U-Haul 10' vs 15' truck

Dorm or micro-studio

A bed frame, desk, and stacked bins can fit a 10' if weight stays low. Add a couch or dresser and the 15' becomes the safer default.

Furnished studio with kitchen

Small appliances and multiple seating pieces push volume fast. The 15' gives floor to walk items in without stacking to the ceiling on day one.

Urban parking

The 10-foot truck eases tight city parking and garage heights. Only choose it when inventory truly matches that smaller truck, not when you hope to “make it work.”

Volume: roughly double when you step to 15'

402 cu ft on the 10-foot versus 764 cu ft on the 15-foot is the largest proportional jump in the U-Haul box lineup. That shows up as walkable aisle space, not just extra inches at the nose.

Studios with normal IKEA-scale furniture often outgrow the 10-foot on volume before they approach either truck’s payload cap.

Payload: 2,850 lb vs 6,385 lb

The 15-foot more than doubles listed payload over the 10-foot. Washer/dryer moves, small home gyms, and box-heavy closets belong on the 15' planning sheet.

The 10-foot is for light goods and short hauls—treat 2,850 lb as a hard planning number, not a suggestion.

Before you consider a 20-foot

If the 15-foot is tight on space but heavy on weight, note that U-Haul’s 20-foot adds volume yet lists lower payload than the 15'. Upsizing length on U-Haul is not always upsizing weight capacity.

Read the 15 vs 20 comparison when furniture count—not weight—is the reason you are looking past the 15'.

Cargo van overlap

U-Haul’s cargo van lists 245 cu ft and 4,030 lb payload—different shape, sometimes easier for a few large pieces. Vans trade box length for access; box trucks trade access for uniform volume.

Pick van vs 10-foot based on item shape and parking, then confirm rear-door sizes in the fleet table.

Studio and one-bedroom sizing cues

The 10-foot truck lists 402 cu ft and 2,850 lb payload; the 15-foot lists 764 cu ft and 6,385 lb. That is roughly double the volume and more than double the weight headroom—the largest proportional step in U-Haul’s box lineup.

Stay on the 10-foot for dorm-style loads: bed frame, desk, bins, and minimal seating when the trip is short and parking is tight. Add a couch, dresser, or kitchen appliance set and the 15-foot is the safer default.

Dense books and hand tools fill 2,850 lb faster than the small box looks. If closets are heavy, size for payload even when furniture count still looks “studio.”

Before skipping past the 15-foot to a 20-foot, note that U-Haul’s 20-foot adds volume (1,016 cu ft) but lists only 5,700 lb payload—lower than the 15-foot. Upsizing length is not always upsizing weight on this brand.