If you’ve spent any time dreaming about van life, road trips, or building a home on wheels that can actually handle the long haul, chances are the Mercedes Sprinter van has already caught your eye. There’s a reason these vans have become the gold standard for adventure builds, camper conversions, and full-time rigs. They’re spacious, capable, and built for people who don’t plan on staying put.

Before you commit though, it helps to understand what owning and building on a Sprinter really looks like. Let’s break it down.

How Much Are Mercedes Sprinter Vans?

Mercedes Sprinter vans aren’t the cheapest option out there, and they’re not trying to be. A brand-new Sprinter typically starts in the mid $50,000 range and can climb well into the $70,000s or more depending on the configuration. All-wheel drive, high-roof models, and extended lengths can all push the price higher. While a base model could definitely be used for camping or van life, most people add interior conversions like beds, kitchens, or storage to make their adventures easier, which increases the total cost of the van.

Used Sprinters can be a solid option, but the demand stays high (especially for low- mileage vans), so prices hold strong. While the upfront cost can feel like a lot, many people see Sprinters as a long-term investment. They tend to keep their value well and are built to handle serious miles, which matters when your van isn’t just transportation, but also your home.

How Tall Is a Mercedes Sprinter Van?

Interior height is one of the biggest reasons people choose a Sprinter, and for a good reason. High-roof models offer an interior standing height of 6’3”, which means most people can stand up fully without ducking or hunching. That single feature changes the entire van life experience.

Being able to stand comfortably makes everyday tasks like cooking, getting dressed, and just moving around feel normal instead of cramped. Standard-roof options exist, but for full-time living or extended trips, the high roof is usually the move.

How Long Is a Mercedes Sprinter Van?

Sprinters come in multiple wheelbase and length options, which gives you a lot of flexibility depending on how you plan to travel. Shorter models are easier to drive, park, and navigate through cities, while longer versions open the door to more elaborate layouts.

Interior cargo lengths range from roughly 10 feet in shorter vans to over 14 feet in extended models. The extra space can mean a fixed bed instead of a convertible one, more storage, or room for a larger kitchen setup. Choosing the right length is really about balancing livability with how nimble you want your rig to feel on the road. At Earth Ship Vans, we typically stick with the 14-foot extended models because the extra space allows for a larger kitchen and ample storage space without feeling cramped. The 14-foot extended models give you a comfortable home on wheels while still making sure the van is easy to drive and maneuver.

Are Mercedes Sprinter Vans Reliable?

This is the big question; the answer is yes, with proper care. Mercedes Sprinter vans are built tough, designed to handle long drives, heavy loads, and lots of miles. Many owners put hundreds of thousands of miles on their Sprinters with regular maintenance.

That said, maintenance matters. Sprinters require consistent servicing, and repairs can be more expensive than some domestic vans, especially if you’re far from a certified service center.

To provide you with extra peace of mind, Earth Ship Vans supports you with a warranty. Our extended chassis warranty for all of our models covers 5 years or 75,000 miles, and the upfit limited warranty protects your van’s interior for 1 year or 15,000 miles. We recommend staying on top of oil changes, fluids, and recommended service intervals to keep things running smoothly.

Why Sprinters Make Such Great Adventure Vans

Despite their size, Sprinters are surprisingly comfortable to drive. Newer models come equipped with modern safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and collision prevention systems, which makes long road days way easier.

From a build perspective, the strong fundamental framework and high payload capacity allow for fully built-out interiors without compromising performance. Full kitchens, solar systems, water storage, and custom cabinetry are all very doable, and the boxy interior shape makes efficient layouts easier to design.

Where Freedom Meets Function

At Earth Ship Vans, the Mercedes Sprinter is our favorite platform to build on. It gives us the freedom to create vans that are adventure-ready, comfortable, and built to last. Whether you’re planning weekend escapes or full-time life on the road, the Sprinter offers a solid foundation that can handle wherever you’re headed.

At the end of the day, a Mercedes Sprinter isn’t just a vehicle, it's a blank canvas. One built for freedom, flexibility, and chasing whatever’s calling you next.

Ready to build something that can take you there? Let’s get your Earth Ship on the road.

The Ins and Outs of a Mercedes Sprinter Van