What Size Van Do I Need? UK Van Size Guide for Courier Deliveries

TL;DR: Choosing the right van size saves money — bigger vans cost more. Small van for single items, SWB for small furniture, MWB for double beds and sofas, LWB for king-size beds and large furniture, Luton for house moves. Here's the complete guide with dimensions, payload, and pricing.

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Booking a courier and not sure what van you need? You're not alone — most people don't know the difference between a SWB and a LWB van, let alone which one fits their sofa. This guide covers every van size, what fits in each, and how much they cost.

The 5 van sizes explained

1. Small van (car-derived)

Examples: Ford Fiesta Van, VW Caddy, Citroen Berlingo

• Load area: ~1.7m L × 1.2m W × 1.2m H
• Capacity: ~2.5m³
• Payload: 500-700kg
• What fits: A single chair, small table, 3-4 medium boxes, flat-pack furniture, small appliances (microwave, toaster), suitcases
• What doesn't fit: Sofas, beds, wardrobes, washing machines, anything over 1.7m long
• Price from: £61 local

Best for: Small eBay purchases, document delivery, single-item moves, boxes of stock

2. Short-wheelbase (SWB) van

Examples: Ford Transit SWB, VW Transporter SWB, Mercedes Vito

• Load area: ~2.4m L × 1.7m W × 1.4m H
• Capacity: ~5-6m³
• Payload: 800-1000kg
• What fits: Single bed, 2-seater sofa, small wardrobe, washing machine, fridge, 8-10 medium boxes
• What doesn't fit: Double/king beds, 3-seater sofas, tall wardrobes (over 1.4m)
• Price from: £71 local (booked as a medium van)

Best for: Small furniture delivery, appliance delivery, single-room moves

3. Medium-wheelbase (MWB) van

Examples: Ford Transit MWB, VW Transporter LWB, Renault Trafic LWB

• Load area: ~3.4m L × 1.7m W × 1.7m H
• Capacity: ~8-10m³
• Payload: 1000-1200kg
• What fits: Double bed, 3-seater sofa, tall wardrobe, large fridge-freezer, dining table with chairs, 15-20 medium boxes
• What doesn't fit: King-size beds (unless disassembled), very large sofas, multiple large furniture items
• Price from: £71 local

Best for: Double bed delivery, sofa delivery, 1-2 bedroom flat moves

4. Long-wheelbase (LWB) van

Examples: Ford Transit LWB, Mercedes Sprinter, VW Crafter

• Load area: ~4.3m L × 1.7m W × 1.7m H
• Capacity: ~12-14m³
• Payload: 1200-1500kg
• What fits: King-size bed, large 3-4 seater sofa, piano (upright), multiple wardrobes, full dining set, 25-30 medium boxes
• What doesn't fit: Grand pianos, very tall items (over 1.7m), full house contents
• Price from: £80 local

Best for: King-size bed delivery, large furniture, 2-3 bedroom house moves

5. Luton box van (with tail-lift)

Examples: Ford Transit Luton, Iveco Daily Luton

• Load area: ~4.0m L × 2.0m W × 2.0m H (internal box)
• Capacity: ~18-20m³
• Payload: ~1000kg
• What fits: Full house move (2-3 bedrooms), multiple large sofas, several beds, white goods, 40+ boxes
• Tail-lift: Yes — hydraulic lift at the rear for heavy items
• Price from: £104 local

Best for: House moves, multiple large items, heavy items that can't be lifted manually

Quick reference: what van for common items?

Item	Van size needed
Documents / small parcel	Small van
Single chair	Small van
Washing machine	SWB van
Fridge-freezer (under 1.4m)	SWB van
Fridge-freezer (tall)	MWB van
Single bed	SWB van
Double bed	MWB van
King-size bed	LWB van (or MWB if disassembled)
2-seater sofa	SWB van
3-seater sofa	MWB van
Large corner sofa	LWB van
Wardrobe (under 1.4m)	SWB van
Tall wardrobe	MWB van
Dining table + 6 chairs	MWB-LWB van
Upright piano	LWB van
2-3 bedroom house contents	Luton van (possibly 2 trips)

How to measure your item

Before booking, measure your item's three dimensions:

1. Length (longest side)
2. Width (second longest side)
3. Height (shortest side, or vertical dimension when standing)

Compare these to the van's load area dimensions. Remember:

• Items can often be angled or tilted to fit
• Disassembling furniture (removing legs, shelves, drawers) reduces the size
• The van's load height is the limiting factor for tall items

How van size affects pricing

Bigger vans cost more because they:

• Consume more fuel
• Have higher insurance and maintenance costs
• Are in shorter supply (fewer LWB and Luton drivers)

However, a bigger van can carry multiple items in one trip, which is cheaper than two trips in a smaller van. If you're moving several items, calculate whether one LWB trip is cheaper than two SWB trips.

Ready to book?

Enter your postcodes above for an instant quote. Select "Large parcel" or "Pallet" as the item type, and the system will recommend the right vehicle for your delivery. Collection often within about an hour, depending on driver availability.

By the numbers: UK van sizes at a glance

• 2.5m³ — small van capacity (car-derived, e.g. Ford Fiesta Van)
• 5-6m³ — SWB van capacity (e.g. Ford Transit SWB)
• 8-10m³ — MWB van capacity (e.g. Ford Transit MWB)
• 12-14m³ — LWB van capacity (e.g. Mercedes Sprinter)
• 18-20m³ — Luton van capacity with tail-lift
• 500-1,500kg — payload range across van sizes