Most trailer sizes follow a standard grid, width by length, in feet, and picking right is mostly about knowing what each footprint actually swallows. This chart covers the sizes that dominate the US market and the loads they realistically carry.
| Size | Typical type | Typical GVWR | What actually fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4x6 - 4x8 | Light utility | 1,500-2,000 lb | Mowers, appliances, dump runs |
| 5x8 | Utility / enclosed | 2,000-3,000 lb | Riding mower, ATV, small furniture loads |
| 5x10 - 6x10 | Utility | 3,000-3,500 lb | UTV, two quads, landscaping gear |
| 6x12 | Utility / cargo | 3,500-7,000 lb | Small tractor, apartment move, side-by-side |
| 7x14 - 7x16 | Tandem utility / dump | 7,000-14,000 lb | Compact equipment, gravel, big cleanouts |
| 8.5x16 - 8.5x20 | Enclosed / car hauler | 7,000-10,000 lb | Full-size car, job-site kit with shelving |
| 8.5x24 | Enclosed / gooseneck | 10,000-14,000 lb | Long vehicles, race setup with pit gear |
Measure the load, then add margin. Bed length should clear your longest item with room to strap it; for vehicles, wheelbase plus at least two feet. Width is sneaky: on fendered utility trailers, usable width sits between the fenders, a 60-inch mower doesn't fit a "5-foot" trailer. Deckover designs put the full width on top at the cost of deck height. Then do the GVWR math: trailer empty weight plus cargo must stay under the rating, and the whole rig under your tow vehicle's limit. Our hitch and ball size chart covers the coupling side of that equation.
Homeowners live happily at 5x8-6x12 utility. Powersport loads want width and rails, see ATV trailers. Contractors run 7x14+ enclosed so sheet goods lie flat. Vehicle moves take an 18-20 ft car hauler. Material and demo work belongs to dump trailers sized by the yard, not the foot.
A 6x12 tandem utility, long enough for machines and moves, light enough for a half-ton truck.
Yes, but interior height matters too: standard boxes run about 6'3"-6'6" inside; taller options let you stand and rack walls.
If the cargo never moves again, compare our shipping container dimensions guide, a 20 ft box out-stores any trailer per dollar.
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