Cubic Metres Explained: How Movers Calculate Your Quote
The Simple Maths Behind Your Moving Quote
CUBIC METRES, DEMYSTIFIED
Why Aussie removalists ask the question — and how to answer it like a pro.
Here’s a question that catches almost everyone off guard: “How many cubic metres is your move?”
It sounds technical — maybe even a bit cheeky, like the removalist is testing you. They’re not. They’re calculating your price. And once you understand what they’re actually asking, you’ll never be blindsided by a moving quote again.
| The 10-second version A cubic metre (m³) is a box one metre wide, one metre deep, and one metre tall. For movers, it’s the single most important number on your quote — because space in the truck is what you’re really paying for. |
Why Movers Measure Space, Not Weight
Freight companies obsess over kilograms. Household movers don’t. Here’s why:
Trucks run out of room before they run out of strength. Your couch isn’t heavy — it’s just big.
Smart packing saves money. The less space you use, the less you pay.
Interstate moves often share a truck. Unless you book the exclusive use of a truck, on an Interstate move you’re buying a slice of the entire truck space, not the whole vehicle.
Most household stuff is bulky but light — mattresses, sofas, wardrobes. Volume tells the real story.
At Instamove, we use volume as the primary factor when determining your quote. In fact 80% of quotes are simply priced at volume x rate. We have rates for each of the major Australian routes e.g. between the capital cities and major regional hubs. The other 20%? These are the situations that add time or complexity:
Difficult Access — multiple flights of stairs or use of a lift can add time at a pickup or dropoff.
Large / Heavy Items — pianos, pool tables and large safes are most common
Multiple Stops - approx 1 in 10 moves we’re pickup from or delivering to multiple locations.
Travel outside of major regional areas - we add a travel time allowance if your pickup or dropoff requires us to go “off the beaten track” to a remote location. Interestingly, if you live in a regional area that’s “on the way” between to major cities there’s no extra cost.
The Maths (It’s Easier Than You Think)
Forget high-school geometry flashbacks. Calculating cubic metres takes three numbers and one multiplication.
| The formula Length × Width × Height — all measured in metres. That’s it. |
Let’s measure a couch together
Say you’ve got a three-seater lounge:
Length: 1,800 mm → 1.8 m
Width: 900 mm → 0.9 m
Height: 700 mm → 0.7 m
1.8 × 0.9 × 0.7 = 1.134 m³
Congrats — you’ve just done a removalist’s job.
Four tips that’ll save you a headache
Millimetres to metres: divide by 1,000. Always.
Got an odd shape? Round up. Nothing packs perfectly.
Trucks don’t stack like Tetris — leave breathing room.
Don’t forget the forgotten zones: rugs, outdoor furniture, the shed, that cursed garage.
A Quick Volume Cheat Sheet by Home Size
No tape measure handy? These industry averages will get you in the ballpark.
| Home Size | Typical Volume | Approx. Boxes |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1-bed | 8–15 m³ | 10–20 |
| 1-bed unit | 10–20 m³ | 15–30 |
| 2-bed home | 18–30 m³ | 25–45 |
| 3-bed house | 25–40 m³ | 40–70 |
| 4-bed house | 35–55 m³ | 60–100 |
Rule of thumb: your actual volume depends on how much furniture you own, how stuffed your wardrobes are, and whether you’re a “collector” or a minimalist.
| Want the real number in 60 seconds? Skip the guesswork. Instamove’s online quote tool turns your home into a cubic-metre estimate and a price — fast. |
How Big Is It, Really? A Furniture Volume Guide
Some items are sneakily huge. Here’s the cubic metre volume we have specifically calculated for standard household items.
