — this directly affects how efficiently a truck is used.
Number of Boxes
Boxes, especially small and medium boxes packed tightly, fill the gaps around large furniture very efficiently. A professional load with many boxes typically achieves much better volume utilisation than a load heavy on large furniture with few boxes.
Unusual Items
Some items take up disproportionate truck space relative to their value:
- Trampolines (especially large) — can take 3–4m³ depending on whether they disassemble
- Large outdoor furniture — particularly umbrella tables and large lounges
- Ride-on mowers or motorbikes — require secure floor space
- Kayaks, surfboards, and long sporting equipment — awkward to stack, take significant linear space
The Two-Trip Question
Sometimes two trips are unavoidable — but more often they’re the result of underestimating truck size or inadequate disassembly.
The problem with two trips in Perth is the travel time. Perth is a large, spread-out city. A second trip from Joondalup to Canning Vale — just as an example — adds 90 minutes of travel to the job, charged at the full hourly rate.
Two trips from Osborne Park to a nearby suburb might add only 30–40 minutes. Distance matters enormously in Perth when a second trip comes up.
The calculation is simple: the incremental cost of a larger truck upfront vs the cost of a second trip in travel time. In most cases, the larger truck is more economical.
When Two Trucks Make More Sense Than One Large Truck
For very large Perth homes — particularly 4–5 bedroom homes with full garages — two trucks with two crews working simultaneously can be faster than one very large truck with a larger crew.
Two crews can load in parallel, travel simultaneously, and unload at the same time. The job can be done in less elapsed time, which may save enough in hourly charges to offset the cost of the second truck.
This is a conversation worth having with your removalist if you have a large home.
Getting the Right Advice From Your Perth Removalist
A good Perth removalist will ask the right questions during quoting to recommend the correct truck size. Be ready to tell them:
- How many bedrooms and what furniture is in each
- Whether you have a garage, shed, or outdoor area to move
- Whether any furniture will be disassembled
- Any unusually large or awkward items
- Whether you’re doing any decluttering before the move
If a removalist recommends a truck size without asking these questions, that’s a flag — they’re guessing, and the guess may not be right on moving day.
Need a Truck and Team for Your Perth Move?
At Local Removal, we’ll recommend the right truck size for your home after asking the right questions. We’re based in Osborne Park and cover the full Perth metro area.