Guide · U-Haul · Moving weight
How much does a U-Haul truck weigh? Empty weight, max load and GVWR
An empty U-Haul weighs from about 4,500 lb (the pickup) to about 13,100 lb (the 26-foot truck), according to U-Haul’s own equipment pages. Here is every size side by side, what the numbers mean for how much you can pack, and why a PPM move still needs a real empty weight ticket.
Figures below were read from U-Haul’s equipment pages on 4 Nov 2026. U-Haul says all rental truck measurements are approximate and the equipment you receive may vary between production models. WeighHere is independent and not affiliated with U-Haul or CAT Scale.
U-Haul truck weights by size
| U-Haul vehicle | Empty weight | Max load | GVWR (gross) | Towing capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup truck | 4,474 lb | 2,280 lb | 6,800 lb | up to 6,000 lb |
| Cargo van | 4,985 lb | 4,030 lb | 9,070 lb | not listed |
| 10-foot truck | 5,790 lb | 2,850 lb | 8,600 lb | up to 6,000 lb |
| 15-foot truck | 8,115 lb | 6,385 lb | 14,500 lb | up to 10,000 lb |
| 20-foot truck | 8,800 lb | 5,700 lb | 14,500 lb | up to 7,500 lb |
| 26-foot truck | 13,140 lb | 12,859 lb | 25,999 lb | up to 10,000 lb |
Two things stand out. The 15-foot and 20-foot trucks share the same 14,500 lb rating, so the bigger box actually carries less: U-Haul lists 6,385 lb of load for the 15-foot truck and 5,700 lb for the 20-foot. And the 26-foot truck roughly doubles the cargo of either one.
Sources: U-Haul pickup truck · U-Haul cargo van · U-Haul 10′ truck · U-Haul 15′ truck · U-Haul 20′ truck · U-Haul 26′ truck. Read 4 Nov 2026.
What empty weight, max load and GVWR mean
- Empty weight is the truck with nothing in the box. On a scale ticket this is the tare weight.
- GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the most the truck may weigh loaded: truck, fuel, people, and everything you packed.
- Max load is U-Haul’s figure for how much cargo you can add. For most sizes it is the GVWR minus the empty weight. On the pickup, cargo van and 10-foot truck the published numbers do not add up exactly, which is one more reason to trust a scale over a spec sheet.
- Towing capacity is separate. A car on a tow dolly or auto transport is not part of the truck’s max load, but it is part of what the whole rig weighs on a scale.
Your passengers count against the GVWR too. If two adults ride up front, that weight comes out of what you can put in the back.
Why the published empty weight is not enough for a PPM
If you are doing a military Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly DITY), you are paid on the weight you actually haul. DFAS asks for copies of certified weight tickets, one for the gross (full) weight and one for the tare (empty) weight. Military OneSource says the tickets must come from a certified scale and that you need a pair for each trip. A number from U-Haul’s website is not a certified ticket, and the truck on your lot may not match it.
So weigh the real truck: once empty, with anything it will tow hooked up, then again full. Our PPM weight ticket guide covers fuel, passengers, and what has to be printed on each ticket, and the free PPM weigh-day checklist fits on one page.
Sources: DFAS, Personally Procured Moves (PPM) · Military OneSource, PCS and Moving FAQs
Am I overloaded? Weigh it and check
You cannot eyeball a full moving truck. Boxes of books and a packed garage add up fast, and the 10-foot truck only has about 2,850 lb of room. The only real answer is a scale.
- Weigh after loading, with fuel in the tank and anything you are towing hooked up the way you will drive.
- Read the truck’s gross on the ticket. For a truck alone, compare it with the GVWR above, or better, with the rating on the label inside the driver’s door of your actual truck.
- If you are over, take something out and reweigh. At a CAT Scale a reweigh of the same vehicle on the same scale within 24 hours is cheaper than a first weigh.
CAT Scale says its scales weigh vehicles between 2,000 and 200,000 lb, so every U-Haul truck is well within range, even the pickup. CAT lists $15.25 for a first weigh and $5.25 for a reweigh in the U.S. (checked 4 Nov 2026). In California, a weighmaster certificate costs more. Our CAT Scale cost guide explains the reweigh rules and the free Weigh My Truck app, and how CAT’s three platforms work shows where to stop on the scale.
Sources: CAT Scale FAQ (Q12, Q22) · CAT Scale, How To Weigh
The 26-foot truck and the 26,001 lb line
U-Haul rates its 26-foot truck at 25,999 lb gross. FMCSA’s Class B commercial license class starts at single vehicles rated at 26,001 lb or more. That is why the rating matters: stay under it on the scale, not just on paper. If you are unsure what license your trip needs, ask U-Haul or your state licensing office rather than guessing.
Source: FMCSA, Commercial Driver’s License classes
Where to weigh a U-Haul
Use a certified public scale: a CAT Scale at a truck stop or a dedicated public scale house. Highway weigh stations are for enforcement and do not sell tickets. See public scale vs highway weigh station. Popular areas for movers:
- California: Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego, Inland Empire, Sacramento, PPM scales in Southern California
- Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico: Phoenix, Tucson / Benson, Las Vegas, Albuquerque
- Texas: El Paso, Amarillo
- Utah, Idaho and the Northwest: Salt Lake City, Boise, Portland, Spokane
See all WeighHere areas.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an empty 26-foot U-Haul weigh?
U-Haul lists the 26-foot truck at 13,140 lb empty, with a 12,859 lb max load and a 25,999 lb gross vehicle weight rating. U-Haul also says its measurements are approximate and the truck you get may vary, so weigh it if the number matters.
How much does an empty 15-foot U-Haul weigh?
U-Haul lists the 15-foot truck at 8,115 lb empty, with a 6,385 lb max load and a 14,500 lb gross vehicle weight rating.
Can I use U-Haul’s published empty weight for my PPM?
No. DFAS asks for certified weight tickets, one for the empty (tare) weight and one for the full (gross) weight. A number from a website is not a certified ticket. Weigh the actual truck empty, then again full.
What is the difference between max load and GVWR?
GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is the most the loaded truck may weigh, including the truck itself. Max load is U-Haul’s figure for how much cargo you can add. For most trucks, empty weight plus max load comes out at or near the GVWR.
Do I need a CDL to drive a 26-foot U-Haul?
The 26-foot truck is rated at 25,999 lb, one pound under the 26,001 lb mark FMCSA uses for Class B commercial vehicles. Do not load it past its rating. If you are unsure about your situation, ask U-Haul or your state licensing office.
Where can I weigh a U-Haul?
Any certified public scale that takes walk-up customers, including CAT Scales at truck stops. CAT says its scales weigh vehicles between 2,000 and 200,000 lb, so every U-Haul truck is in range. Highway weigh stations are for enforcement, not for selling tickets.
How much does it cost to weigh a U-Haul at a CAT Scale?
CAT Scale lists $15.25 for a first weigh and $5.25 for a reweigh of the same vehicle on the same scale within 24 hours (checked 4 Nov 2026). California weighmaster certificates cost more. Confirm at the fuel desk.