Key Takeaways
- Removalists size trucks by volume (mÂł), not by bedrooms.
- Garages, sheds, under house storage and outdoor furniture are the usual reasons a move jumps a truck size.
- A 4T truck is the right call for small moves, but it often means two trips for a full 2 bedroom home.
- Tell your removalist about access (stairs, lifts, steep driveways), because it affects crew and time as well as the truck.
The right removalist truck depends more on the cubic metres of furniture you own than the number of bedrooms. A lightly furnished 3-bedroom home may fit a smaller truck than a packed 2-bedroom property with a garage, shed and outdoor furniture.
At Shift Buddies, a crew of Local Brisbane Movers, every job starts with one decision: which truck. Book too small and you pay for a second trip. Book too big and you pay for space you never use.
For most Brisbane moves, a 4T truck suits a studio, a 1 bedroom or a lightly furnished 2 bedroom. An 8T suits most 3 bedroom houses, and a 10T suits most 4 bedroom homes. The 16T is for large or heavily packed households. Always confirm against your cubic metres, because contents matter more than room count.
What do 4T, 8T, 10T and 16T actually mean?
The "T" is a size label, not a promise about how much you can load. It refers to the truck's rated tonnage, and it loosely lines up with the cargo space. What actually decides whether your belongings fit is the load space in cubic metres.
Think of the tonnes as a nickname and the cubic metres as the real measurement. Two trucks with the same label can have slightly different bodies, so ask your removalist for the load space of the vehicle they'll send. If you plan to hire a truck and drive it yourself, the tonnage matters for another reason, covered in the licence section below.
How many cubic metres is my move?
Your move is the total space your belongings take up once loaded, measured in cubic metres (mÂł). One cubic metre is a block 1 metre long, 1 metre wide and 1 metre high. Removalists use this figure because a truck either has the space or it doesn't.
You don't need to be exact. A practical way to estimate:
- Walk room by room and list the large items: beds, mattresses, wardrobes, sofas, tables, fridge, washing machine, TV units.
- Add the boxes. People underestimate these, and cartons can take up a surprising share of the load.
- Count the hidden areas: garage, shed, laundry, balcony, under house storage and the back of the car port.
- Add outdoor items: BBQ, outdoor setting, bikes, pot plants, trampoline, tools.
- Subtract anything you're selling or dumping before moving day.
Once you have a rough total, match it to our truck space: up to about 20 mÂł suits the 4T, about 20 to 35 mÂł the 8T, about 35 to 50 mÂł the 10T, and about 50 to 60 mÂł the 12T. Aim to land comfortably under a truck's capacity, not exactly on it.
Furniture isn't a neat box, so length times width times height will overstate bulky items. Movers pack tightly and use awkward gaps. That's why a quote from someone who has loaded hundreds of trucks is more reliable than a calculator.
Truck size by home size: Shift Buddies guide
Our table below is based on our own truck capacities and the recommendations on our pricing page, not generic rules of thumb. It shows the moving space of the truck we suggest for each home type.
| Home / Move | Typical volume (truck moving space) | Suggested Shift Buddies truck | Typical crew | One trip? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 20 mÂł | 4T | 2 | Usually |
| 1 bedroom | 20 mÂł | 4T | 2 | Usually |
| 2 bedroom unit | 20 to 35 mÂł | 4T / 8T | 2 | Depends |
| 3 bedroom house | 35 to 50 mÂł | 8T / 10T | 2 to 3 | Usually |
| 4 bedroom house | 50 to 60 mÂł | 10T / 12T | 3 | Depends on furnishing |
| 5 bedroom or larger | Confirmed in quote | 16T Pantech | 3 or more | Depends |
Where two trucks are listed, the smaller suits lighter furnishing and the larger suits fuller homes. Treat this as a planning guide, not a guarantee. Your written quote confirms the truck.
What size truck for a 2 or 3 bedroom house?
A 2 bedroom home usually fits a 4T truck if it's lightly furnished, but an 8T is safer if you have a full lounge, a dining setting, a garage or lots of boxes. The 4T has 20 mÂł and the 8T has 35 mÂł, so the 8T gives you 15 mÂł of extra space. That can be the difference between one trip and two. The 2 bedroom row is the most "it depends" row in the table, because 2 bedroom places range from a bare rental unit to a packed family townhouse.
