Skip to content
AFRA accredited. Public liability + goods-in-transit insurance on every job. 4.9★ · 1,195 reviews 0431 747 411
Free · Room by room · No signup

Cubic Metre Calculator

Also called the m3 calculator or cubic meter calculator. Click your items room by room and it works out how to calculate cubic metres for your whole home — with the truck size that fits.

4.9★ · 1,195 reviews AFRA accredited 20+ trucks across VIC & NSW No hidden fees
Interactive

Your cubic metre calculator

Tick items you\'re moving. The running total on the right updates as you go, and shows which truck size we\'d recommend.

Living room 0 m³
  • 3-seater sofa 1.80 m³
    0
  • 2-seater sofa 1.30 m³
    0
  • Armchair / recliner 0.70 m³
    0
  • Coffee table 0.40 m³
    0
  • TV stand / entertainment unit 0.60 m³
    0
  • TV (up to 55") 0.30 m³
    0
  • TV (over 55") 0.50 m³
    0
  • Bookshelf 0.80 m³
    0
  • Rug (rolled) 0.20 m³
    0
  • Standing lamp 0.20 m³
    0
  • Piano (upright) 1.40 m³
    0
Dining 0 m³
  • Dining table (6 seat) 1.20 m³
    0
  • Dining table (8+ seat) 1.50 m³
    0
  • Dining chair 0.15 m³
    0
  • Buffet / sideboard 1.00 m³
    0
  • Display cabinet 1.00 m³
    0
Bedroom 0 m³
  • Bed (King) 2.00 m³
    0
  • Bed (Queen) 1.70 m³
    0
  • Bed (Double) 1.40 m³
    0
  • Bed (Single) 1.00 m³
    0
  • Bedside table 0.20 m³
    0
  • Wardrobe (large) 1.80 m³
    0
  • Wardrobe (standard) 1.40 m³
    0
  • Chest of drawers 0.70 m³
    0
  • Dressing table / vanity 0.70 m³
    0
  • Standing mirror 0.30 m³
    0
Kitchen 0 m³
  • Fridge (French door / large) 1.40 m³
    0
  • Fridge (standard) 1.00 m³
    0
  • Bar fridge 0.40 m³
    0
  • Washing machine 0.60 m³
    0
  • Clothes dryer 0.50 m³
    0
  • Dishwasher 0.50 m³
    0
  • Microwave 0.15 m³
    0
  • Kitchen box (dishes, appliances) 0.15 m³
    0
Office / study 0 m³
  • Desk 0.90 m³
    0
  • Office chair 0.40 m³
    0
  • Filing cabinet 0.50 m³
    0
  • Computer / monitor (each) 0.20 m³
    0
  • Safe 0.40 m³
    0
  • Office shelving 0.70 m³
    0
Outdoor & garage 0 m³
  • BBQ 0.70 m³
    0
  • Outdoor table + chairs 1.50 m³
    0
  • Bicycle 0.40 m³
    0
  • Lawn mower 0.40 m³
    0
  • Toolbox / power tools 0.30 m³
    0
  • Garden / garage box 0.15 m³
    0
  • Pool table 2.00 m³
    0
Packing boxes 0 m³
  • Large box (books, kitchen) 0.12 m³
    0
  • Medium box 0.08 m³
    0
  • Small box 0.05 m³
    0
  • Wardrobe box (with clothes) 0.35 m³
    0
  • Suitcase (large) 0.20 m³
    0
How to use this m3 calculator

How to calculate cubic metres for your move — step by step

The calculator above does the arithmetic for you, so you don’t need the cubic metre formula. If you want to understand what it’s doing under the hood, here’s the process it follows for every home:

  1. 1

    Open a room

    Bedrooms, living, kitchen, laundry, garage, shed, outdoor. Click through in any order.

  2. 2

    Tick your items

    Standard volumes are pre-set — queen bed 1.2m³, 3-seater sofa 1.8m³, fridge 0.8m³.

  3. 3

    Add your boxes

    For items that don’t fit the standard list. Small ~0.05m³, medium ~0.08m³, large ~0.12m³.

  4. 4

    Watch the total

    Running m³ updates live as you tick. No submit button, no waiting.

  5. 5

    See your truck size

    The recommended truck appears alongside — the smallest that fits everything in one trip.

Cubic metre to truck size

Cubic metres to truck size — quick reference chart

Match your calculated m³ figure to a truck. If you land between two sizes, round up rather than making a second trip — a return leg costs more than the larger truck does.

4T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

4T Truck

20 m³ capacity

Best for: Few items, studio or 1-bedroom

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $180/hr

6T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

6T Truck

30 m³ capacity

Best for: 2-bedroom home or apartment

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $190/hr

8T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

8T Truck

40 m³ capacity

Best for: 3-bedroom home

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $200/hr

10T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

10T Truck

50 m³ capacity

Best for: 4-bedroom home

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $210/hr

12T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

12T Truck

60 m³ capacity

Best for: 5+ bedroom home, big offices

Crew: 3 removalists · From: $290/hr

Your cubic metres Truck size Typically fits
Up to ~18 m³4 tonneStudio, 1-bedroom unit, few items
~18–28 m³6 tonneLarge 1-bed or modest 2-bed
~28–38 m³8 tonne2–3 bedroom home (most common)
~38–48 m³10 tonne3-bedroom family home or 4-bed with light garage
~48–60 m³12 tonne4+ bedrooms, full garage, single-trip large move

What is a cubic metre?

