Van size guide

Like cars, vans come in all shapes and sizes, but it can’t always be easy to find the right one for your requirements. Our guide helps

Just as there are an infinite number of things you might want to carry inside a van, there are a great number of different van sizes available. The proper definition of a ‘van’ ranges from car-derived vans at the very bottom – vehicles as small as the Dacia Spring Cargo – up to vehicles that can weigh as much as 7.2 tonnes, such as the biggest Iveco Daily.

But which size of van is right for you and your needs – and how do you know what size you’re getting? Van manufacturers don’t always make it easy, quoting capacity in cubic metres, litres, or by how many pallets you can get inside. You might see van sizes referred to as L2 H1, XL, Long, or any variety thereof – and sometimes, they just leave you guessing.

It’s especially important when you start looking at bigger vans, as restrictions on your driving licence can leave you wondering ‘What size van can I drive?’. Our vans size guide will take you through the jumble.

How to measure a van’s size

Commercial vehicle manufacturers use a wide range of nomenclature to communicate how large their vans are – but it’s usually quite easy to decipher what they mean once you know what to look for.

Van length

This refers to body length, or the overall length of the vehicle. It’s usually communicated as an L followed by a number – with L1 being the shortest, followed by L2, L3 and so forth. This only helps you compare different sizes of the same van, though – an L2 Ford Transit Custom is much smaller than an L2 Fiat Ducato, for example.

Some manufacturers may also use ‘Medium’, ‘Long’ and ‘Extra-Long’, or similarly, ‘M’, ‘L’ and ‘XL’ – all are rather self-explanatory. If you’re just looking to measure the length of a van, you can find this in its Carwow van review or on the manufacturer’s website, listed in millimetres.

Van width

Generally speaking you don’t get to choose the width of your van like you do the length or height, so van width is just measured in millimetres – though you’ll usually see two measurements, one including the door mirrors and one without. A wider van will usually have a wider load area and more cargo space.

Van height

This is usually communicated by an H followed by a number – H1 or H2 are the most common, with rare H3 models. Again, some manufacturers may choose to label this differently, such as ‘High’ and ‘Extra High’. You’ll often find that the roof height you can specify is limited by the length of vehicle you choose – an L1 H3 van would look rather gawky, wouldn’t it?

Wheelbase

This refers to the distance between the front and rear axles. A van with a shorter wheelbase is typically more manoeuvrable, while a longer wheelbase is more stable and comfortable. Wheelbase usually grows with the vehicle’s body length, but it’s not uncommon for extra-long variants to use the same wheelbase but have a greater rear overhang. It’s typically measured in millimetres.

Payload capacity

Measured in kilograms, this is the most important metric for businesses with heavy-duty needs. Payload refers to how much cargo the van can carry – its weight limit, in effect, after the weight of a driver and fuel have been taken in. It ranges vastly, and even quite comparable vehicles can be split by their payload.

Payload isn’t to be confused with gross vehicle weight (below). Every version of a van will have a slightly different payload, with higher-specced models, bigger engines and extras such as four-wheel drive all eating into capacity. You can find details on the manufacturer’s website.

Gross vehicle weight

The overall heaviest that the vehicle is allowed to be, when taking into account the van’s own weight, the driver, fuel and fluids, and a full payload. If this is over 3.5 tonnes, then the driver is required to have category C1 on their licence. You may also see gross train weight, which is the gross vehicle weight plus the maximum the van is allowed to tow.

Load space

This can be measured in cubic metres or in smaller vans or car-derived vans, litres. Often the dimensions of the load area – measured in millimetres – are more important than its capacity, especially if you want to carry long or bulky items.

What are the different van sizes?

Small vans

Examples of small vans include the Citroen Berlingo or Renault Kangoo. Typically shorter than 4.5m in length and around 1.8 or 1.9m in width, they’re short enough to fit into garages or multistorey car parks.

Small vans typically only have two seats, but a few will have a double front passenger seat to accommodate three at a tight squeeze. Some are also available as five-seater crew cabs. Small vans often have the cleverest loading features to maximise their compact size – such as load-through bulkheads or internal roof racks. Payloads range from around 500kg up to just over a ton.

Medium vans

This includes vehicles such as the Ford Transit Custom, Vauxhall Vivaro or Mercedes Vito. These vans are around 5m in length in their standard forms, and with their normal roof heights typically sit just under 2m to enable them to still go most places that a regular car can.

Typically these vans have payloads of around 800kg up to 1,200kg and can carry items of more than 2.5m in length. They come with a double front passenger seat for three people as standard, but can usually be specified with separate front seats – there are also crew van or shuttle bus variants with more seats.

Large vans

Large vans have a huge range of sizes because heavy-duty models can even cross over with some small lorries. If you’re staying under 3.5 tonnes in gross vehicle weight, though, a typical large van such as a Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter or Renault Master will range from about 5.5 – 6.5m in length, around 2.5m in width, and 2.5 – 3.0m in height depending on their roof.

These vans have wider cabs for three seats, and can sometimes be had as crew cabs or full-blown minibuses. Payload capacities range from around 1,200kg up to nearly two tonnes, making these the biggest and most capacious panel vans available.

Luton vans

Luton vans are based on large van chassis but have a bigger body on the back, as well as an overcab section. They’re typically similar dimensions to a large panel van on the road, but squarer and able to accommodate bigger loads. Payload capacities are similar but can be reduced if the Luton conversion is very heavy.

Pickup trucks

Large pickup trucks aren’t quite such big business as they used to be after tax changes but still provide a good option for those who need to carry plenty but still want the comfort of a car. The vast majority of pickups on sale in the UK are double cab models, with five seats inside and a load bed at the rear.

They measure between 5.0 and 5.5m in length, around 2.4m wide with mirrors and will have a payload of just over a tonne in their load beds – with a few exceptions for very specialised models.

Dropside and tipper vans

Like Lutons, these are typically based on large van chassis, though smaller variants are available for specialised purposes. They have a flat, open load area on the back, which on a dropside has hinged side panels and on a tipper can be tilted upright. They have similar dimensions and payloads to large panel vans though may be a touch wider.

What size of van can I drive?

That depends on the type of licence you have. Drivers with a standard category B car licence can drive a van up to 3.5 tonnes in gross vehicle weight – this includes the vast majority of light commercial vehicles up to large panel vans.

If you want to drive something bigger, you need the C1 category on your licence. If you passed your test before 1997, you have this automatically – but younger motorists will need to pass a separate driving test. This then lets you drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes in gross vehicle weight.

An exception is made for large electric vans, allowing for the extra weight of the batteries – you’re allowed to drive electric vans up to 4.25 tonnes on a standard car licence regardless of your age.

Van size FAQs

What is the average size of a van?

There is no one ‘average’ sized van – they range tremendously in size from smaller than most cars to larger than some lorries. The most ubiquitous size, though, is the medium panel van – the Ford Transit Custom is an example of this and is the best-selling vehicle of any kind in the UK. It’s just over 5m long, 2.3m wide and just under 2m tall.

Is a Luton van 3.5 tonne?

You’ll need to check with the specific van, as a Luton van is no guarantee of its weight. Some Lutons dip under 3.5t in weight to allow more people to drive it – increasingly an issue as the ‘grandfathered’ rights of older licence-holders stop applying with each year. Some Luton vans, though, are well over this threshold, so check before you drive.

What is the largest van you can drive on a car licence?

The biggest vans you can drive have a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. This encompasses many large panel vans including the Renault Master, Mercedes Sprinter and Iveco Daily.

Time for a new van? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your van quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a van brand new or are after something used, Carwow is your one stop shop for a new van.

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