Moving box sizes
what the rental brands sell
The dimensions the moving-truck brands publish themselves, with the volume worked out in every unit, what each box would bill at, and how many fit on a pallet.
U-Haul's five standard boxes
Dimensions and cubic feet as U-Haul states them on each product page. “Our page” links to the full breakdown for that size where we have one.
| Box | Dimensions | ft³ (calculated) | ft³ (U-Haul) | Liters | DIM ÷139 | Per pallet | Our page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-Haul Book Box | 12 × 12 × 12 in | 1 | 1 | 28.3 | 13 lb | 60 | full breakdown → |
| U-Haul Small Moving Box | 16 3/8 × 12 5/8 × 12 5/8 in | 1.51 | 1.5 | 42.8 | 19 lb | 24 | — |
| U-Haul Medium Moving Box | 18 1/8 × 18 × 16 in | 3.02 | 3 | 85.5 | 38 lb | 12 | — |
| U-Haul Large Moving Box | 18 × 18 × 24 in | 4.5 | 4.5 | 127.4 | 56 lb | 8 | full breakdown → |
| U-Haul Extra-Large Moving Box | 24 × 18 × 24 in | 6 | 6 | 169.9 | 75 lb | 8 | full breakdown → |
Rules verified 22 Sep 2026 · sources: U-Haul — standard moving boxes
Per pallet: a simple column stack on a 48 × 40 in pallet, 60 in of boxes, no overhang — try other pallets and patterns. Penske and the other rental brands sell small, medium and large boxes but don't publish dimensions, so they aren't listed here.
Small boxes for heavy things
The rule movers use: books, tools and tinned food go in the smallest box, linens and lampshades in the biggest. A box of books at 18 × 18 × 24 in weighs more than most people can lift, while the same box full of duvets is nothing. Pack to a weight you can carry, not to the top of the box.
For an estimate of how many boxes a whole home needs, and the truck size that follows from it, use the moving volume calculator. If you're shipping rather than moving, the box finder ranks standard sizes by what a carrier would bill.