For most house moves in Dhaka, the truck size follows the number of rooms. A single room or bachelor move fits in a 1 ton, 7 ft or 9 ft pickup. A one-bedroom flat usually needs a 9 ft pickup or a 2 ton, 12 ft truck. A two-bedroom flat needs a 12 ft or 14 ft truck, a three-bedroom flat a 14 ft or 16 ft truck, and a large flat or duplex a 16 ft or 18 ft truck, or two trucks. Choose a covered truck for furniture, electronics and mattresses, and remember that inside Dhaka, trucks longer than 12 ft can only be booked for trips after 10:00 PM on Truck Lagbe.
The right size saves money twice: you do not pay for space you do not need, and you avoid a second trip when the first truck turns out too small.
Truck size by home size
| Your home | Typical contents | Truck to hire | Dhaka fare range (Tk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single room or bachelor mess | Bed, table, chair, wardrobe or rack, a few boxes | 1 ton, 7 ft or 9 ft pickup | 800 to 2,200 |
| One-bedroom flat | Bed, wardrobe, sofa, fridge, dining table, kitchen boxes | 9 ft pickup or 2 ton, 12 ft truck | 800 to 2,700 |
| Two-bedroom flat | Two beds, two wardrobes, sofa set, fridge, dining set, 20 to 30 boxes | 2 ton, 12 ft or 3.5 ton, 14 ft truck | 1,200 to 2,800 |
| Three-bedroom flat | Three bedrooms of furniture, sofa set, dining set, appliances, 30 to 50 boxes | 3.5 ton, 14 ft or 7.5 ton, 16 ft truck | 1,500 to 4,500 |
| Four or more bedrooms, duplex | Large household, heavy furniture, many appliances | 16 ft or 18 ft truck, or two trucks | 2,500 to 5,000 or more |
| Office | Desks, chairs, cabinets, files, computers | Depends on size; often 14 ft or 16 ft covered | 1,500 to 4,500 |
Fares are from Truck Lagbe’s Dhaka fare chart. The low end of each range is for a move within one area and the high end for the farthest trip within the city. The chart was set before diesel rose to Tk 135 a litre, so expect bids near the top of each range. Covered trucks usually cost Tk 300 to Tk 500 more at the top.
These are starting points, not rules. A family with heavy wooden furniture, a piano or a large showcase may need one size up. A newly married couple in a three-room flat with little furniture may need one size down.
How to work out the size for your move
Count the big pieces
Large furniture decides the truck, not the boxes. List every bed, wardrobe, almirah, showcase, sofa, dining table, fridge, washing machine and steel cabinet. These take most of the space and need careful stacking. Boxes fill the gaps around them.
Think about weight as well as space
Household goods usually fill a truck’s space before its weight limit, but heavy items change that. Solid wood furniture, steel almirahs, books, a stock of rice and a large number of potted plants all add weight. If your move includes a lot of these, go one size up.
Go one size up when unsure
A slightly bigger truck costs a few hundred taka more. A truck that is too small means a second trip at the full fare, extra labour time and a longer day. When you are between two sizes, the bigger one is usually the cheaper choice overall. The choice between a pickup and a mini truck for small moves works the same way.
Consider two trucks for large moves
For a big household, two smaller trucks are often easier than one large one. They fit narrow lanes, can be booked for daytime trips in Dhaka if they are 12 ft or shorter, and let the movers load and unload in parallel.
Covered or open truck?
For a house move, a covered truck is almost always worth the extra few hundred taka. It protects mattresses, sofas, electronics, clothes and wooden furniture from rain, dust and sun, and it keeps everything inside if a rope loosens. In the rainy season, roughly June to October, an open truck is a real risk.
An open truck can work for a short move in dry weather, or for items such as plastic chairs, steel cabinets and potted plants. If you use one, cover the load with a tarpaulin and tie it down well. Covered vans and open trucks are built for different loads, and household goods suit a covered body best.
Timing and access in Dhaka
Timing often decides the truck. On Truck Lagbe, trucks longer than 12 ft can only be booked for trips inside Dhaka after 10:00 PM. So:
- A daytime move is limited to pickups and 12 ft trucks. For a larger flat, book two 12 ft trucks rather than one 16 ft.
- A night move allows larger trucks, with quieter roads, but check that your building allows moving at night and that a guard can open the gate.
