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How to Calculate Cubic Metres for Moving ![]() Guide How to Work Out Your Move Size in Cubic Metres ================================================ TipTop Moving Published on 11/07/2026 A cubic metre (m³) is a space one metre wide, one metre deep and one metre high. Removalists measure your whole move in cubic metres to work out the truck size and, for interstate moves, the price. To work out yours, multiply each item's length by width by height in metres, then add everything up. A three-bedroom home usually lands between 25 and 45 m³. You don't need to be exact. You need to be close enough that the truck fits and the quote holds. This guide shows the full method, the faster shortcuts, and the typical volume for a home your size. What is a cubic metre, and why removalists use it ------------------------------------------------- A cubic metre is the standard unit of volume in Australia, set by the [National Measurement Institute](https://www.industry.gov.au/science-technology-and-innovation/measurement). One m³ is a cube a metre on every side. Picture a washing machine with a bit of room around it. For a move, volume is everything. It decides the truck size, how many movers you need, and how long loading takes. On interstate moves it also sets the price, because backloading and dedicated trucks are both charged by the cubic metre. One number worth remembering: **1 m³ holds roughly 8 to 12 medium moving boxes**, depending on how tightly they're packed. So if you're already gathering [moving boxes in Sydney](/blog/where-to-get-moving-boxes-sydney), ten full standard boxes is about a cubic metre of your total. How to calculate your move's volume ----------------------------------- The formula is length times width times height, measured in metres. **Length (m) × Width (m) × Height (m) = volume in m³** All you need is a tape measure and a notepad. Measure the three sides of each large item, multiply them, and write down the result. If your tape reads in centimetres, divide each measurement by 100 first. A wardrobe that's 200 cm tall, 100 cm wide and 60 cm deep becomes 2 m by 1 m by 0.6 m. Multiply those and you get 1.2 m³. Do this for the big items: beds, wardrobes, lounges, fridge, washing machine, dining table. For everything small, count it in boxes and add roughly 0.1 m³ per box. Then add 10 to 15 per cent on top, because things never pack as neatly as they measure. You don't have to measure every teaspoon. Get the ten biggest items right and estimate the rest. Faster ways to estimate without measuring everything ---------------------------------------------------- Measuring works, but it's slow. Three shortcuts get you close in a few minutes. **Count it in boxes.** Ten standard moving boxes is about 1 m³. If you reckon you'll fill 50 boxes, that's roughly 5 m³ of boxed goods, before furniture. **Use your floor area.** Take the floor size of your place in square metres and halve it. A 60 m² apartment works out to about 30 m³. It's rough, but it's a fast sanity check against your item-by-item total. **Use standard item volumes.** Removalists keep average figures for common furniture so nobody has to measure a sofa. These are the ones that cover most of a home: ItemApprox. volume3-seater lounge1.7 m³2-seater lounge1.2 m³Queen bed with mattress1.6 m³Double wardrobe1.2 m³Large fridge1.0 m³6-seat dining table1.0 m³Chest of drawers0.5 m³Washing machine0.5 m³Bookshelf0.5 m³Standard moving box0.1 m³Add the items you own from this list, add your boxes at 0.1 m³ each, and you've got a working estimate. How many cubic metres for your home size? ----------------------------------------- These are the ranges we see on real jobs. They cover an average amount of furniture, so adjust up if you've lived somewhere a long time or have a full garage. Home sizeTypical volumeStudio / 1-bedroom unit10 to 20 m³2-bedroom unit or house20 to 30 m³3-bedroom house25 to 45 m³4+ bedroom house40 to 60+ m³Here's the honest part. The single most common mistake we see is under-guessing. Someone tells us 25 m³ and the truck fills at 40. It's almost always the same culprits: the garage, the shed, the linen cupboard and the boxes of "miscellaneous" that live under the house. When in doubt, round up. A little spare truck space costs nothing. A second trip costs a lot. If you'd rather skip the tape measure entirely, our [moving cost calculator](/calculator) does the volume maths for you. Pick your home type and add your extras, and it estimates your cubic metres and the truck you'll need in about a minute. No sign-up, no phone call. Volume is also the reason two "3-bedroom" quotes can differ, which we break down in our [Sydney removalist cost guide](/blog/how-much-do-removalists-cost-sydney-price-guide). What truck size does your volume need? -------------------------------------- Once you know your cubic