Short answer: a typical three-bedroom house runs 30 to 45 cubic metres, which means the 5.5 m 8-pallet pantech at 30 m³ in one or two loads, or the 4.2 m 20 m³ pantech across two or three.
But "typical" hides a lot. A minimalist three-bedroom with no garage might be 25 m³. A family of five with a shed, a garage and fifteen years of accumulation can hit 55 m³ and genuinely surprise everyone on the day. So let's do it properly.
Work out your volume, room by room
Add up the rooms you're actually moving. These are the numbers we use at the counter, and they're close enough to book from.
| Room | What's usually in it | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Main bedroom | Queen bed, wardrobe, drawers, bedside tables | 7–9 m³ |
| Second/third bedroom | Single or double bed, drawers, desk | 4–6 m³ |
| Lounge room | Sofa, TV unit, coffee table, shelving | 7–10 m³ |
| Dining | Table, chairs, sideboard | 4–6 m³ |
| Kitchen | Boxed contents, small appliances | 3–5 m³ |
| Whitegoods | Fridge, washing machine, dryer | 3–4 m³ |
| Garage or shed | Tools, bikes, mower, boxes, the rest | 5–15 m³ |
| Outdoor | Table setting, BBQ, pots | 2–5 m³ |
Run that for a standard three-bedroom with a garage and you land around 38–42 m³. That's the number to book against.
Match it to a truck
| Your volume | Best fit | Licence | Day rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 12 m³ | 2 tonne van | Car | $120 |
| 12–20 m³ | 4.2 m pantech — one load | Car | $130 |
| 20–30 m³ | 4.5 t across two loads, or the 7 t pantech | Car / MR | $130 / $250 |
| 30–45 m³ | 5.5 m 8-pallet pantech — one or two loads | MR | $250 |
| 45 m³+ | 7 t pantech across two loads — ring us first | MR | $250 |
One big truck, or two runs in a small one?
This is the decision that actually costs people money, and the answer is almost entirely about distance.
Go with two runs when the move is local
If you're moving within the western suburbs — Hoppers Crossing to Werribee, Point Cook to Tarneit — a second run costs you an hour of driving and nothing else. The 4.2 m pantech at $130 doing two loads beats the 5.5 m at $250 doing one, and you don't need an MR licence to do it.
The other advantage nobody mentions: two loads means you can unload the first while the second is still being packed, if you've got a couple of people helping.
Go with one big truck when the move is long
Melbourne to Geelong, or across town in Friday traffic, and a second run costs you two or three hours plus fuel. At that point the 5.5 m pantech's extra $120 buys back most of a day. Anything over about 45 minutes each way, take the bigger truck.
And always take one truck if you're on a deadline
Settlement days, end-of-lease handovers, a removalist crew you're paying by the hour — the second run is a risk you don't want. Book the volume in one go.
Five things that catch people out
- The garage. It's never 5 m³. Walk into it and be honest before you book.
- Fridges and washing machines. Heavy, awkward, and much easier with a tailgate lifter than a ramp — the 5.5 m pantech has one.
- Loading takes longer than driving. Budget most of your day for the load and unload, not the trip.
- Dismantling beds and tables. Flat-packing the big furniture can save you 20% of your volume, which sometimes drops you a whole truck class.
- Overnight hire is 20% off. Pick up late afternoon, load that evening, drive in the morning — cheaper than a full day and far less rushed. See current deals.
Still between two sizes?
Use the Which Truck chooser, or ring 0402 157 360 and describe the rooms out loud. We size loads every week and it takes about a minute on the phone — and it's a lot cheaper than discovering on the day that a third of your house won't fit.