The “best” new van for carrying cleaning equipment is usually a small or medium panel van with a low load floor, wide side door and sensible racking options — because most cleaning kit is bulky rather than very heavy. For many UK cleaners, that means a compact van (easy to park at houses) or a medium van (better for larger contracts and water-fed pole systems).

Start with what you actually carry

Make a quick list: vacuum(s), mop buckets, chemicals, small machine (scrubber/dryer), step ladders, waste bags, and whether you carry a water tank (window cleaning) or a generator. A water tank changes everything: 250 litres is roughly 250kg before you add the tank, frame and the rest of your kit, so payload matters.

Size choice: compact vs medium

Compact vans (e.g. Ford Transit Courier, VW Caddy, Renault Kangoo) suit domestic rounds: easy access, lower running costs, and they fit most multi-storey car parks. The trade-off is shorter load length and less payload once you add racking.

Medium vans (e.g. Ford Transit Custom, VW Transporter, Vauxhall Vivaro) are the sweet spot for commercial cleaning: more room for secure storage, longer items (poles/ladders), and space to keep “wet” and “clean” kit separate.

Features that make day-to-day life easier

  • Twin sliding doors if you work kerbside on both sides.
  • Low load height to save your back with buckets and machines.
  • Factory ply-lining and rubber floor for spills and chemical resistance.
  • Proper load-lashing points and a bulkhead to stop kit moving under braking.
  • Heated windscreen/LED load lights if you start early.

Diesel or electric?

If you work in Clean Air Zones or do lots of city miles, an electric van can make sense (quiet, cheap to run, and zero tailpipe emissions). The Plug-in Van Grant is currently up to £2,500 (under 2,500kg GVW) or up to £5,000 (up to 4,250kg GVW), but grants can change — check Gov.uk/OZEV when ordering. If you do long motorway days or can’t charge reliably, a diesel is still the straightforward choice.

Two quick follow-ups to ask yourself

Do you need a tank? If yes, get the payload checked by the converter and keep within GVW (important for insurance and roadside checks). Will you carry ladders? Consider a roof rack and check overall height for car parks.