2 men packing the 1st Move International van with a customers personal effects
  • Home
  • Removals Volume Calculator

Free Removals Volume Calculator – Estimate Cubic Metres for Your Move

Calculate your moving volume in seconds - no guesswork required. Our AI volume calculator turns simple descriptions (“2 sofas, TV, 10 boxes”) into accurate cubic-metre estimates, helping you plan with confidence.

Whether you're moving the entire contents of a sprawling four-bedroom house or trying to describe your vinyl record collection as "a bunch of old records, speakers, and the music studio setup from the living room," our calculator understands exactly what you mean.

Already have an inventory to hand? Simply paste it in, no matter how complex and let our calculator do the heavy lifting.

Prefer visual guidance? Browse our curated, room-by-room catalogue and quickly build your custom list.

Removals Volume Calculator

Moving overseas? Request a free quote based on this inventory

How to Use Our Removals Volume Calculator

  1. Describe your move in plain English, paste your list or browse by room
  2. Review and tweak your items
  3. Download or request a quote instantly

Example Inputs

Here are a few ways you can describe your move - our calculator is flexible enough to handle them all:

  • “Two beds, a sofa, TV, six suitcases and 20 boxes”
    A short, specific list. The calculator will identify standard furniture sizes and estimate the volume of the boxes and suitcases.
  • “All furniture and contents from a three-bedroom house with garage and garden tools”
    A broad, natural description. The AI will include typical room furnishings, plus extras like tool storage or garden furniture.
  • “1x fridge freezer (60x60x200cm), 1x washing machine (60x60x85cm), 1x wardrobe (120x60x180cm), 15 moving boxes (medium size)”
    You can even provide exact dimensions and the calculator will use those to precisely calculate the volume of your move.

Important: Our calculator provides a fast and helpful estimate of the space your move might require, but it’s not an exact measurement. Every move is different — furniture sizes vary, packing methods matter, and real-world loading efficiency can affect the final volume.

This tool is designed to give you a strong starting point for planning and quoting. Before we finalise your quote, our team will review your inventory and may follow up with a quick call or virtual survey to confirm the details and ensure the most accurate quote possible.

What Is 1 Cubic Metre in Moving Terms?

What is a cubic metre. Image of a cubic metre visualised showing how many moving boxes fit inside of a cubic metre.

In the world of removals, space matters - and a cubic metre (m³) is the standard way we measure it. Imagine a cube that’s 1 metre high, 1 metre wide, and 1 metre deep.

Still not sure what that means for your move? Picture this: 1 cubic metre can usually hold 8 to 12 medium-to-large moving boxes, depending on how they’re packed. It’s a handy benchmark to help visualise how much space your belongings will take up in a shipping container or removal van - especially when your move involves lots of packed boxes or loose household items.

💡 Understanding cubic metres is key to getting an accurate quote and making sure you don’t underestimate the space you’ll need for removals. This matters even more for international moves, where every bit of space counts.

International removals companies base their pricing on how much space your furniture and belongings take up inside a shipping container. So the better your volume estimate, the more accurate your quote will be.

How to Estimate Moving Volume in Cubic Metres

Calculating the volume of your belongings is all about estimating how much space they’ll take up in a moving van or container. Volume is typically measured in cubic metres (m³), and there are a couple of ways you can work it out.

1. Measure Manually

You can measure items yourself using the formula:

Length × Width × Height (in metres) = Volume (m³)

For example, a wardrobe that’s 2 metres tall, 1 metre wide, and 0.6 metres deep would have a volume of:
2 × 1 × 0.6 = 1.2 m³

This method works best for large furniture and appliances. Remember to include all sides of bulky items and account for irregular shapes or awkward packing space.

Image illustrating how to calculate cubic metres volume of household items and furniture.

2. Use Average Estimates

Most removals companies use standard volume estimates for common household items (e.g. a 3-seater sofa = ~1.7 m³). You can find these averages in our calculator when browsing by room or item type.

Image illustrating the volume of typical household items and furniture.

3. Let Our Calculator Do It for You

Our AI-powered calculator makes the process quicker and easier. Just describe what you’re moving, and it will identify each item and apply accurate, industry-based volume estimates. You’ll get an instant overview of your total volume - no tape measure needed.

Why Knowing Your Move Volume Is Crucial

Whether you're moving across town or to the other side of the world, understanding the volume of your belongings is a key part of planning a successful move. Your total volume, measured in cubic metres (m³), helps determine how much space you’ll need in a van or shipping container and directly influences the cost and logistics of your move. Additionally, the more information that you can provide to a removals company when requesting a quote, the more accurate your quote will be.

Knowing your volume helps you:

  • Get accurate quotes from removals companies
  • Choose the right size van or container
  • Decide between shared or dedicated transport
  • Plan packing and storage more efficiently
  • Avoid last-minute surprises or extra costs

Typical Volume by Move Type

Estimated Volume Typical Move Type
1-5 m³ Small move (mostly personal items)
5-10 m³ Studio or small flat
10-20 m³ 1-2 bedroom home
20-30 m³ 3-bedroom home
30-50+ m³ Full household or large family home
After Before

Here is an example of a 3-bed flat move packed and measured by 1st Move International. The items have been carefully packed onto pallets and each pallet has been measured exactly. The total volume for this shipment was 9.4 cubic metres and shipping costs have been accurately calculated and charged based on this volume.

Learn more about our packing methods and the unique benefits that it provides.

What Size Van or Container Do I Need for My Move?

Once you've estimated your move volume, it’s time to consider how much space you’ll actually need in a van or shipping container. Whether you're moving across the UK or heading overseas, the right transport size can save you money and hassle.

Domestic Removals: Van Sizes

Here’s a guide to typical UK removal vans and their capacity to help you choose the right option when moving or to use when looking to hire a removals van yourself:

Van Type Volume (m³) Volume (ft³) Typical Use Estimated Rental Cost
Medium Wheelbase Van 8 - 10.5 283 - 371 Small flat or partial move £40 - £60/day
Long Wheelbase Van 12 - 14 424 - 494 1-2 bedroom home £60 - £85/day
Luton Van 15 - 18 530 - 635 2-3 bedroom home £85 - £110/day
Luton Lorry 26 - 28 918 - 990 3+ bedroom home / full household £130 - £180/day

Note: Costs are approximate and vary by location, provider, and season.

International Removals: Shipping Container Sizes

For international removals, your belongings are typically packed into a shared or dedicated shipping container. The size you need depends on the total volume of your goods. Here's a quick guide:

Container Size Volume (m³) Volume (ft³) What It Fits
Shared Container 1 - 20 35 - 706 Suitable for any shipments up the size of a 1 or 2-bedroom apartment
20ft Container 20 - 28 706 - 989 For larger apartments or 3 bedroom homes
40ft Container 28 - 58 989 - 2,049 Required for most 4 and 5 bedroom house moves

Not sure which option you need? Our calculator helps you match your inventory to the right transport size - and our team is happy to advise if you're on the fence.