What Size Van Do I Need?

Sizing Guide

What Size Van Do I Need?

Van sizing comes down to four things: how long your load is, how tall you need to stand, how far you need to drive, and how much weight you’re carrying. Get these right and everything else – racking, running costs, parking – falls into place.

✓  Load & Roof Height
✓  Wheelbase & Payload
✓  Expert Buying Advice

See The Sizing Guide

The Four Factors

Getting The Size Right

Roof Height: H1, H2 Or H3?

H1 – Low
Multi-storey car parks or low garages, no need to stand up inside.
H2 – Medium
Standing room for most adults. The most popular choice for trades.
H3 – High
Bulky, lightweight loads or racking-heavy fit-outs where height matters most.

Wheelbase: L1, L2 Or L3?

L1 – Short
Easiest to park and drive in tight streets or town centres.
L2 – Medium
Adds load length for longer materials, no big manoeuvrability penalty.
L3 – Long
Maximises load length and volume, at the cost of a bigger turning circle.

Load Length

Think about the longest single item you regularly carry – sheet materials, ladders, conduit, pipework. If it doesn’t fit flat without folding or removing bulkheads, size up.

Payload

Payload is the total weight you can legally carry, including tools, materials, racking and passengers. Don’t just size for volume – a van that fits your load but not its weight will leave you overloaded and outside the law.

A Quick Way To Decide

Solo trade, short local jobs: L1H1 panel van
Most trades and small teams: L1H2 or L2H2
Bulky or racking-heavy fit-outs: L2H3 or L3H3
Heavy materials like cable, tiles or aggregates: prioritise payload over load volume
FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is A Bigger Van Always Better?

No – a van that’s too big for the job costs more to buy and run, and is harder to park and manoeuvre on site.

Can I Upgrade Roof Height Later?

No, roof height and wheelbase are fixed at the factory. Choose based on what you expect to carry over the life of the van, not just today’s jobs.

What If My Load Size Varies A Lot?

Size for your most demanding regular job, not your biggest one-off. A roof rack, trailer or occasional hire can cover rare oversized loads.

Still Not Sure What You Need?

Tell us what you carry and how you work, and we’ll help you match the right size van to the job.