Short answer: the best vans to convert in the UK are the large panel vans: Ford Transit, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, VW Crafter, Fiat Ducato (and its Peugeot and Citroen siblings), Renault Master, and for a smaller build the VW Transporter. For a fixed bed across the van, width between the arches matters; for standing room, pick a high or super high roof. The Crafter and Sprinter offer the longest load floors.
What actually matters in a base van
Brochures lead with load volume, but a campervan is about where a person fits. Four numbers decide your layout:
- Load length at the floor. This is your bed plus kitchen plus anything else front to back. Most people want at least a 1.9m bed somewhere.
- Internal height. Around 1.9m or more lets most adults stand after a floor and ceiling go in, which take some height back.
- Width between the wheel arches. The narrowest point of the floor. It decides whether furniture can sit between the arches.
- Maximum load width. The widest point, usually above the arches. A bed across the van needs this to be long enough for you, and most panel vans are under 1.9m, so tall people often sleep lengthways.
Also think about exterior height. A high-roof van is often over 2.6m tall, which matters for car parks; see our height barriers guide.
Best vans to convert in the UK, side by side
Figures in millimetres for the panel van, from Vansdirect's load sizing guides, except the Transporter, which is from Volkswagen UK. They are maximum figures and vary by model year, drive and trim, so measure the actual van.
| Van and size | Load length | Load height | Max width | Between arches | Exterior height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Transit L2 H3 | 3,083 | 2,125 | 1,784 | 1,392 | 2,652 |
| Ford Transit L3 H3 | 3,533 | 2,125 | 1,784 | 1,392 | 2,650 |
| Ford Transit L4 H3 | 4,256 | 2,025 | 1,784 | 1,392 | 2,680 |
| Mercedes Sprinter L2 H2 | 3,375 | 2,009 | 1,787 | 1,350 | 2,620 |
| Mercedes Sprinter L3 H2 | 4,410 | 2,009 | 1,787 | 1,350 | 2,646 |
| VW Crafter MWB high roof | 3,450 | 1,961 | 1,832 | 1,380 | 2,625 |
| VW Crafter LWB super high roof | 4,300 | 2,196 | 1,832 | 1,380 | 2,798 |
| Fiat Ducato L2 H2 | 3,120 | 1,932 | 1,870 | 1,422 | 2,522 |
| Fiat Ducato L3 H3 | 3,705 | 2,172 | 1,870 | 1,422 | 2,760 |
| Renault Master L2 H2 | 3,225 | 1,885 | 1,760 | 1,380 | 2,502 |
| Renault Master L3 H3 | 3,857 | 2,138 | 1,760 | 1,380 | 2,780 |
| VW Transporter (current) | up to 3,002 | not stated | 1,777 | not stated | not stated |
Van by van
Ford Transit
The most familiar van in Britain, which tends to mean parts and garages everywhere. The H3 high roof gives 2,125mm of load height, comfortably standing height even after a floor and ceiling. The L4 trades 100mm of height for over 4.2m of floor.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
The L3 gives 4,410mm of floor, room for a fixed bed, kitchen and seating. Its 1,350mm between the arches is the narrowest here, which is worth checking against your furniture plan.
Volkswagen Crafter
The widest load area of the Germans at 1,832mm, and a super high roof option at 2,196mm, the tallest in this table. The Crafter also comes as a long Maxi with 4,855mm of floor.
Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay
The Ducato has the widest body here at 1,870mm, and the most room between the arches at 1,422mm, which is why it is the base for so many factory motorhomes. The Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay are closely related vans, but we have only sourced the Ducato's figures, so check the Boxer or Relay spec sheet for the exact van you are looking at.
Renault Master (and Vauxhall Movano)
The L3 H3 gives 3,857mm of floor and 2,138mm of height. The Vauxhall Movano has been related to different vans in different generations, so check the spec sheet for the exact year and model rather than assuming it matches the Master. Vansdirect does not say which Master generation its figures are for, so measure.
Volkswagen Transporter
The smaller choice. Volkswagen UK lists the current Transporter's load length at up to 3,002mm (3,450mm with the load-through bulkhead) and width at 1,777mm. Without a high roof or pop-top you will not stand up, but it fits normal car parks and garages, and a pop-top roof is one of the routes the DVLA accepts for motor caravan registration.
Choosing the length and roof
Working from the table: a typical layout of a 1.9m lengthways bed, a 1.2m kitchen run and a little storage needs a bit over 3m of floor, which is why the L2 and L3 sizes of the large vans are the most common choices. A long L3 or L4 adds room for a seating area or a washroom, but adds length when parking and on single-track roads.
For roof height, the H2 or high roof sizes in the table run from 1,885mm to 2,009mm of load height, and the H3, super high and tall versions from 2,125mm to 2,196mm. A floor, insulation and ceiling together usually take a few centimetres, so if anyone in the van is over six feet, the taller roof is worth the extra height in car parks. Height barriers are covered in our height barriers guide.
Before you buy
- Measure it yourself. Take a tape measure to the viewing and save the numbers. Roam's Measurements tool keeps them with your build, in the app now in Roam.
- Check the weight. Every kilogram of furniture, water and battery comes out of the payload, so note the gross vehicle weight on the plate.
- Think about the DVLA. If you want "motor caravan" on your V5C, the DVLA's guidance asks for a high-top or pop-top roof, two or more windows on one side of the body and a separate living-area door. Check the GOV.UK guidance before you buy, and our insurance and DVLA guide for cover.
- Budget for the rest. The van is often half the total. See the van conversion cost guide and the steps in order.
Questions
What is the best van to convert into a campervan in the UK?
There is no single best. For standing height and a long floor, an L3 high-roof Transit, Sprinter, Crafter, Ducato or Master all work. For a van that fits car parks and daily driving, a Transporter with a pop-top.
Which van is widest inside for a sideways bed?
Of the vans here, the Fiat Ducato, at 1,870mm maximum load width. Even that is under 1.9m, so taller people usually sleep lengthways.
Can you stand up in a high-roof van?
Most high-roof vans here have 1,930 to 2,200mm of load height, so most adults can stand once the floor and ceiling are in. Measure the actual van.
Is a medium or long wheelbase better for a conversion?
Long gives room for a fixed bed and kitchen together; medium is easier to park and drive in towns and on narrow lanes. Lay the floor plan out on paper at full size first.
Are van dimensions the same every year?
No. Manufacturers update vans, and figures change with roof height, wheelbase, drive and trim. The numbers here are from dealer load sizing guides and Volkswagen UK, so use them to shortlist, then measure the van you are actually buying.