metres, the truck picks itself. These are the common sizes on Sydney jobs and the volume each one carries. TruckCarriesSuits4.5-tonneup to about 25 m³Studio to 2-bedroom8-tonneabout 35 to 40 m³3-bedroom house10-tonne pantechabout 45 to 50 m³Large 3 to 4-bedroomThe goal is always one trip. A truck that's slightly too big costs the same to run and saves you a second run across Sydney. A truck that's too small means the crew has to come back, and that's where a cheap-looking quote turns expensive. When we quote your move, we match the truck to your volume so the whole load fits in one go, with a little room spare for the box you forgot about. Frequently asked questions -------------------------- ### How do I calculate cubic metres for a move? Measure each large item's length, width and height in metres, then multiply the three together. A 2 m by 1 m by 0.6 m wardrobe is 1.2 m³. Add up all your items, count small things as boxes at about 0.1 m³ each, then add 10 to 15 per cent for packing space. ### How many cubic metres is a 3-bedroom house? Usually 25 to 45 m³, depending on how much furniture you own and whether you've got a garage or shed. Homes lived in for years tend toward the top of that range. If you're unsure, plan for the higher number so the truck fits in one trip. ### How many boxes fit in a cubic metre? About 8 to 12 medium boxes, or roughly 10 standard moving boxes packed neatly. So 50 boxes is around 5 m³ of your total, before any furniture is added. ### Why do removalists ask for cubic metres? Volume sets the truck size and the crew you need, and on interstate moves it sets the price. The more accurate your volume, the more accurate your quote. That's why a good estimate up front saves surprises on moving day. ### What if my estimate is wrong on the day? A small difference is normal and we plan for it. A large under-estimate can mean a bigger truck or a second trip, which is why we suggest rounding up. If you use the calculator or give us a room-by-room rundown, we'll get you within about 10 per cent before you book. ![](/images/content/graphics/mover-with-box-isolated-landscape.webp) Planning a move? ### Get your free quote today. Tell us your move, get an honest price, and we'll handle the heavy lifting. No callbacks, no pressure - just a quote in your inbox. 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All rights reserved. Made with by [ OFFLINE ](https://offline-ag.com) · Found a bug? Step of 5 How big is your move? ----------------------- Select the size that best fits your home ![](/images/content/graphics/moving-boxes-with-lamp-plant-landscape.webp) nextStep())" class="group flex flex-col items-center rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all" :class="$wire.bedrooms === 'Studio' ? 'shadow-sm ring-2 ring-(--color-brand-600)' : 'shadow-sm hover:shadow-md hover:border-brand-400'" style="padding: 0.625rem 0.25rem 0.5rem; background: var(--color-surface); border: 1px solid var(--color-edge-light)" > ![Studio](/images/content/studio-bed-lamp.webp) Studio nextStep())" class="group flex flex-col items-center rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all" :class="$wire.bedrooms === '1' ? 'shadow-sm ring-2 ring-(--color-brand-600)' : 'shadow-sm hover:shadow-md hover:border-brand-400'" style="padding: 0.625rem 0.25rem 0.5rem; background: var(--color-surface); border: 1px solid var(--color-edge-light)" > ![1 Bed](/images/content/one-bedroom-house.webp) 1 Bed nextStep())" class="group flex flex-col items-center rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all" :class="$wire.bedrooms === '2' ? 'shadow-sm ring-2 ring-(--color-brand-600)' : 'shadow-sm hover:shadow-md hover:border-brand-400'" style="padding: 0.625rem 0.25rem 0.5rem; background: var(--color-surface); border: 1px solid var(--color-edge-light)" > ![2 Beds](/images/content/two-bedroom-house.webp) 2 Beds nextStep())" class="group flex flex-col items-center rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all" :class="$wire.bedrooms === '3' ? 'shadow-sm ring-2 ring-(--color-brand-600)' : 'shadow-sm hover:shadow-md hover:border-brand-400'" style="padding: 0.625rem 0.25rem 0.5rem; background: var(--color-surface); border: 1px solid var(--color-edge-light)" > ![3 Beds](/images/content/three-bedroom-house.webp) 3 Beds nextStep())" class="group flex flex-col items-center rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all" :class="$wire.bedrooms === '4+' ? 'shadow-sm ring-2 ring-(--color-brand-600)' : 'shadow-sm hover:shadow-md hover:border-brand-400'" style="padding: 0.625rem 0.25rem 0.5rem; background: var(--color-surface); border: 1px solid var(--color-edge-light)" > ![4+ Beds](/images/content/four-bedroom-house.webp) 4+ Beds nextStep())" class="group flex flex-col items-center rounded-lg cursor-pointer transition-all" :class="$wire.bedrooms === 'Office' ? 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