A cubic metre (m³) is the volume of a cube that measures one metre on every side — that is, 1 metre wide, 1 metre deep, and 1 metre tall. In practical terms for moving, one cubic metre is roughly what fits in a large tea chest carton, or three or four standard bookshelves' worth of books, or a medium armchair.

Removalists price around cubic metres because volume, not weight, determines how much truck you need. Ten cubic metres of feather pillows takes just as much truck space as ten cubic metres of hardcover books — the mass differs enormously, but the truck size doesn\'t.

How to estimate m³ without measuring everything

Measuring every piece of furniture individually would take hours. Our calculator sidesteps that by using industry-average volumes for common household items. A queen bed is around 1.7 m³, a three-seater sofa is around 1.8 m³, a standard fridge is around 1.0 m³. Click each item you own and the running total takes care of itself.

For household boxes, the rule of thumb is: a large moving carton is roughly 0.12 m³, a medium carton around 0.08 m³, and a small carton around 0.05 m³. A wardrobe carton with clothes still on hangers is around 0.35 m³.

Why m³ matters more than weight

Every truck we run has a legal weight limit, but for household moves you\'ll almost always hit the truck\'s volume limit before its weight limit. Household items are bulky but light: sofas, wardrobes, mattresses, boxes of clothes — all take up huge amounts of space per kilogram compared to (say) a shipping container of engine parts.

That\'s why we quote around cubic metres, not tonnes. A 4T truck is called "4T" because the chassis is rated for 4 tonnes of cargo, but in practice it hits its ~20 m³ volume ceiling first.

What the calculator doesn\'t account for

Three things this widget can\'t factor in — but the actual quote calculator does:

  • Access difficulty. Three flights of stairs, no lift, narrow driveways, or long carries add labour time — not truck size.
  • Specialist items. Pianos, pool tables, safes and large artworks need dedicated equipment and are quoted as a separate line item.
  • Distance and route. A local Melbourne move is billed hourly, while interstate is billed as a fixed route price per truck size.

For a precise number that accounts for all of those, use our instant moving quote — it takes 60 seconds and returns an itemised estimate.

Rules of thumb our team uses

Some quick heuristics you can sanity-check the calculator against:

  • Each bedroom\'s worth of furniture (bed, wardrobe, drawers, bedside) averages 5–7 m³.
  • A "normal" living room — sofa, coffee table, TV unit, bookshelf — averages 4–6 m³.
  • A kitchen with white goods (fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher) plus 6-8 boxes averages 4–5 m³.
  • Garages fill up fast — a "normal" garage with tools, bikes and mowers often adds 5–8 m³ that people forget.
Melbourne

In Melbourne, the street sets the truck as often as the volume does

Everywhere else, you calculate your cubic metres and book the truck that holds them. In parts of Melbourne, that logic runs backwards — the street decides what can physically get there, and the volume has to fit around it.

Inner north and inner west. Fitzroy, Carlton North, Brunswick, Seddon, Kingsville and Spotswood have laneways and permit-parked streets where a 12T simply will not fit or cannot legally stop. A 4T or 6T doing two legs is often the only workable answer, regardless of what your m³ figure says.

The leafy east. Canterbury, Balwyn, Blackburn, Beecroft-style canopy streets have mature trees that cap truck height. Significant tree overlays mean branches cannot be moved, so the vehicle is sized to the clearance.

Courts and crescents. Vermont South, Altona Meadows, Kareela-style estate layouts have dead ends where a 12T cannot complete a turn. We check the turning circle on satellite imagery before committing.

The south-east. Bentleigh East, Oakleigh, Clayton and most of Bayside are genuinely truck-friendly — wide streets, real driveways, and our Cheltenham depot minutes away.

volume28 m³

Truck sizes and Melbourne access

Capacity is only half the decision. This is the other half.

Truck Capacity Melbourne access
4 tonne approx 20m³ Goes anywhere — laneways, permit streets, tight courts
6 tonne approx 30m³ Most inner-suburb streets, some laneways
8 tonne approx 40m³ Fine on standard suburban streets; tight inner north
10 tonne approx 50m³ Needs a wide frontage and clear canopy
12 tonne approx 60m³ South-east, west and outer suburbs; rarely inner north

Before you settle on a truck size in Melbourne

  • Check whether your street has resident-permit parking on both sides
  • Look up whether the property sits on a tram route with peak clearways
  • Check the tree canopy height if you are in the leafy east
  • Confirm a 12T can turn if you are at the end of a court or crescent
  • Check whether recent level-crossing works have changed local access
  • Ask your owners corporation where a truck may legally stand
  • Add the garage and shed to your volume before choosing
Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What size truck do I need for a Melbourne move?