Check access at both ends. Measure the lane, the gate and where the truck can park. Many old Dhaka lanes take a pickup but not a 16 ft truck. Tell the owner the floor numbers and whether there is a lift, because the floor and the lift affect labour more than distance does.
Moves also cluster at the start and end of each month. Book a few days ahead if your date falls then.
Labour: how many people you need
The truck and the labour usually come separately unless you book a full shifting service. As a rough guide:
| Truck | Labourers |
|---|---|
| 1 ton pickup | 2 |
| 12 ft truck | 3 to 4 |
| 14 ft truck | 4 |
| 16 ft or larger | 4 to 6 |
Add more for upper floors without a lift, or for very heavy items such as a fridge, piano or steel almirah. Agree the labour price before anyone starts lifting.
Truck only, or a full shifting service?
There are two ways to hire for a house move:
- Truck only. You book the truck, arrange labour, pack yourself and supervise the move. This costs less and suits small moves, people with time to pack, and those with family to help.
- Full shifting service. A team brings the truck, labourers and packing materials, packs and wraps everything, loads, unloads and often reassembles beds and wardrobes. This costs more but saves time and reduces damage. Truck Lagbe’s shifting service with packing and labour quotes all of this together, and bookings can be made up to 30 days ahead.
Inside Dhaka, a standard flat usually costs Tk 8,000 to Tk 12,000 to move with a local mover, plus Tk 2,000 to Tk 3,000 for packing, according to The Daily Star.
Moving to another district
Moving between cities changes the choice. Distance makes a second trip very expensive, so getting the size right matters even more, and a covered truck is the safer choice for a long journey. Fares are set by bids rather than the Dhaka chart and rose after the September 2026 diesel increase: a truck from Khulna to Dhaka cost about Tk 17,500, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Ask whether bridge tolls are included; on Truck Lagbe they are part of the bid. Allow extra time for ferry crossings, which can close for hours in winter fog, and avoid the week around each Eid, when trucks are kept off the highways. If someone from the family can travel with the truck, it makes unloading at the other end much easier.
Tips for loading the truck
- Heavy items first. Load the fridge, washing machine, wardrobes and almirahs first, against the front wall of the truck.
- Mattresses and sofas as padding. Stand them along the sides to protect other furniture.
- Boxes on top and in the gaps. Put heavy boxes low and light boxes high.
- Fragile items last and on top. Glass, TVs and mirrors should be wrapped and placed where nothing can fall on them. The same care applies to any fragile goods in transit.
- Tie everything down. Use ropes so nothing slides when the truck brakes.
Common mistakes
- Booking by guesswork and finding the truck too small on the day.
- Booking a 16 ft truck for a daytime move inside Dhaka.
- Choosing an open truck in the rainy season.
- Forgetting to mention a fifth-floor walk-up, which needs more labourers.
- Booking on the last day of the month without notice.
Choosing the truck is only one step in planning the whole move, from giving notice to unpacking. A single-room move is simpler still: one pickup and two labourers usually cover a bachelor move.
Book the right truck for your move
On the Truck Lagbe app, choose the truck size and body, add the floor numbers and items, and verified owners send bids. A 1 ton pickup inside Dhaka has a fixed fare. Download the Truck Lagbe app to book your move, or call 09638 000 245 for the shifting team.
Frequently asked questions
Which truck do I need for a two-bedroom flat?
Usually a 2 ton, 12 ft or a 3.5 ton, 14 ft truck. Go for the 14 ft if you have a lot of heavy furniture.
Which truck do I need for a three-bedroom flat?
Usually a 3.5 ton, 14 ft or a 7.5 ton, 16 ft truck, or two smaller trucks if you need to move during the day in Dhaka.
How much does a house shifting truck cost in Dhaka?
On Truck Lagbe’s September 2026 chart, from Tk 800 to Tk 2,200 for a 1 ton pickup to Tk 2,500 to Tk 4,500 for a 16 ft truck, depending on distance. Labour and packing are extra.
Can I move my house with a large truck during the day in Dhaka?
On Truck Lagbe, trucks longer than 12 ft can only be booked for trips inside Dhaka after 10:00 PM. For a daytime move, use pickups or 12 ft trucks.
Should I choose an open or covered truck for house shifting?
A covered truck, especially in the rainy season. It protects furniture, mattresses and electronics from rain, dust and sun.
