Truck sizes
10 to 12 ft truck: what fits, and how U-Haul, Penske and Budget compare
A 10 to 12 ft truck fits a studio or a small one-bedroom, about one to two rooms. The difference that matters is published length and volume: Penske lists 12 ft and 450 cubic feet, Budget lists a printed interior of 10 ft and 380 cubic feet, and U-Haul lists 9 ft 11 in and 402 cubic feet.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 2026-09-28
- Cargo vanA dorm, a studio, or a few big items246 to 404 cu ft
- 10 to 12 ft truckA studio or a small one-bedroom380 to 450 cu ft
- 15 to 16 ft truckA one or two bedroom apartment658 to 800 cu ft
- 20 to 22 ft truckA two to three bedroom home1,016 to 1,200 cu ft
- 26 ft truckA three to five bedroom home1,682 to 1,700 cu ft
Who this size fits
the mattress can decide the truck before the room count does
A studio or small one-bedroom. This size is meant for one to two rooms, not a full apartment of heavy furniture. U-Haul says its 10 ft truck fits a king bed. Budget says its 12 ft is not for a king bed, so the mattress can decide the truck before the room count does. If the load is mostly boxes and a few pieces, the smaller box is enough.
Size up when the second room is full. A sofa plus a bed plus boxes can fill 380 to 450 cubic feet faster than the room count suggests. Size down only if you are moving a true studio with little furniture, and you have already checked the truck size calculator. Specs vary by model year and location, so confirm the posted interior before you book the smaller truck.
Published specs at this size, from each brand's own truck page, read 28 Sep 2026. Specs vary by model year and location: check the truck at pickup.
| U-Haul 10' truck | Penske 12' truck | Budget 12' truck | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside (L × W × H) | 9'11" × 6'3" × 6'1" | 12' × 6'6" × 6'1" | 10' × 6'3" × 6' |
| Cargo volume | 402 cu ft | 450 cu ft | 380 cu ft |
| Max load | 2,850 lb | 3,100 lb | 3,610 lb |
| Door opening (W × H) | 5'11" × 5'7" | Not published | 5'11" × 5'5" |
| Loading ramp | None | None | None |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline, 33 gal tank | Gasoline, 35 gal tank |
| Miles per gallon (brand estimate) | Up to 12 | Up to 12 | 8 to 14 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Towing | Up to 6,000 lb | Not offered or not published | Not offered or not published |
| Clearance height | 9 ft | Not published | 9 ft |
| Fits | A studio or one-bedroom apartment | One to two rooms | One to two rooms or a studio |
Sources: U-Haul 10' truck (brand spec page); Penske 12' truck (brand spec page); Budget 12' truck (Sold as 12 ft; Budget prints a 10 ft interior length.).
How the brands differ
U-Haul tows up to 6,000 lb, and Penske cannot tow
Cubic feet and payload do not line up. Penske lists 12 ft by 6 ft 6 in by 6 ft 1 in, 450 cubic feet, and 3,100 lb. U-Haul lists 9 ft 11 in by 6 ft 3 in by 6 ft 1 in, 402 cubic feet, and 2,850 lb. Budget lists a printed interior of 10 ft by 6 ft 3 in by 6 ft, 380 cubic feet, and 3,610 lb.
None of the three lists a ramp. U-Haul tows up to 6,000 lb, and Penske cannot tow. U-Haul lists 12 mpg, Penske lists up to 12 mpg, and Budget lists 8 to 14 mpg. Those mpg figures are ideal-condition estimates, and a loaded truck on hills does worse. Gasoline is $4.48 a gallon and diesel is $6.53 a gallon for the EIA week of 21 Sept 2026.
Fuel for 1,000 loaded miles, at the US average price for the week of 21 Sept 2026. Uses the low end of each brand's mpg estimate, because a loaded truck does worse than the brochure.
| Truck | Fuel | Loaded mpg | Per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-Haul 10' truck | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Penske 12' truck | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Budget 12' truck | Gasoline | 8 mpg | $560 |
Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly retail prices (week of 21 Sept 2026).
Driving and loading it
U-Haul, Penske, and Budget all list no ramp on this size
Plan on a lift, not a ramp. U-Haul, Penske, and Budget all list no ramp on this size. U-Haul lists a 29 in deck, so the load goes up by hand. U-Haul also lists 9 ft of clearance, so check overhead before you enter a parking deck. At pickup, confirm the deck height and that the truck you received matches the size you booked.
Confirm fuel type at pickup. Penske lists a 33 gal tank. Brand mpg figures are ideal-condition estimates, and a loaded truck on hills does worse. Gasoline is $4.48 a gallon and diesel is $6.53 a gallon for the EIA week of 21 Sept 2026. Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from any brand.
Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from any brand. Drafted with grok-4.7-medium via cursor-agent on 2026-09-24, then edited.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- Who is a 10 to 12 ft truck for?
- It fits a studio or a small one-bedroom, roughly one to two rooms. If the second room is packed, compare lengths on the [truck rental overview](/moving-options/truck-rentals).
- Will a king bed fit?
- U-Haul says its 10 ft truck fits a king bed. Budget says its 12 ft is not for a king bed. For the Penske 12 ft, measure the mattress against the posted length.
- Can this size tow?
- U-Haul lists towing up to 6,000 lb on its 10 ft truck. Penske states that its 12 ft cannot tow. Ask the Budget counter before you plan to tow, and see [how the brands compare](/moving-options/truck-rentals/compare).
- What fuel should I buy?
- Read the fuel door on the truck you receive before you fill up. Gasoline is $4.48 a gallon and diesel is $6.53 a gallon for the EIA week of 21 Sept 2026. U-Haul lists 12 mpg, Penske lists up to 12 mpg, and Budget lists 8 to 14 mpg, and a loaded truck on hills does worse than those ideal-condition estimates.
Next
Keep going
About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a free quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
+1 (866) 961-9682Free quote, a person answersHaulest is not a carrier. We connect you to movers.
Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.