Best Vans for Cleaners to Buy in 2025
Did you know, there are an estimated 75,000 cleaning businesses keeping anything and everything spick and span across the UK. Lots of cleaning businesses means lots of vans to transport equipment – so, which are the best vans for cleaners to mop up the competition?
Cleaners are a backbone of the British economy, providing crucial services up and down the country.
Not all cleaning businesses are the same though, with some tasked to take on heavy-duty jobs, while others are more low-key local.
Either way, cleaners tend carry a lot of large and awkwardly shaped equipment, so a van needs to have the outright space and flexibility to swallow kit without impacting mobility.
It means getting the right van for your cleaning business is of the utmost importance – but which are the most polished vans you can buy right now?
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What Makes a Good Van for a Cleaner?
Load Space – Outright load space is king when it comes to cleaning companies so getting a van that has sufficient room for equipment is critical. As different cleaning companies will have specific equipment that relates best to their particular business – such as ladders, water tanks and vacuums – the size of the van you need will depend on what you carry.
Review All Van Dimensions with our handy Load Sizing Guide
Flexibility – The size of a van doesn’t have to entirely dictate whether it will be capable of carrying all your equipment. Instead, some practical features that offer added flexibility can also prove useful to maximise the space you have and potentially allow you to save money. Look out for vans that have double sliding doors, load through hatches that extend the cargo bay and rear-doors that open a full 180-degrees or more.
Payload – Depending on the needs of your business, there is a chance you’ll need a generous payload capacity to cope with the kit and supplies you’ll be carrying on your cleaning jobs. Machinery such as vacuum cleaners and pressure washers can add substantial weight to your payload, while water supply tanks can also have an effect. Medium vans generally provide the best combination of load space and payload without resorting to a more cumbersome large van.
High Ceilings – If some of your equipment happens to be tall – such as ladders or long mops/poles – it might be worth investing in vans that have a high roof. Small vans like the Maxus eDeliver 3 and Kia PV5 fulfil this brief with their taller dimensions, while some medium vans – including the Renault Trafic, Nissan Primastar and Maxus Deliver 7 – are available in H2 configuration.
Manoeuvrability – Cleaning companies operate across a variety of different journeys, from short local jobs to longer range national ones. Regardless, getting a van that is easy-to-drive, manoeuvre and park will be most beneficial so a van allows you to carry out your business and be accessed conveniently.
Economical – Since many cleaning businesses carry out deliveries in the local area, it is likely a van will be tackling short haul, urban-based routes. It is therefore worth researching vans that can reduce your running costs, such as an electric van. With zero emissions and only the cost of recharging to consider, electric vans make a big financial saving, while they are not affected by Clean Air Zone tariffs.
Secure - It is no secret that the scourge of tool theft has been on the rise, so if your livelihood depends on your van, security should be taken seriously. Vansdirect offers lockable racking and security solutions to ensure your new van and its contents don’t fall into the wrong hands.
What Type of Van is Best for a Cleaning Business?
Small Van – A Small Van doesn’t have to mean a compromise on load-carrying ability – in fact, you might be surprised just how much you can fit into a small van. If that works for your business, then the upsides of convenient manoeuvrability, more economical running costs and being a doddle to park make this an ideal choice.
Medium Van – If the dimensions of a small van don’t quite work for you, upgrading to a larger Medium Van still opens you up to myriad quality options. Better still, medium vans offer wider opening apertures at the side and rear, as well superior height if you need it.
Large Van – Large Vans offer the largest load space and potentially the most generous payload capacity depending on which engine and body size you opt for. If your cleaning business handles heavy-duty tasks, carries particularly weighty items or requires more space for a lot of equipment, a large van could be the way to go.
Best Vans for Cleaners in 2025
Renault Kangoo LWB
Body Styles: MWB, LWB (L1, L2)
Engines: 1.3-litre (Petrol), 1.5-litre 95 (Diesel), 1.5-litre 115 (Diesel), 44kWh (Electric)
Load Space: 4.2cu m (LWB)
Payload Capacity Range: 608-975kg
While the Renault Kangoo in medium wheelbase (MWB/L1) guise is close in size to other small vans in its segment, such as the Citroen Berlingo, investing in the larger long wheelbase (LWB/L2) version offers class-leading load space.
This has been made possible by the Kangoo placing almost its entire extended length between the wheels (whereas the Berlingo extends behind the rear axle).
As such, if you’re after a spacious van but want to remain within the confines of small van dimensions, the Renault Kangoo LWB has a lot to offer.
With 4.2 cubic metres of load space, the Kangoo LWB also features a particularly useful 830mm sliding side door on both sides.
Moreover, the larger space on offer from the Kangoo LWB silhouette means it makes for an impressive Crew Van if you need to carry up to five people without sacrificing too much space (2 cubic metres behind the rearmost row).
VERDICT: If you need a Crew Van for five seats or are in the market for a small van with more load space, the Renault Kangoo LWB is a premier candidate
- Citroen Berlingo vs. Renault Kangoo: Which is the Best Small Van?
Ford Transit Custom
Body Styles: L1/H1, L2/H1
Engines: 2.0-litre 110 (Diesel), 2.0-litre 136 (Diesel), 2.0-litre 150 (Diesel), 2.0-litre 170 (Diesel), 2.5-litre (Petrol/Plug-In Hybrid), 65kWh 136 (Electric), 65kWh 218 (Electric), 65kWh 285 (Electric)
Load Space: 5.8cu m (L1/H1), 6.8cu m (L2/H1)
Payload Capacity Range: 846-1407kg
It's hard to go wrong with a Ford Transit Custom, its long-running status as the best-selling van in the UK indicative of just how trusted it is for those who need a medium van.
