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Box truck dimensions

Interior length, width, height, and payload capacity for the standard commercial box truck sizes.

Also called: Box truck sizes, Box truck length, Cube van dimensions

Quick answer

What is Box truck dimensions?

Common box trucks run 10, 16, 20, 24, and 26 feet of box length. Interior width is typically 92 to 102 inches and interior height 84 to 96 inches. A 26 ft box holds roughly 1,600 cubic feet with about 10,000 lbs of payload at a 26,000 lb GVWR.

Last verified by ELD Hub.

Standard box truck sizes

Dimensions vary by manufacturer and body builder, so treat these as the working ranges rather than exact specs. Always confirm interior height against the door opening — the door is usually a few inches shorter than the box, and that is what determines whether a pallet jack and a stacked pallet actually clear.

  • 10 ft: ~400 cu ft, ~3,000 lb payload, no CDL, common for last-mile
  • 16 ft: ~800 cu ft, ~4,300 lb payload, no CDL
  • 20 ft: ~1,000–1,200 cu ft, ~6,000 lb payload, no CDL
  • 24 ft: ~1,400 cu ft, ~9,000 lb payload, often 25,999–26,000 lb GVWR
  • 26 ft: ~1,600 cu ft, ~10,000 lb payload, 26,000 lb GVWR non-CDL ceiling

Interior width and height

Interior width is typically 92 to 102 inches, and interior height 84 to 96 inches. A 96-inch-wide interior fits two standard 48x40 pallets side by side; a 92-inch interior does not, which is the single most consequential dimension for freight loading and the one most often overlooked when buying a used truck.

Pallet capacity

As a rule of thumb, a 16 ft box holds about 6 standard pallets, a 20 ft holds about 8, a 24 ft holds about 10, and a 26 ft holds about 12 — assuming a 96-inch interior width that allows two-across loading and no double stacking.

Weight ratings and what they trigger

GVWR is what determines your regulatory obligations, not box length. At 26,001 lbs or above you need a CDL. Above 10,001 lbs in interstate commerce you generally need a USDOT number, HOS records, and an ELD. This is why so many 26 ft trucks are rated at exactly 26,000 lbs.

Example

A carrier buying a 26 ft box truck for LTL freight checks the interior width first. At 102 inches it takes two 48-inch pallets across with room to strap; at 92 inches it does not, cutting effective capacity by nearly half on palletized loads.

Why it matters for a small fleet

Box length sells the truck, but interior width and door height determine what you can actually load — and GVWR determines whether you need a CDL and an ELD.

Running 1–20 trucks? Compliance starts at $15/truck/month

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FAQ

Common questions

How wide is a box truck inside?

Interior width is typically 92 to 102 inches. A 96-inch or wider interior allows two standard 48x40 pallets side by side; narrower boxes force single-file loading.

How tall is the inside of a 26 ft box truck?

Interior height is usually 96 to 103 inches on a 26 ft box, with the rear door opening a few inches shorter. Confirm the door opening, not the box height, when planning stacked pallet loads.

How many pallets fit in a 26 ft box truck?

About 12 standard 48x40 pallets on the floor with a 96-inch or wider interior, or roughly 6 if the interior is too narrow for two-across loading.

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