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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

18 m³ capacity

Best for: Few items, studio, 1-br unit

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $180/hr

6T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

6T Truck

28 m³ capacity

Best for: Studio to 1-br house

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $190/hr

8T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

8T Truck

38 m³ capacity

Best for: 2-bedroom home or apartment

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $200/hr

10T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

10T Truck

48 m³ capacity

Best for: 3-bedroom home

Crew: 2 removalists · From: $210/hr

12T removalist truck — Easy Peasy Removals fleet

12T Truck

60 m³ capacity

Best for: 4+ 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 ~18 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.
Sydney

In Sydney, volume is the easy part

Working out your cubic metres is straightforward. Working out what can physically reach your door in Sydney is not, and it is where most moves go wrong.

Basement docks. Apartment and newer townhouse developments across Zetland, Rosebery, Green Square, Meadowbank and Waitara have basement loading docks with height limits — commonly 2.5m to 3.5m. A 12T will not clear many of them. Check the posted height before you book a truck size.

No-stopping streets. Potts Point, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst, Balmain East, Erskineville and Forest Lodge have streets with no legal truck stopping at all. Either a works zone permit or a smaller vehicle.

Steep driveways. Mosman, Vaucluse, Clontarf, Bilgola, Como and much of the Shire waterfront have gradients a loaded large truck cannot safely negotiate.

The straightforward areas. Much of the Hills, north-west, Sutherland Shire plateau and outer west has estate streets and driveways that take a 12T comfortably.

volume28 m³

Truck sizes and Sydney access

Capacity against what Sydney will actually let through.

Truck Capacity Sydney access
4 tonne approx 18m³ Clears most basement docks, parks on permit streets
6 tonne approx 30m³ Most streets; check dock height clearance
8 tonne approx 40m³ Standard suburban streets; too tall for many docks
10 tonne approx 50m³ Needs kerbside space and a level approach
12 tonne approx 60m³ Hills, north-west and outer west; rarely inner city

Before you settle on a truck size in Sydney

  • Check the posted height limit on your building's basement dock
  • Confirm whether the service lift has a booking system and a size limit
  • Check whether your street permits truck stopping at all
  • Ask strata where a removal vehicle may legally stand
  • Check the driveway gradient if you are on a harbourside or Shire waterfront block
  • Count the flights of stairs if there is no lift
  • Add balcony, storage cage and garage contents to your volume
Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What size truck do I need for a Sydney move?

Start with your m³ figure — 4T holds about 18m³, 8T about 40m³, 12T about 60m³ — then check access. In Sydney, basement dock height limits and no-stopping streets frequently cap the truck size well below what your volume would suggest.

What is the height limit on apartment basement docks?

Commonly between 2.5m and 3.5m, and it is always posted at the entry. Many 10T and 12T trucks will not clear the lower end of that range, which is why we ask which building you are in before setting truck size.

How many cubic metres is a typical Sydney apartment?

A one-bedroom apartment is usually 10m³ to 18m³, a two-bedroom 18m³ to 28m³, and a three-bedroom 28m³ to 40m³. Sydney apartments generally hold less than equivalent-bedroom houses because there is no garage or shed.

Do I need a works zone permit for a truck in Sydney?

On streets with no legal truck stopping — common through Potts Point, Darlinghurst, Balmain East and parts of the inner west — yes. We arrange these through the relevant council rather than risking a fine and a blocked road. For smaller jobs a van often avoids the need entirely.

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
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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
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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 →

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