Truck sizes
20 to 22 ft truck: what fits, and how U-Haul, Penske and Budget compare
A 20 to 22 ft truck is for a two to three bedroom home. The split between brands is payload and fuel: Penske's 22 ft holds 1,200 cu ft and 10,000 lb on diesel, U-Haul's 20 ft holds 1,016 cu ft and 5,700 lb on gasoline, and Budget does not offer this size.
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 size matches a two to three bedroom home: beds, a sofa, a dining table, and boxed kitchen gear.
Two to three bedrooms. This size matches a two to three bedroom home: beds, a sofa, a dining table, and boxed kitchen gear. U-Haul's 20 ft lists 1,016 cu ft and a 5,700 lb payload. Penske's 22 ft lists 1,200 cu ft and 10,000 lb. Run the truck size calculator if the room count is uneven.
Size up or down. Drop toward 16 ft when the load is closer to one bedroom and a few bulky pieces. Budget skips 20 to 22 ft and goes from 16 ft to 26 ft. Budget's whole answer here is a shrug. Move up if you will tow a vehicle, pack a garage, or already fill 1,016 cu ft. Specs vary by model year and location.
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 20' truck | Penske 22' truck | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside (L × W × H) | 19'5" × 7'8" × 7'1" | 21'11" × 8'1" × 8'1" |
| Cargo volume | 1,016 cu ft | 1,200 cu ft |
| Max load | 5,700 lb | 10,000 lb |
| Door opening (W × H) | 7'3" × 6'5" | Not published |
| Loading ramp | Ramp, 2'2" wide | 1,000 lb loading ramp |
| Fuel | Gasoline, 40 gal tank | Diesel, 70 gal tank |
| Miles per gallon (brand estimate) | Up to 10 | Up to 13 |
| Seats | 3 | 3 |
| Towing | Up to 7,500 lb | Can tow a vehicle |
| Clearance height | 11 ft | Not published |
| Fits | A two to three bedroom home or large apartment | Three to five rooms |
| Extras | Mom's Attic, 2'6" × 7'8" × 2'7" |
Sources: U-Haul 20' truck (brand spec page); Penske 22' truck (brand spec page).
How the brands differ
A dense load can hit 5,700 lb on the U-Haul before the box looks full.
Volume and payload. U-Haul's 20 ft measures 19'5" x 7'8" x 7'1" with 1,016 cu ft and 5,700 lb. Penske's 22 ft measures 21'11" x 8'1" x 8'1" with 1,200 cu ft and 10,000 lb. Both list a ramp and three seats. A dense load can hit 5,700 lb on the U-Haul before the box looks full. The brand comparison lines the two trucks up.
Fuel and towing. U-Haul runs gasoline at 10 mpg with a 40 gal tank and tows up to 7,500 lb. Penske runs diesel at up to 13 mpg with a 70 gal tank and tows a vehicle. Those mpg figures are ideal-condition estimates. Gasoline is $4.48 a gallon and diesel is $6.53 a gallon for the EIA week of 21 Sept 2026. Read U-Haul and Penske before you book.
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 20' truck | Gasoline | 10 mpg | $448 |
| Penske 22' truck | Diesel | 13 mpg | $502 |
Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly retail prices (week of 21 Sept 2026).
Driving and loading it
Both U-Haul and Penske include a ramp
Clearance and the ramp. U-Haul lists 11 ft of clearance, so measure low bridges, parking garages, and drive-through canopies on the route before you book. Both U-Haul and Penske include a ramp, which is how a sofa or a washer comes off without a loading dock. At pickup, check the ramp and plan the route around that 11 ft clearance.
Fuel and the attic. U-Haul is gasoline with a 40 gal tank and Mom's Attic. Penske is diesel with a 70 gal tank. At pickup, match the fuel type to the cap, note the tank level, and open Mom's Attic on the U-Haul before you finish the load plan. 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 should rent a 20 to 22 ft truck?
- A two to three bedroom home is the fit. U-Haul's 20 ft lists 1,016 cu ft and 5,700 lb. Penske's 22 ft lists 1,200 cu ft and 10,000 lb.
- Does Budget offer a 20 or 22 ft truck?
- No. Budget has no size here and goes from 16 ft to 26 ft. You step down to 16 ft or up to 26 ft.
- How do fuel costs compare this week?
- U-Haul takes gasoline at a listed 10 mpg and a 40 gal tank. Penske takes diesel at up to 13 mpg and a 70 gal tank. Gasoline is $4.48 a gallon and diesel is $6.53 a gallon for the EIA week of 21 Sept 2026.
- What should I check before I drive off?
- On the U-Haul, note the 11 ft clearance, the ramp, the gasoline cap, and Mom's Attic. On the Penske, note the diesel cap, the ramp, and that it tows a vehicle. Brands' mpg figures are ideal-condition estimates, and a loaded truck on hills does worse.
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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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