Which Tempo or Truck Do You Need for House Shifting?
As a rule of thumb: a 1 RK or a few items fits a Tata Ace (about 7 ft); a lightly furnished 1 BHK fits an 8 ft pickup, but a fully furnished 1 BHK needs a 14 ft truck; a 2 BHK needs a 14 ft to 17 ft truck; and a 3 BHK needs a 17 ft to 19 ft truck or two trips. The volume of furniture decides the vehicle, not the number of rooms.
Booking too small a tempo means a second trip and a longer day; booking too big means paying for empty space and struggling in narrow lanes. This guide matches vehicles to home sizes, explains what a tempo-only booking does not include, and shows when full-service packers work out the same or cheaper.
What tempo and truck sizes are used for shifting?
The figures below are typical for vehicles used in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. Exact deck sizes and load limits vary by model and body, so treat them as a guide.
| Vehicle | Approx. deck length | Approx. load | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Ace / "chhota hathi" | 7 ft | Up to about 750 kg | 1 RK, a student or PG move, a few items |
| 8 ft pickup (Bolero, Dost and similar) | 8 ft | About 1 to 1.5 tonnes | Lightly furnished 1 BHK, single large items |
| 14 ft truck or closed container | 14 ft | About 2.5 to 4 tonnes | Fully furnished 1 BHK, most 2 BHKs |
| 17 ft closed container | 17 ft | About 5 to 7 tonnes | Large 2 BHK, most 3 BHKs |
| 19 ft and 22 ft containers | 19 to 22 ft | Larger loads | 3 BHK and bigger homes, intercity moves |
For local moves we use vehicles such as a Tata Ace and 14 ft trucks, and for intercity moves 14 ft, 17 ft, 19 ft and 22 ft closed containers, matched to the inventory taken at the survey.
Which vehicle do I need for a 1 RK, 1 BHK, 2 BHK or 3 BHK?
| Home | Usual vehicle | Go one size up if you have |
|---|---|---|
| 1 RK / PG / single room | Tata Ace | A fridge plus a bed and more than 10 cartons |
| 1 BHK, lightly furnished | 8 ft pickup | A double bed, a wardrobe and a sofa |
| 1 BHK, fully furnished | 14 ft truck | A steel almirah, a dining set and a full kitchen |
| 2 BHK | 14 ft to 17 ft truck | Two wardrobes, a 3+2 sofa set, and a lot of books or crockery |
| 3 BHK | 17 ft to 19 ft truck | Large solid-wood furniture, or a move from a bungalow |
Bulky furniture fills a truck long before weight becomes a problem. A sofa set, a double bed with storage and two wardrobes take more space than fifty cartons of clothes.
How do I estimate how much space my goods need?
- List the big items room by room: beds, wardrobes, almirahs, sofas, dining table, fridge, washing machine, TV unit.
- Count cartons. A 1 BHK usually packs into 25 to 40 medium cartons; see our packing material guide for the breakdown.
- Check what dismantles. Beds and modular wardrobes that come apart take far less space than ones that cannot.
- Add a margin. If you are between two sizes, the larger vehicle is usually cheaper than a second trip.
A surveyor does this in fifteen minutes at your home and picks the vehicle for you. Our moving cost calculator gives a starting price from the same list of items.
Should I book an open or a closed tempo?
For household goods, a closed body or a covered vehicle is safer: it keeps out rain, dust and prying eyes, and goods can be stacked higher without shifting. An open tempo with a tarpaulin can work for a short dry-season move of a few items.
From June to September in Mumbai, use a closed vehicle and waterproof packing. Our monsoon shifting guide covers the details.
Tempo only or full packers and movers: which is better?
A tempo booked through an app or a local stand usually means a vehicle and driver for the trip. Everything else is yours to arrange.
| Tempo only | Full packers and movers | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle and driver | Yes | Yes |
| Packing materials and packing | No, you pack | Included |
| Loading and unloading labour | Often extra, or you arrange it | Included |
| Dismantling and reassembling furniture | No | Included for beds, wardrobes and tables |
| Responsibility for damage | Usually none for goods | Written terms, with optional transit insurance |
| GST invoice | Rarely | Yes, on every booking with us |
Tempo only makes sense for a 1 RK or a few items, when you can pack yourself and have friends to carry. Full service makes sense once there is a fridge, a washing machine, beds or a wardrobe, a lift or stairs, or you cannot take a day off to pack. Our standard local rates are ₹6,500 to ₹9,500 for a 1 BHK and ₹10,500 to ₹15,500 for a 2 BHK, including packing materials, labour and transport, so the gap to a tempo plus hired labour and materials is often smaller than it looks. See the full rate card.
What should I check before booking a vehicle in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai?
- Lane width and parking. Older buildings and gaothan lanes may not take a 17 ft truck. A smaller vehicle shuttling to a larger one costs less than a blocked street.
- Timing. Some roads restrict large goods vehicles at busy hours, and many societies allow shifting only at set times. Plan the slot with both in mind.
- Lift size. Measure the lift and stairwell for wardrobes and sofas before moving day.
- Distance between floors and the truck. A long carry from the building to the road adds labour time.
Moving within Navi Mumbai? The Navi Mumbai rate guide lists node-by-node prices from our Ghansoli office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which tempo is best for 1 BHK shifting?
An 8 ft pickup fits a lightly furnished 1 BHK. A fully furnished 1 BHK with a double bed, wardrobe, sofa, fridge and washing machine usually needs a 14 ft truck.
Is a Tata Ace enough for house shifting?
A Tata Ace, with a deck of about 7 feet, is enough for a 1 RK, a PG room or a few items. For a furnished 1 BHK or larger, book a bigger vehicle or plan two trips.
Will a 2 BHK fit in a 14 ft truck?
Most 2 BHK homes fit in a 14 ft truck if beds and wardrobes are dismantled. Homes with two large wardrobes, a full sofa set and a lot of crockery or books may need a 17 ft truck.
Is booking a tempo cheaper than hiring packers and movers?
For a 1 RK or a few items, a tempo is usually cheaper. Once you add packing materials, labour for loading and unloading and furniture dismantling, full packers and movers often cost a similar amount and take responsibility for the work.
Should I book an open or closed tempo for shifting?
Book a closed or covered vehicle for household goods, especially in the monsoon. An open tempo with a tarpaulin is acceptable only for short, dry-weather moves of a few items.
Not sure which vehicle you need? Book a free survey. We list your goods, pick the vehicle and give you a written quote with packing, labour and transport included.
Book a Free Survey Slot Call +91 99877 83407Sources
- Manufacturer specifications for small commercial vehicles such as the Tata Ace; deck sizes and load limits vary by model and body
- Multishift local shifting page and intercity relocation page for the vehicles we use, checked 16 October 2026
- Multishift rate card, October 2026