How much payload does your van need? A guide by trade
The brochure payload is almost never the one you can actually use. How to calculate yours by trade, and how much headroom to leave yourself.
Short answer#
Work out the usual weight of your load and add 25 % headroom: that is the minimum payload you should be looking for. Light parcel work is usually fine on 700–800 kg; for installation, plumbing or light construction do not go below 1,000 kg. And note: the brochure figure is usually measured without accessories, without a full tank and with a single occupant.
What exactly is payload?#
It is the difference between the gross vehicle weight (the maximum the vehicle may weigh on the road) and the kerb weight (what it weighs empty). Everything you put in counts: goods, tools, racking, passengers and even the fuel in the tank.
Take a van with a 2,800 kg gross weight and a 1,756 kg kerb weight: the payload is 1,044 kg. Fit 90 kg of metal racking and travel with an 80 kg passenger, and you have 874 kg left for actual goods.
How much do I need for my trade?#
| Trade | Typical load | Recommended payload |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel delivery | High volume, low weight | From 700 kg |
| Electrician, installer | Tools, cabling, small materials | 800–1,000 kg |
| Plumbing, HVAC | Pipework, boilers, equipment | From 1,000 kg |
| Light construction, renovation | Bags, heavy tools, debris | From 1,000 kg, with headroom |
| Landscaping | Machinery, green waste | 800–1,000 kg |
| Small removals | Very high volume, medium weight | From 900 kg, prioritise volume |
Why leave headroom?#
Because real weight almost always creeps up. Racking gets added, a second tool set, a full tank instead of a half one. Driving above the gross vehicle weight has three concrete consequences:
- A fine, rising with the percentage of excess.
- Insurance problems after an incident, if overloading is established.
- Accelerated wear on brakes, suspension and tyres, plus longer stopping distances.
Volume or weight? Not the same thing#
A common mistake is choosing on cubic metres when the real constraint is weight, or the other way round. Rule of thumb:
- If your load is bulky and light (parcels, furniture, insulation), prioritise usable length and interior height.
- If your load is compact and heavy (building materials, pipework, machinery), prioritise payload and worry less about volume.
Our available vans#
Right now we have two 2,800 kg panel vans with different profiles: one geared to heavy loads, the other a newer all-round choice. Compare their exact payload and weight figures in the vehicles section, or tell us about your work and we will say which one fits better.