Truck sizes
Cargo van: what fits, and how U-Haul, Penske and Budget compare
A cargo van fits a dorm, a studio, a few big items, or a first apartment with little furniture. What separates the brands most is space versus payload: Penske lists 404 cu ft, Budget 323, and U-Haul 246, while U-Haul lists 4,030 lb max load against 3,550 lb for Budget and 3,500 lb for Penske.
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 is for a dorm, a studio, a few big items, or a first apartment with little furniture.
Who it is for. This size is for a dorm, a studio, a few big items, or a first apartment with little furniture. Budget says its cargo van takes a twin or full mattress, not a queen or king. That mattress line is a useful check on whether the rest of the load still belongs in a van.
Size up or down. Move up a size when the load includes a queen or king, which Budget says will not fit this van, or when the apartment has more than a little furniture. Move down only if you are hauling less than a few big items from a dorm or studio. Use the truck size calculator if the van looks tight or oversized.
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 9' cargo van | Penske cargo van | Budget cargo van | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inside (L × W × H) | 9'6" × 5'7" × 4'8" | 11'11" × 4'6" × 6'9" | 11' × 4'5" × 5' |
| Cargo volume | 246 cu ft | 404 cu ft | 323 cu ft |
| Max load | 4,030 lb | 3,500 lb | 3,550 lb |
| Door opening (W × H) | 5'1" × 4'1" | Not published | 5'1" × 5'4" |
| Loading ramp | None | None | None |
| Fuel | Gasoline | Gasoline, 25 gal tank | Gasoline, 25 gal tank |
| Miles per gallon (brand estimate) | 18 to 25 | Up to 12 | 8 to 14 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Towing | Not offered or not published | Not offered or not published | Not offered or not published |
| Clearance height | 8 ft | Not published | 8'9" |
| Fits | Small loads, a studio or dorm room | Up to one room | One room or a studio |
Sources: U-Haul 9' cargo van (brand spec page); Penske cargo van (brand spec page); Budget cargo van (brand spec page).
How the brands differ
Payload runs the other way: U-Haul lists 4,030 lb, Budget 3,550 lb, and Penske 3,500 lb.
Volume and payload split. Penske lists the most space at 404 cu ft, Budget lists 323, and the U-Haul 9' cargo van lists 246. Payload runs the other way: U-Haul lists 4,030 lb, Budget 3,550 lb, and Penske 3,500 lb. Listed dimensions are U-Haul 9'6" x 5'7" x 4'8" inside, Penske 11'11" x 4'6" x 6'9", and Budget 11' x 4'5" x 5'. Specs vary by model year and location.
Fuel, seats, and the ramp. All three list 2 seats. U-Haul cites 18 to 25 mpg, Budget 8 to 14 mpg, and Penske up to 12 mpg, as ideal-condition estimates; a loaded van on hills does worse. Penske and Budget list a 25 gal tank. U-Haul lists no ramp. Haulest is not a truck rental company and earns nothing from any brand. Compare them on the brand comparison.
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 9' cargo van | Gasoline | 18 mpg | $249 |
| Penske cargo van | Gasoline | 12 mpg | $373 |
| Budget cargo van | Gasoline | 8 mpg | $560 |
Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly retail prices (week of 21 Sept 2026).
Driving and loading it
Ask the branch which van you will get and whether it has a ramp before you load.
Clearance and the ramp. U-Haul lists 8 ft clearance and no ramp, so measure the route against that 8 ft clearance and plan to lift cargo from the ground. The Penske and Budget specs do not include clearance or a ramp. Ask the branch which van you will get and whether it has a ramp before you load.
Pickup and fuel. At pickup, match the van's listed load and inside size to your largest item, and check for a ramp. Mpg figures are ideal-condition estimates; a loaded van 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; confirm which fuel it takes before you fill it.
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
- Will a queen mattress fit?
- Budget says its cargo van takes a twin or full mattress, not a queen or king. U-Haul and Penske do not give a mattress size in these specs. A queen or a king is a reason to size up.
- How many people can ride along?
- U-Haul, Penske, and Budget each list 2 seats. That covers a driver and one passenger. Anyone else needs a separate car.
- Does every cargo van have a ramp?
- U-Haul lists no ramp on the 9' cargo van. Penske and Budget do not list a ramp in these specs. Ask the branch before you plan the load.
- How should I read the mpg figures?
- U-Haul cites 18 to 25 mpg, Budget 8 to 14 mpg, and Penske up to 12 mpg. Those figures are ideal-condition estimates, and a loaded van 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, so confirm the fuel type at pickup.
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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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