Truck sizes
15 to 16 ft truck: what fits, and how U-Haul, Penske and Budget compare
This 15 to 16 ft truck fits a one or two bedroom apartment, and it is the most rented size and the smallest with a ramp. The split that matters is payload: U-Haul rates 6,385 lb, Penske rates 4,300 lb, and Budget rates 4,460 lb.
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
This is the smallest truck with a ramp, so a smaller box means lifting heavy pieces over the sill by hand.
A one or two bedroom apartment is the load this size is built around, which is why it is the most rented truck on the lot. A sofa, a mattress set, boxes, and a small dining table fit if you pack the floor first and keep aisles clear. The truck size calculator is the quick check before you book.
Size up for a three bedroom home or a load of bulky furniture that will not stack, and size down only for a studio with little furniture. This is the smallest truck with a ramp, so a smaller box means lifting heavy pieces over the sill by hand. If a crew is the real question, read truck rental vs movers.
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 15' truck | Penske 16' truck | Budget 16' truck | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside (L × W × H) | 15' × 7'8" × 7'2" | 16' × 7'7" × 6'6" | 16' × 6'3" × 6'7" |
| Cargo volume | 764 cu ft | 800 cu ft | 658 cu ft |
| Max load | 6,385 lb | 4,300 lb | 4,460 lb |
| Door opening (W × H) | 7'3" × 6'5" | Not published | 7'4" × 6'1" |
| Loading ramp | EZ-Load ramp, 2'2" wide | 1,000 lb loading ramp | Ramp, 1,000 lb |
| Fuel | Gasoline, 40 gal tank | Gasoline, 33 gal tank | Gasoline, 33 gal tank |
| Miles per gallon (brand estimate) | Up to 10 | Up to 12 | 6 to 10 |
| Seats | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Towing | Up to 10,000 lb | Can tow a vehicle | Tow dolly or car carrier |
| Clearance height | 11 ft | Not published | 11 ft |
| Fits | A two-bedroom apartment or condo | Two to three rooms | Three to four rooms or a one-bedroom home |
| Extras | Mom's Attic over the cab, 2'6" × 7'8" × 2'7" |
Sources: U-Haul 15' truck (brand spec page); Penske 16' truck (brand spec page); Budget 16' truck (brand spec page).
How the brands differ
Both are the smallest in their fleets that can tow a car.
Payload is the real split. U-Haul lists 764 cu ft and 6,385 lb in a box 7'8" wide, Penske lists 800 cu ft and 4,300 lb in a box 7'7" wide, and Budget lists 658 cu ft and 4,460 lb in a box only 6'3" wide. Interior height is 7'2", 6'6", and 6'7" in that same order, so a tall piece clears one roof and not another. Specs vary by model year and location.
Ramps, towing, and seats differ sharply. U-Haul's ramp is 2'2" wide with a 33 in deck, plus Mom's Attic, three seats, and towing up to 10,000 lb at 10 mpg. Penske and Budget rate the ramp at 1,000 lb and seat two; Penske cites up to 12 mpg and Budget 6 to 10. Both are the smallest in their fleets that can tow a car. See how the brands compare.
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 15' truck | Gasoline | 10 mpg | $448 |
| Penske 16' truck | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Budget 16' truck | Gasoline | 6 mpg | $746 |
Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly retail prices (week of 21 Sept 2026).
Driving and loading it
A loaded truck on hills does worse than the ideal mpg figures the brands print.
The U-Haul lists 11 ft clearance and a 40 gal tank. Penske and Budget do not publish clearance or tank size in these facts, so confirm both before a route with low bridges. A loaded truck on hills does worse than the ideal mpg figures the brands print. Run the miles through the DIY move calculator.
Every truck at this size has a ramp. It is the smallest size with one. U-Haul's is 2'2" wide with a 33 in deck, so measure wide pieces before the tilt. At pickup, read the fuel cap, then price the trip with gasoline at $4.48 a gallon or diesel at $6.53 a gallon, 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 15 to 16 ft truck for?
- A one or two bedroom apartment is the match, and this is the most rented size. Choose it when you want a ramp, since it is the smallest size that has one. Size up for a three bedroom home or bulky furniture that will not stack, and size down for a studio with little furniture.
- How do U-Haul, Penske, and Budget differ at this size?
- U-Haul lists 764 cu ft and 6,385 lb, Penske 800 cu ft and 4,300 lb, and Budget 658 cu ft and 4,460 lb. U-Haul seats three and tows up to 10,000 lb; Penske and Budget seat two and rate the ramp at 1,000 lb. Published mpg is 10, up to 12, and 6 to 10, in that order, and those are ideal-condition estimates.
- What should I check at pickup?
- Read the fuel cap before you price gasoline at $4.48 a gallon or diesel at $6.53 a gallon for the EIA week of 21 Sept 2026. Confirm clearance, using 11 ft for the U-Haul, and check ramp width, deck height, and that the ramp works. A loaded truck on hills will do worse than the ideal mpg.
- Can this size tow a car?
- U-Haul tows up to 10,000 lb and seats three. This is the smallest Penske that tows a car, and it seats two. This is the smallest Budget that can use a tow dolly or car carrier, and it also seats two.
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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.
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