Its consideration as the van of choice for you can made on its sheer ubiquitousness – after all, can that many people be wrong? – but it should also be noted that the Transit Custom gets all the basics spot on for what makes an excellent medium van.
For one, its payload capacity of up to 1407kg is among the best-in-class, as is its 5.8 cubic metres of load space in L1 trim and 6.8 cubic metres for the L2 model.
Clever touches include a load-through hatch in the bulkhead, while it also has the widest sliding doors of any medium van.
VERDICT: The Ford Transit Custom takes some beating in the medium van class thanks to its spacious load bay, generous payload and wealth of practical touches.
- Ford Transit Custom vs. Vauxhall Vivaro: Which Is The Best Medium Van?
- 2025 Ford Transit Custom Trims and Engines Explained
See Ford Transit Custom Van Deals
Farizon SV
Body Styles: L1/H1, L1/H2, L2/H2, L2/H3, L3/H3
Engines: 67kWh (Electric), 83kWh (Electric), 106kWh (Electric)
Load Space: 6.9cu m (L1/H1), 7.9cu m (L1/H2), 9.4cu m (L2/H2), 11.2cu m (L2/H3), 13.0cu m (L3/H3)
Payload Capacity Range: 1045-1350kg
A brand-new entry into the commercial vehicle segment, the all-electric Farizon SV brings a wealth of innovative ideas to both the medium and large van segments.
A rival to the Ford Transit Custom and Ford Transit, the SV is available in five body styles – L1/H1 all the way to L3/H3 – and comes with the choice of three battery sizes: 67kWh, 83kWh and 106kWh.
With three different length and height options each, depending on the needs of your cleaning business, it is possible to find a Farizon SV that will be just right for you.
Clever touches include a short front overhang (where the engine would normally be), which opens up impressive cargo space of between 7.0 and 13.0 cubic metres, plus the omission of a B-pillar, which allows for easier access to the cab and a huge 1.3m sliding door aperture.
It also has a ‘payload monitoring system’ which uses ride-height sensors to determine the weight of your vehicle in real-time, so you don’t overload.
It also gives a more accurate reading for your SV’s electric range, which is up to 247 miles with the 106kWh battery.
VERDICT: You may not have heard of this new brand, but the Farizon SV’s clever touches means it deserves your consideration.
- 2025 Farizon SV: Everything You Need To Know
FIAT Doblo
Body Styles: L1, L2
Engines: 1.5-litre 100 (Diesel), 1.5-litre 130 (Diesel), 52kWh (Electric)
Load Space: 3.3cu m (L1), 3.9cu m (L2)
Payload Capacity Range: 691-982kg
While it may be one-quarter of Stellantis’ four-strong frontline in the small van class, the FIAT Doblo can often be forgotten versus its bigger selling siblings, the Citroen Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Vauxhall Combo.
In fact, FIAT can claim to have a longer legacy when it comes to small vans with its original commercial vehicles being based on the dinky (and utterly adorable) 500.
More recently though, FIAT has relied on the Doblo as its small van entry, with the most recent model benefitting from each of the same convincing traits as its Citroen/Peugeot/Vauxhall brothers.
That means class-leading load space in L1 specification (3.3 cubic metres) and up to 982kg of payload on certain diesel-powered models.
It also has some useful touches, such as the large load through hatch on flagship trims – increasing the load space by another 0.5 cubic metres – while the frugal electric models can achieve up to 213-miles of range.
VERDICT: There is no reason to not consider the FIAT Doblo if you’re interested in a Citroen Berlingo – the same strong features apply all round.
- 2025 FIAT Doblo: Everything You Need To Know
Mercedes-Benz Vito L3
Body Styles: L2, L3
Engines: 2.0-litre 114 (Diesel), 2.0-litre 116 (Diesel), 2.0-litre 119 (Diesel), 66kWh (Electric)
Load Space: 6.0cu m (L2), 6.6cu m (L3)
Payload Capacity Range: 740-905kg
Where the Mercedes-Benz Vito stands out from other models in the medium van class if that it is offered in L2 and L3 body lengths.
At 5370mm, the Vito L3 is therefore the longest medium van on sale and bridges the margin to what would be classed as a large van, like the Sprinter.
As such, this could well prove to be a winning combination for those who regularly carry long items – such as a ladder – but aren’t keen to invest in a large van.
Load space for the larger Vito L3 is 6.6 cubic metres, while the floor length is a more than three metres.
VERDICT: If you need a long van but don’t want a large one, the Mercedes-Benz Vito L3 makes for an excellent compromise in terms of load space
See Mercedes-Benz Vito Van Deals
Citroen Dispatch
Body Styles: M, XL (L1, L2)
Engines: 1.5-litre 120 (Diesel), 2.0-litre 145 (Diesel), 75kWh (Electric)
Load Space: 5.3cu m (M), 6.1cu m (XL)
Payload Capacity Range: 915-1384kg
The Citroen Dispatch is a stalwart of the medium van class and today’s generation is absolutely the most convincing.
Available in M and XL body styles (L1 and L2), the Dispatch – much like its Peugeot Expert, Vauxhall Vivaro, FIAT Scudo and Toyota Proace siblings – places its emphasis on offering class-leading payload capacity.
As such, nearly every model in the Dispatch range – diesel or electric – is capable of hauling over a tonne of payload.
It also comes with sliding doors on both sides, while upper end models get the Moduwork load through hatch, which increases load bay space by another 0.5 cubic metres.
VERDICT: Thoughtfully packaged with a generous payload, the Citroen Dispatch is well designed as a functional business tool.
See Citroen Dispatch Van Deals