A 3 bedroom house usually needs an 8T truck, and a 10T if it's fully furnished. The 8T holds 35 mÂł and the 10T holds 50 mÂł. A tidy home at the lower end may suit an 8T comfortably, while a home with a packed garage, outdoor furniture or a full study often tips into 10T territory.
The comparison from our quick answer is real. A tidy 3 bedroom home with two sparsely furnished rooms can load smaller than a crowded 2 bedroom home with a shed full of gear. Use the table as your starting point, then adjust for what you actually own.
Brisbane factors that change the answer
Brisbane homes have quirks that standard truck guides miss. These are the ones that affect truck choice and crew:
- High set Queenslanders and under house storage. The space beneath often holds more than owners expect, and it counts toward your volume.
- Stairs. Many older homes have steep front stairs, which slow loading and sometimes call for an extra mover.
- Apartment lifts and building rules. Some buildings require lift bookings or limit moving hours, which can shape the whole day.
- Loading zones and narrow streets. Inner suburbs can limit where a big truck can park. A smaller truck making two trips isn't always the better choice, but sometimes access dictates it.
- Steep or tight driveways. A 16T has to be able to reach your door, so tell us if access is awkward.
Mention these when you ask for a quote. They change time and crew as much as truck size.
One trip or two?
One trip with the right truck is almost always cheaper and faster than two trips with a smaller one. A second trip means more driving, more loading time and more hours on the clock, and removalists generally charge by the hour.
Here's the maths using our starting rates. The 8T costs $30 more per hour than the 4T ($170 versus $140, both plus GST). If a second 4T trip adds more than roughly a fifth of your total job time, the 8T works out cheaper. On a five hour move, that's about an hour. Final cost still depends on truck, access, travel and volume.
There are exceptions. If you're a few boxes over a 4T's capacity, a short local second run may cost less than stepping up a size. If your move is across the same suburb, that's an easy call. If it's across Brisbane with traffic, it gets less appealing. Ask your removalist to price both options.
If you're unsure, size up. A little spare space costs little. A truck that's a few cubic metres too small is stressful on the day.
How many movers do you need?
Two movers handle most studios, 1 bedrooms and many 2 bedroom moves, and a standard Shift Buddies booking includes two. For a 3 bedroom house, two can manage, but three is often faster, particularly with heavy items or stairs. Four bedroom homes typically work best with three.
More hands shorten the day, so the hourly cost can balance out. Your quote should state both crew and truck.
Can you drive the truck yourself?
Only up to a point. In Queensland, a Class C licence is limited to vehicles with a maximum weight of 4.5 tonnes GVM, and heavier trucks fall under the LR, MR or HR classes. GVM is the vehicle's maximum loaded weight, and it's not always the same as the "tonne" in a truck's size label. (Source)
If you're hiring a truck yourself, check its GVM against your licence before you book. For 8T, 10T and larger trucks, a professional crew means you don't need to worry about licensing or loading.
What to tell your removalist
The more accurate your details, the better the truck recommendation. Have these ready:
- Number of bedrooms and how fully furnished each one is
- Large or heavy items (piano, safe, gym equipment, large fridge)
- Garage, shed or under house contents
- Outdoor furniture and plants
- Stairs, lifts, steep driveways or parking limits at both addresses
- A rough box count, or whether you'll need packing help
Shift Buddies' online estimate asks most of these, and your written quote confirms the truck, crew and expected duration.
Choosing your truck
Count your cubic metres, not your bedrooms, and don't forget the garage, shed and under house storage. Use the table as a starting point, tell us about your access, and let us confirm the truck in writing. If you'd like a recommendation for your move, request a quote from Shift Buddies and we'll size it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 4 tonne truck big enough for a 2 bedroom house?
Often yes for a lightly furnished home, since the 4T holds 20 mÂł. If you have a garage full of items, a large lounge suite or lots of boxes, an 8T (35 mÂł) avoids a second trip.
How many cubic metres is a 3 bedroom house?
It varies by contents. As a guide, a lighter 3 bedroom home suits our 8T (35 mÂł), and a fully furnished one suits our 10T (50 mÂł).
Should I always choose the bigger truck?
Not always. If you're only a little over a smaller truck's capacity, a short second trip may cost less. Ask for both options priced.
What happens if the truck is too small on the day?
Items may need a second run or a second vehicle, which adds time and cost. Giving accurate details when you book prevents this.
