How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Moving Truck?
A 16-foot moving truck (which fits about two bedrooms) costs, on average, $30 per day plus $0.72 per mile for a local move, along with any taxes or surcharges. If you need a 26-foot truck (which fits 5–7 rooms), your cost goes up to $47 per day plus $0.77 per mile.
Moving trucks cost more than the low prices you see advertised on the sides of U-Hauls. You have to account for how long you’ll have the truck and how many miles you’ll put on it, as well as any surcharges U-Haul wants to tack on.
How much does it cost to rent a moving truck long-distance?
Long-distance moves change things up a bit because most rental companies offer unlimited mileage.
On a roughly 1,000-mile move, the average cost to rent a 16-foot truck is $533, plus gas and surcharges. To upgrade to a 26-foot truck, you’ll pay around $823.
What size of truck do I need?
Most rental companies offer vehicles ranging from cargo vans to 26-foot trucks. Cargo vans will barely fit the contents of a studio apartment, while 26-foot trucks can fit a whole house’s worth of stuff.
| Truck size | Room capacity |
| 9-foot cargo van | 1 room |
| 12-foot truck | 1–2 rooms |
| 16-foot truck | 2–3 rooms |
| 2o- or 22-foot truck | 3–5 rooms |
| 26-foot truck | 5–7 rooms |
Don’t pay for more truck than you need. Getting the right-sized moving truck will lower your costs and prevent your belongings from sliding around and breaking in the extra space.
If you want the widest variety of truck sizes, we recommend going through U-Haul, Penske, or Enterprise Truck Rental. Budget Truck Rental is usually the most affordable, but it also has the most limited range of vehicles.
How much is loading help with a truck rental?
A lot of truck rental companies can hook you up with third-party moving helpers if you need an extra hand loading your stuff onto the truck.
Most third-party companies we’ve seen charge between $150 and $200 to help you load or unload a rental truck. Keep in mind that’s either loading or unloading. If you need help on both sides, you’ll pay that fee twice.
For big or heavy specialty items, like pianos, expect to pay another $200 or so for a mover’s help with that item alone.
How much is truck rental insurance?
If you want to add collision coverage and/or liability insurance to your moving truck rental, that will cost extra. Companies like U-Haul offer insurance options that range from less than $100 to almost $200. From companies like Penske, you’ll pay around $100 for damage coverage and over $100 for liability protection.
Methodology
For the prices in this piece, we took averages from U-Haul, Penske, and Budget Truck Rental’s quote generators for a few sample moves across the country, including in the Midwest, West Coast, and East Coast.
Prices can change depending on a ton of different factors, including where you live and what time of year it is, so be sure to get your own quote before you plan out your moving budget.