Start with your cubic metre figure — 4T holds about 20m³, 8T about 40m³, 12T about 60m³. Then check whether your street can physically take that truck. In the inner north and inner west the street frequently sets a lower ceiling than the volume does, and two legs in a smaller truck is the practical answer.

How many cubic metres is a typical Melbourne 3-bedroom home?

Usually 30m³ to 45m³ including the garage, which suits an 8T or 10T. Melbourne homes with a double garage and a shed sit at the upper end more often than people expect.

Can a large truck get into inner-Melbourne streets?

Often not. Fitzroy, Carlton North, Brunswick, Seddon and Spotswood have narrow streets with permit parking on both sides where a 12T cannot legally stop. We size down and run a second leg, which is faster and cheaper than carrying fifty metres from a legal spot.

Do Melbourne street trees really affect truck size?

Yes, particularly through Canterbury, Balwyn, Blackburn and similar canopy streets in the east. Significant tree overlays mean branches cannot be trimmed for access, so the truck has to fit under what is there.

Are you AFRA accredited?

Yes. Easy Peasy Removals is accredited by the Australian Furniture Removers Association — the industry's professional standard. AFRA members are audited on training, equipment, insurance and practice. You can verify our membership at afra.com.au.

What insurance is included?

Every move includes public liability and goods-in-transit insurance covering damage or loss during transport. For items of exceptional value we can arrange additional coverage — mention them when you enquire.

Do you provide boxes and packing materials?

Yes. Quality moving boxes, tape, bubble wrap and protective materials delivered before your move. You can also add a full packing service so our team does the wrapping and boxing.

Do you move oversized or specialist items?

We move pool tables, home gyms, oversized furniture, garage workshops and most heavy household items. For concert-grade pianos, fine art or wine collections, tell us at enquiry so we can recommend the right transport method.

How accurate is this cubic metre calculator?

The item volumes are industry averages, so the total is usually within 10-15% of what you'd get from a precision walkthrough. It's more than accurate enough to pick the right truck size. Your final quote refines the number using the details you provide at booking.

What if I'm between two truck sizes?

Round up. A single trip in a slightly larger truck is always cheaper than a smaller truck plus a second trip. Our team also has to leave headroom for packing efficiency — an item that measures 2 m³ isn't 2 m³ of usable truck space once it's wrapped and stacked around other things.

How do I estimate the m³ of items I don't see in the list?

Measure it in metres (length × width × height) — the answer is your m³ figure. A cupboard 1.8 m tall, 1.0 m wide and 0.6 m deep is 1.08 m³. If you'd rather not measure, just describe the item when you enquire and our team will add it in.

What's the difference between cubic metres and cubic feet?

Cubic feet is the imperial unit — 1 m³ is approximately 35.3 cubic feet. Australia has been metric since the 1970s, so removalist quotes here are almost always in cubic metres.

Do I need to include packing boxes in the estimate?

Yes. Boxes make up a surprising amount of a household move — often 5-10 m³ once you factor in kitchen, wardrobe, and general boxes. The calculator has line items for large, medium, small and wardrobe cartons.

What if I have specialist items like a piano or pool table?

Add them via the calculator (piano is in Living, pool table is in Outdoor & garage) so your volume estimate is right. Note that these items are also priced as specialist add-ons in your quote — the volume covers truck space; the add-on covers the dedicated crew and equipment.

Read all FAQs →
Easy Peasy Removals — Melbourne and Sydney fleet
Meet the people, meet the trucks

Real people. Real trucks. Real reviews.

The Easy Peasy fleet operates from our Cheltenham VIC depot and Double Bay NSW office. Uniformed crew, AFRA-standard training, and a phone that gets answered by the actual team.

Markus — Managing Director
Markus Managing Director
Andrew — Customer Service Manager
Andrew Customer Service Manager
Bobby — Business Development Manager
Bobby Business Development Manager
Mauricio — Logistics Manager of VIC
Mauricio Logistics Manager of VIC
Camilo — Logistics Manager of NSW
Camilo Logistics Manager of NSW
Customer stories

What our customers say

4.9★ · 1,195 reviews across all Google listings

★★★★★
JP and Chris were very friendly, polite, respectful of our house and did an amazing job. I don’t know how they fit everything into one truck in one go! We’d 100% recommend them. Thanks guys :)
Michelle B September 2026 Verified Google review
★★★★★
Matty and eric were amazing! Lovely guys and Super efficient! Awesome job thanks Easley Peasey we will definitely use you again for future moves!
Merryn Trevethan September 2026 Verified Google review
★★★★★
Very easy to deal with from booking to packing and unpacking the truck. The removal team of David and Oscar were very thorough and careful but also efficient. Highly recommended.
Kerry Holland August 2026 Verified Google review
Read all reviews →

Now you know the truck — get the price.

Enter your pickup and drop-off addresses and get an itemised quote in 60 seconds.

We work with

Victoria Police
Ambulance Victoria
Victoria State Government
Department of Education Victoria
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
NSW Police Force
NSW Ambulance
NSW Government
NSW Department of Education
Homes NSW