Living Room
| Item | Volume |
|---|---|
| 2-seater couch | 1.7 m³ |
| 3-seater couch | 2.2 m³ |
| Armchair | 0.8 m³ |
| Coffee table | 0.28 m³ |
| TV unit | 0.8 m³ |
| Bookshelf | 0.3 - 1.0 m³ |
Bedroom
| Item | Volume |
|---|---|
| Queen bed (frame + mattress) | 1.5–2.0 m³ |
| King bed | 2.0 - 2.5 m³ |
| Wardrobe | 1.5–2.5 m³ |
| Chest of drawers | 0.5 - 0.8 m³ |
| Bedside table | 0.15 - 0.3 m³ |
Kitchen & Appliances
| Item | Volume |
|---|---|
| Fridge | 0.8–1.6 m³ |
| Washing machine | 0.6 - 0.7m³ |
| Dishwasher | 0.5 m³ |
| Dining table | 1.5–2.0 m³ |
| Dining chair | 0.3 m³ |
Outdoor & Odds and Ends
| Item | Volume |
|---|---|
| BBQ | 1.0 m³ |
| Bicycle | 0.4 - 0.6 m³ |
| Lawn mower | 0.8 - 1.0 m³ |
| Moving box (standard) | 0.08 - 0.1 m³ |
The “gotcha” - Items that can’t be stacked
Experienced removalists can maximise a load by carefully playing 3D Tetris to best stack your load.
However, there’s one common gotcha to be aware of - some items can’t be stacked safely.
Think about a robust metal filing cabinet - we can safely put boxes on top of this. Compare this with a fragile piece of antique furniture - it can only travel safely if there’s nothing above it.
When a piece of furniture can’t have other items stacked either “on it” or “under it”, it effectively takes up the full space above it (e.g. it the internal height of the truck, which is approx 2m).
Matching You to the Right Truck
Once you know your volume, picking a truck is easy. Here’s the quick match-up:
| Truck | Capacity | Best For / Number lounge rooms |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5-tonne | 19-22 m³ | 1–2 bedroom homes / 1 |
| 6-tonne | 25- 33 m³ | 2–3 bedroom homes / 1 |
| 8-tonne | ~ 40 m³ | 3–4 bedroom homes / 2 |
| 10 tonne | 45-48 m³ | 4 bedroom homes / 1- 2 |
| 14 tonne | 65 m³ | Large 4-bed / interstate/ Multiple Lounge Rooms |
| Home size Interstate tip On long-haul moves, trucks can be shared between multiple customers. That means you only pay for the slice of space you actually use — not the whole vehicle. |
Why Your Gut-Feel Estimate Is (Probably) Wrong
Most people underestimate their move by 10–15%.
It’s not your fault — it’s psychology. We see a room, not a truckload. Here’s where things typically slip through the cracks:
Big but light: couches and mattresses that hog more space than expected.
Optimistic stacking: assuming everything packs into neat cubes.
Forgotten zones: the garage, the shed, the top of the wardrobe, under the bed.
Awkward shapes: bikes, kayaks, lamps — they leave dead space behind items.
| Pro tip Add a 10–15% buffer to whatever number you land on. Future-you will thank present-you. |
Across the Instamove examples used in quoting, the same logic shows up over and over: a standard 3-seater sofa is about 2.0 m³, a fridge is about 1.1 m³, and a queen bed with mattress is about 1.8 m³, while most 3-bedroom homes sit in the 25 to 40 m³ range.
At Instamove, we double-check your volume before locking in the quote, factor in access, and do our best to make sure you’re neither underquoted on the day nor paying for space you don’t need.
FAQ — The Questions Everyone Asks
How many cubic metres is a 3-bedroom house?
Usually 25–40 m³, depending on how much furniture you’ve collected and how full your wardrobes are.
How do movers estimate cubic metres?
Through a mix of photos, inventory lists, room counts, standard item dimensions, and years of pattern-matching against thousands of similar moves.
Do I have to measure everything myself?
Nope. A good removalist can estimate for you — but a rough self-estimate speeds up quoting and avoids surprises. If you're nervous, one of the easiest ways is to send us photos or a video of your move, and we'll have a removalist check it in no time.
Cubic metres vs. weight — what’s the difference?
Cubic metres measure space; weight measures mass. For household moves, space wins every time. Your mattress weighs less than your bookshelf but probably takes more truck space.
What happens if my estimate turns out wrong?
Your mover may adjust the quote, upgrade the truck, or — in worst cases — delay the job if the volume blows past the truck’s capacity. The fix: build in a buffer and verify with a professional.
How many cubic metres is a couch?
A standard three-seater clocks in at around 2 m³.
Your Next Step: A Quote That Actually Fits
The fastest way to know your cubic metres — and your moving cost — is to stop guessing and start calculating.
| Get a cubic-metre-accurate quote in under 60 seconds Enter your details, estimate your volume, or household inventory and get matched with the right truck at the right price. No mystery maths, no moving-day surprises. |
