How to calculate the cubic volume of 3-bedroom furniture loads

To calculate the cubic volume of furniture for a 3-bedroom home, use the basic volume formula and sum up all items. Here’s how:

The Basic Formula

Volume = Length × Width × Height

Measure all three dimensions in the same unit (meters or feet), then multiply them together.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Measure Each Item

  • Length (L): Longest side

  • Width (W): Side-to-side

  • Height (H): Floor to top

  • For irregular furniture (sofas, lamps), picture an imaginary “bounding box” around it and measure that

2. Calculate Individual Volume

  • In cubic meters (m³): L × W × H (in meters)

  • In cubic feet (ft³): L × W × H (in feet)

  • Example: A bed 2m × 1m × 1.5m = 2 × 1 × 1.5 = 3 m³

3. Convert Units (if needed)

  • cm³ to m³: Divide by 1,000,000 (1 m³ = 1,000,000 cm³)

  • in³ to ft³: Divide by 1,728 (1 ft³ = 1,728 in³)

4. Multiply by Quantity

  • Count how many of each item you have

  • Total = Volume per item × Number of items

5. Add All Items Together

  • Sum volumes from all rooms (living room, 3 bedrooms, kitchen, dining)

Reference Volume Chart for Common Furniture

Item Volume (Cubic Feet)
Single bed 30 ft³
Double bed 50 ft³
Bookcase 15 ft³
Dining chair 5 ft³
Armchair 10 ft³
Chest of drawers 20 ft³
Fridge 30 ft³
Freezer 30 ft³
3-seater sofa 40 ft³
2-seater sofa 30 ft³
Desk 20 ft³
Wardrobe 40 ft³
Removal box 4 ft³
Book box 3 ft³

Typical 3-Bedroom Home Volume

Home Type Volume (m³) Volume (ft³)
3-Bedroom House 35 – 50 m³ 1,236 – 1,766 ft³

Quick Tips

Cubic metre visualization
  • Round measurements up to account for packing materials and odd shapes

  • Disassemble furniture (remove legs, shelves) to reduce bounding box size

  • Vacuum-pack soft goods (duvets, coats) to compress volume dramatically

  • Pack smaller items in boxes—they stack neatly and create clean, measurable blocks

  • Use online calculators for instant estimates by selecting items room-by-room

shows what 1 cubic meter looks like (a 1m × 1m × 1m space filled with furniture), while illustrates measuring a single armchair’s cubic volume.

For accurate quotes, most movers recommend scheduling an in-home assessment where they measure your actual load.