Your van’s full. The next one has to fit the work you do now, not the work you did when you started. The first question is simple. Will your load fit? This guide answers that, from small vans to Luton’s and low loaders. Every figure is in one table. Every figure is in one table. Measure your biggest load and see which vans take it. 

The short answer 

• A bulky load needs three things: enough load length, enough width between the wheel arches and enough load height. It also has to get through the door. 
• Volume is the quickest comparison: from 3.1m³ in the Volkswagen Caddy Cargo to 20.1m³ in the Renault Master Luton. 
• Small vans run out of room first. None in our table has more than 2,230mm of floor or 1,272mm of height. 
• Large panel vans give you 3,375mm to 4,300mm of floor and up to 2,172mm of height. 
• Luton’s and low loaders add a square box with no curved sides. Low loaders also have a lower floor, so heavy, bulky items are easier to load. 
• More space doesn’t mean more weight. The Master Luton has nearly four times the Vivaro’s space but carries 320kg less. 

How to check your bulky load will fit 

1. Measure your biggest item: length, width and height. 
2. Check its length against the van's load length. 
3. Check its width against the width between the wheel arches, the narrowest point in most vans. 
4. Check its height against the load height and check it will go through the rear or side door. 
5. Add up the weight of a full load and check it against the payload. 
6. Loading heavy, bulky items every day? A low loader's lower floor saves your back and your time. 

How we got the numbers 

Every figure is the manufacturer’s, from each van’s page on our site. We haven’t measured these vans ourselves. 

• Figures are for a typical van of that model and year. Check the spec of the exact van you’re buying. 
• Load length is the floor length. Hatches through the bulkhead aren’t counted. 
• Luton’s and low loaders get their load space from the body builder doing the conversion of a chassis cab. There's plenty of options on these, we can even do custom made sizes to fit you.  
• Payload is the gross vehicle weight minus the kerbweight. 

The table 

All measurements in mm unless shown. Manufacturer figures; checked on 9th Nov. 2026. 

*+5% variance weighed without driver and fuel 

Load length isn’t the whole story 

Load length tells you whether it fits. Payload tells you how much you can carry. 

Payload. How much you can actually carry, once the van itself is accounted for. The Master low loader has 19m³ of space and a 1,100kg payload. The Vivaro has 5.3m³ and a 1,384kg payload. The Luton's box body and tail lift count towards its own weight. That's weight you can't load. Start with what typically fills your van up first. If it's space, go by load length and volume. If it's weight, go by payload. Thinking of a low loader?  

See the Renault Master and Nissan Interstar low loaders on offer. 

Which van fits a 3m pipe? 

A 3m length of pipe, conduit or timber needs 3,000mm of floor. Every large panel van in the table has it. The only medium van that does is the Transit Custom L2, with 2mm to spare. The Renault Trafic LL30 is 63mm short. 

Will an 8x4 sheet fit in a van? 

An 8x4 sheet (the same as a 2.4m sheet) is 2,440mm long and 1,220mm wide. To lie flat, it needs more than 2,440mm of load length and more than 1,220mm between the wheel arches. Small vans fall short on length, not width. The Berlingo M clears the arches by 9mm but is 623mm too short. Medium vans take it, some only just. The Vivaro has 72mm of length and 38mm of width to spare. If you load sheets every day, the Transit Custom L2 or a large van leaves room for the rest of the job. 

What the size codes mean 

L1, L2, L3 is body length. Short, medium and long. The exact measurement differs between manufacturers. H1, H2, H3 is roof height. Low, medium and high. Check it against your access heights before you check it against your kit. Some ranges go up to L4. Others use their own names, like SWB and LWB, short and long wheel nase. That’s why the table lists each maker’s own code. 

Frequently asked questions 

What is van load length? 

The usable floor length inside the back. This is the number that answers whether your load fits or not. 

How do I check if my load will fit in a van? 

Measure your biggest item. Its length must be less than the load length, its width less than the width between the wheel arches and its height less than the load height. Then check it will go through the door and that the full load is within the payload. 

Will an 8x4 sheet fit in a van? 

It will lie flat if the van has more than 2,440mm of load length and more than 1,220mm between the wheel arches. SWB medium sized panel vans generally don't fit them. The large panel vans in our table clears both. 

Will an 8x4 sheet fit in a small van? 

No, not flat in any of the small vans in our table. The longest, the Renault Kangoo L2, is 210mm short. 

Which van carries the most weight? 

In our table, the Ford Transit 350 L3 H2, with its 1,415kg payload. A bigger van doesn’t always carry more. Check the payload for the exact van you’re buying. 

Is load length the same as van length? 

No. Van length includes the cab and the bonnet. Load length is just the usable floor in the back. 

Not sure which van fits your load? 

Tell us what you carry and how often. We’ll match it to a van that takes it. We’ll work out the details and let you know how soon you can get it. 

Call us on 0117 453 1631.