Cost to Rent a Moving Truck in 2025
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Rental moving trucks are often used for small and DIY moves. Renting a moving truck lowers costs and gives you more control throughout the moving process. If you have surveyed the best moving companies near you and decided to go with an alternative moving plan, renting a truck could be a good option. We’ve listed the cost of DIY moving in a rental truck for both local and long-distance moves to help you establish an accurate budget.
388 movers requested and received a free no-obligation quote from one of the above companies in the last 30 days.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moving Truck?
Rental rates for box trucks in various sizes range from $20 to more than $150 per day. This does not include mileage fees, fuel costs, and added insurance. Note that this is a basic rate based on our cost research into advertised prices on moving truck rental company sites and pulling quotes online. It does not reflect the total bottom-line price you will pay.
Local vs. Long-Distance Moving Truck Rental Cost
Local moving with a moving truck usually involves same- or next-day returns at the same rental location. Long-distance moves with a rental truck typically entail one-way returns at a second location, higher total mileage costs, and more rental days. We pulled quotes from rental company websites to determine an average cost range.
- Local moves: $100–$400
- Long-distance moves: $800–$2,200 for a 500-mile move
Factors That Impact the Cost to Rent a Moving Truck
Budget for your upcoming move before planning any box truck, pickup truck, or cargo van rental. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, it’s important to set pricing expectations. The following factors play a key role in determining your final costs.
Truck Size
Truck size is a primary cost factor. Different truck sizes suit various home sizes and will have varied fuel efficiencies. Thus, size and fuel efficiency both influence the overall price you’ll pay for your rental truck.
- Pickup truck: U-Haul and The Home Depot offer pickup truck rentals. The Home Depot offers a $19 promotional in-town rate for a 75-minute rental with a $129 24-hour rate. U-Haul’s pickup comes with a $19.95 initial charge, mileage fees, and possible insurance add-ons.
- Cargo van: U-Haul has the most visible cargo van rental option on the market. It has a $19.95 base charge and is large enough for most dorm room or student apartment moves. Penske also offers a cargo van option at a higher base price.
- 10-foot truck: U-Haul’s 10-foot truck has a slightly larger capacity than its cargo van option. It can hold most small studio apartments or single rooms and comes at the same $19.95 base rate.
- 12-foot truck: This is another common small truck option offered by moving truck rental companies. Both Penske and Budget Truck Rental offer a truck of this size, with 450 and 380 cubic feet of storage, respectively. Each can fit up to two small rooms’ worth of furniture and goods.
- Midsize trucks: Midsize rental truck offerings vary from company to company and range from 15 to 17 feet long. Daily rental rates begin at $30 per day and can exceed $150 in many cases, depending on mileage and the rental company used.
- Large moving trucks: Most truck rental companies offer larger moving trucks, which can be 20, 22, or 26 feet long. Storage capacities range from large two-bedroom homes to average three- to four-bedroom homes. Base rental prices begin at $40 per day and range beyond $150.
Mileage
Some truck rental companies offer unlimited mileage. This is true for long-distance and interstate moves with Budget Truck Rental. However, most providers charge a per-mile fee. This can range between 20 cents and 99 cents per mile, depending on which company you use and the time of year you book your truck.
Return Location
You could face additional fees if you have to drop your vehicle off at a different location. Some rental companies, such as The Home Depot and Enterprise, don’t offer one-way rentals. However, national chains such as U-Haul and Penske provide one-way service.
Towing Needs
Most moving trucks and cargo vans have towing capabilities, but you’ll have to rent a tow dolly or trailer. U-Haul tow dollies and trailers cost between $44.99 and $54.99 to rent, so towing is an affordable option. However, your mileage per gallon will decrease because of the added weight.
Moving Date
Full-service moving companies tend to increase rates in the summer months. The same is true for truck rental companies. While base rental rates may not increase, you can expect to see higher per-mile costs between May and September.
Moving Services
Additional services and general add-ons affect your rental rates, just as they do when hiring professional movers. Many truck rental companies, such as U-Haul, offer online portals to help clients hire movers. Some moving truck rental companies serve as retailers for furniture pads and moving supplies, including boxes, packing paper, mattress bags, and more.
Popular Moving Truck Rental Companies
We rounded up some of the best truck rental providers available across the country. The following providers offer different truck sizes and speedy quotes for varied moving needs.
U-Haul
U-Haul is one of the most well-known names in the DIY moving industry. It is a leading option for clients looking to cut down on moving costs and offers some of the best moving trucks available via 21,000 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
- Truck sizes offered: Seven
- One-way truck rentals: Yes
- Additional services: Yes
Penske
Penske Truck Rental provides low-emission trucks with competitive mileage rates (including unlimited miles for long-distance moves). It offers supply packs for homes of different sizes and provides an easy-to-use portal for hiring moving help.
- Truck sizes offered: Five
- One-way truck rentals: Yes
- Additional services: Yes
Budget Truck Rental
Budget Truck Rental is another widely available option with more than 2,000 locations throughout the lower 48 states. It offers discounts for senior citizens, military families, and other groups to make local moving more accessible.
- Truck sizes offered: Four
- One-way truck rentals: Yes
- Additional services: Yes
Enterprise Truck Rental
Enterprise is one of the most recognizable names in the car and truck rental industry. It offers competitive truck rental rates and low mileage fees to help clients budget for moves. Enterprise has relatively few locations compared to other rental agencies—around 500—but it gives customers access to more truck sizes than other rental companies.
- Truck sizes offered: 15
- One-way truck rentals: No
- Additional services: No
Is It Worth It to Rent a Moving Truck?
Renting a moving truck could be the best option for you if you are planning a short-distance or one-way move and have a straightforward moving plan in mind. Moving truck companies often offer moving labor as an add-on, but most people who rent moving trucks opt to do the labor on their own. Consider renting a moving truck if your new home is a one-floor residence and you feel confident driving a truck. To help inform your moving decision, we recommend getting quotes from the top movers available in your area.
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Our Recommendation
We recommend getting quotes from the best moving companies near you before you book a moving truck. Getting a qualified mover to inspect your home and belongings could help inform your moving service needs and budget, whether you decide to hire professional movers or not.
Moving Truck Rental FAQ
What can’t I put in a moving truck?
Most moving truck rental companies will not allow you to pack the following items:Any fuel sourceBatteriesFertilizer or live plantsFlammable or pressurized chemicalsGasoline or oil
What are two-hour minimum charges?
Two-hour minimum charges typically apply to hired moving labor. Most companies that offer moving labor require a minimum payment that amounts to two hours of labor for however many movers you require. This minimum charge applies even if you only need your movers to help with a single item or work for a few minutes in your home.
Do I need insurance?
We recommend an added insurance policy if you’re driving a moving truck over a long distance. Note that many moving truck insurance plans only cover collisions to the front end of the vehicle and not the box and its contents.
How We Chose the Top Moving Companies
We researched and analyzed dozens of full- and self-service moving companies and formulated a moving review methodology based on a number of factors, including package options, pricing, and reputation. We also identified customer pain points based on customer-review analysis, proprietary consumer surveys, and interviews with former and current moving professionals.
Speaking directly to a representative at each company, we determined the number of package options available, the coverage provided, the types of moves available (long-distance, local, and international), and any extra perks offered, such as mobile apps, moving checklists, and 24/7 customer service.
We also gathered pricing data from each of the companies and determined whether they provide ballpark estimates or binding quotes. To determine reputation, we evaluated companies based on their rating with the Better Business Bureau as well as their overall score on Yelp.