Published figures for a 3.5-tonne Luton van vary from one build to the next. Enterprise lists a hire Luton with a tail lift at 4.0 m long, 2.2 m wide and 2.2 m high inside, around 18 cubic metres, with a payload of 800 kg to 1,200 kg. Other Lutons are shorter or longer, and the size of the box is only part of what decides whether a move fits. The rear door opening, the weight limit, the height of the van and where it can stop matter just as much, especially in London.
This guide sets out what the published figures say, what reduces the space you can use, and what to check at both addresses before you book.
Published dimensions and capacity
Luton bodies are fitted to chassis from several manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, so two vans sold as 3.5 tonne Lutons can differ in size. These three published specifications show the spread. Each source describes its figures as a guide.
- Enterprise, Luton with tail lift: 4.0 m long, 2.2 m wide and 2.2 m high inside. About 18 m³. Payload 800 kg to 1,200 kg.
- Alco Van Hire, Luton with tail lift: 3.91 m long, 2.02 m wide and 2.16 m high inside. 17.1 m³. Payload 1,150 kg.
- Citroën UK, Relay-based Luton, two lengths: 3.48 m or 4.15 m long, 2.06 m wide and 2.24 m or 2.39 m high inside. 16 m³ or 20 m³. Payload 979 kg to 1,147 kg.
Citroën states that its masses and dimensions carry an engineering tolerance of 8%, and that its payload figures assume a 75 kg driver. Treat every figure here as typical, not exact.
From outside, Enterprise gives its Luton as 6.7 m long, 2.25 m wide and 3.3 m high. Alco gives 6.76 m long, 2.15 m wide and 3.25 m high.
Why the box size is not the space you can use
- The rear opening is smaller than the box. Alco lists the load area of its Luton as 2.02 m wide and 2.16 m high, but the rear opening as 1.89 m wide and 1.93 m high. A wardrobe or sofa that fits inside can still fail at the door, so measure the opening as well as the box.
- The space over the cab is for small items. Citroën describes it as storage for items such as load-securing straps.
- Long and tall items take more room than they seem to. A sofa longer than the box is wide has to go in on end. A wardrobe frame taller than the box cannot stand upright and has to travel lying down.
- Wheel arches vary. Citroën says the floor of its Luton is free of wheel arches. Confirm this for the van you are given.
- A tail lift has its own limit. Enterprise gives up to 500 kg and Alco 450 kg. The lift needs clear, level ground behind the van to lower, and it adds weight to the van, which reduces the payload.
Weight and payload
The 3,500 kg in the name is the legal maximum for the van with everything in it, not the weight you can load. The payload is what remains after the vehicle itself. Published figures for hire Lutons run from 800 kg to 1,200 kg at Enterprise and 1,150 kg at Alco.
Citroën’s payload figures assume a 75 kg driver. A second crew member, blankets, trolleys and straps all come out of the same allowance, and our guide to the benefits of a two-men moving team covers why crew size matters. Books, tools, filing cabinets and appliances are heavy for their size, so a dense load can reach the weight limit before the box is full.
Practical rule: ask the supplier for the booked vehicle’s own payload and rear opening, not a typical figure for a Luton.
An ordinary car licence (category B) covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, which is why a Luton at this weight can be driven without a lorry licence. GOV.UK explains the categories, and the weight threshold itself is set out in UK legislation. Check what your own licence entitles you to before you hire.
The limit is higher for electric vehicles. GOV.UK says a category B licence holder can drive an electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of up to 4,250 kg, provided it is a zero-emission vehicle. The 3,500 kg limit still applies to petrol and diesel vehicles. The allowance exists so that heavier electric vans do not have to give up payload, so an electric Luton may be rated above 3.5 tonnes and will have its own payload figure. The figures in this guide are for 3.5 tonne vans, so ask the supplier for the electric van’s own payload and rear opening.
Height, length and access in London
Height is the first thing to check. Enterprise gives its Luton as 3.3 m high and Alco as 3.25 m. Any signed headroom limit below the van’s height rules that route out, which matters for railway bridges, car park entrances, basement ramps and gateways. Ask the supplier for the exact height of the booked van.
At around 6.7 m long, a Luton fills a full kerbside space, and the tail lift platform extends behind it when lowered. On a narrow street or mews, check that the van can reach the address, turn if it needs to, and open its rear doors without blocking the road or pavement.
Goods lifts have their own limits. The inside of the van may be 2.2 m high, but that does not help if the lift door is lower. Measure the door width and height, the inside depth of the lift and the corridor leading to it, then compare them with your largest item once it is wrapped.
Check parking at both addresses. Controlled parking zones, permit bays and red routes each have their own rules, and red routes have stricter stopping rules than ordinary borough streets, so read the signs and check TfL’s current rules. Where you need space outside a property, a parking suspension is arranged through the local council, and each address needs its own. Our guides cover how parking suspensions work for a house move, parking suspension and dispensation and controlled parking zones in London.
Tail lift, low floor or standard
Enterprise describes a standard Luton with a tail lift as suited to heavy items. It describes a low loader Luton as having a floor about 550 mm from the ground, so it can be loaded without a lift, and as considerably lighter. A tail lift needs clear, level space behind the van. A low floor suits loading from the street. Neither changes the legal weight limit.
A note on our own vans
The figures above are for standard Luton vans. Our own vans are Maxi Movers, lightweight low loaders built for moving work. They measure 4.50 m long, 2.10 m wide and 2.70 m high inside, with up to 24 cubic metres of space and a payload of up to 1,600 kg, so the sizes and weights above do not apply to them. The same access checks do.
Is a Luton the right size for your move?
Enterprise positions its Luton for a two or three-bedroom house with bulky furniture. Treat that as a starting point. A studio or small flat may not need one, and a larger home may need more than one trip or a bigger vehicle. The contents, the access and the weight decide, not the number of bedrooms.
For a small, self-packed move, our man and van service may be enough. For a full home move, see home removals, and for a workplace, office removals. Employers moving office contents should also think about manual handling. Opus Safety’s health and safety guidance for builders merchants covers manual handling and loading areas, and the same thinking applies to an office loading bay.
Before you book
- Measure your largest items and every doorway, stair turn and corridor at both addresses.
- Ask the supplier for the booked vehicle’s internal size, rear opening, external height and payload.
- Measure any goods lift: door width and height, inside depth and the route to it.
- Check the route between the addresses for headroom restrictions.
- Check parking at both addresses and arrange a suspension where you need one.
- Allow for the crew, blankets and equipment within the payload.
Best London Removals Ltd, based in Ruislip and covering all London boroughs, can confirm the vehicles and crew your move needs once we know what is moving and where. Request a quote, or see typical prices in our price guide.
This guide is intended as general information. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, contact a qualified professional.
