How Much Does Renting a Moving Truck Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $30 - $3,500
The average cost to rent a moving trunk spans from $30 to $3,500, with a national average of $1,000. Budget more if you plan to purchase moving insurance.
Preparing for a long-haul move, but not sure how much to budget for moving truck expenses? Renting a moving truck costs between $20 and $5,300 to rent a moving truck or van, depending on the rental company, the size of the vehicle, and the distance you are moving.
- Average
- $1,000
- Low end
- $20
- high end
- $5,300
For example, you can rent an 8-foot pickup truck starting at $20 per day to move locally with a small number of items. However, if you need to rent a 26-foot truck to move across the country, the quoted price can be $100 daily. The average moving truck rental cost is $60 daily. Let’s take a look at the cost factors involved in calculating the price of renting a moving truck.
Moving Truck Cost Factors
It’s important to understand what drives the price of a moving truck rental to help you figure out where you can cut costs. There are seven main factors: vehicle type, distance, rental period, packing materials, labor, gas, and moving insurance.
Cost to Move Locally vs. One-Way
If you’re moving across town, your moving truck costs will be significantly less than a one-way trip to a farther location. Renting a moving truck for a local move costs between $130 for a one-bedroom home and $190 for a five-bedroom home. For example, the mileage cost to move 10 miles across town in a moving van could cost as low as $10.
On the other hand, a one-way trip for a one-bedroom home costs an average of $1,790 and $2,210 for a five-bedroom home. While this higher cost may be inevitable if you’re making a long-distance move, it’s important to consider when creating your moving budget.
Moving a two-bedroom home 1,000 miles away could cost $2,000 or more.
| Type of Move | Average Truck Rental Cost |
|---|---|
| Local | $10–$200 |
| Long-distance | $300–$2,000+ |
Rental Period
Many rental companies charge based on the amount of time that you keep the trucks or equipment. This factor is especially true with trailers because, unlike vehicles, you pay based on how long you keep the trailer, not by mileage. For example, if you complete your move in one day, it will cost you significantly less than if it takes you a week to drive and unload.
| Rental Period | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Daily | $20–$100 |
| Weekly | $140–$700 |
Vehicle Type
As a rule of thumb, the bigger the truck, the more it will cost. Transporting your items with a small truck is the cheapest option while renting a large box truck will be more expensive. If you’re moving many large pieces of furniture a far distance, you may not have the option to rent smaller moving vehicles.
| Truck Size | Average Cost per Day |
|---|---|
| Pickup truck | $19.95 + per mile cost |
| Cargo van | $19.95 + per mile cost |
| 10–12 feet | $20–$30 |
| 14–20 feet | $30–$80 |
| 22–26 feet | $40–$130 |
| Large truck | $40–$150 |
Mileage
While some truck rental companies provide unlimited mileage, most charge by the mile. You can expect to pay between 20 to 99 cents per mile, though prices will vary depending on several factors, such as truck size, time of the year, day of the week, and rental company.
Towing
You can rent and attach towing dollies and trailers to your rental truck to help transport more of your belongings, especially large furniture items. Most companies charge $45 to $100 for towing, depending on the type and size of the attachment.
Moving Date
Moving truck prices can fluctuate by season or even by the day of the week. In some cases, weekend rental rates can be higher than rates on weekdays. However, seasonal rates have more of an effect. The moving season is between April and October, and rates will generally be higher during these months than in the off-season, depending on demand.
Insurance
Renting a moving truck means you must at least carry liability insurance on the vehicle. Some personal automobile policies include provisions for rental vehicles. However, you may need to purchase temporary insurance from the rental company. Rental insurance generally costs between $10 and $35 per day.
Taxes
Moving truck rental is subject to state or local taxes in most places. Taxes will be part of your invoice total, and the percentage depends on the municipality where you rent the vehicle.
Gas
The amount of gas you’ll have to purchase during your move depends on the size of the moving truck. A pickup truck will get about 15 to 20 miles per gallon, while some larger trucks will only get around 10 miles per gallon. The more gas stops you make, the higher your total move cost.
Additional Moving Costs and Add-Ons
You may find yourself paying premiums for certain services as you arrange for a moving truck. These add-ons can vary depending on location and other factors.
Moving Season
During the busiest times of the year, rental companies will often charge higher prices since their trucks are in higher demand. Those surge pricing times include holidays, three-day weekends, and summer months (a particularly popular time for moving ahead of the school season). If you’re planning on a move during one of these hectic times, expect to pay extra for your moving truck. Or consider moving during the off-season, like the winter months, or mid-week instead.
Packing Materials
If you’re renting a moving truck, you’ll need to purchase or rent packing materials. That can include packing peanuts, blankets, plastic wrap for furniture, foam layers for protection, and more. While you can find packing boxes for free, time constraints may require you to buy these, too. For a whole-home move, you can expect to pay $100 to $200 for packing materials.
Local Taxes
Some states (44 of them) and many local governments will charge an additional tax for a rental truck, either as a sales tax or for other purposes. Typically, these taxes add up to 6% and 10% of the rental cost.
Truck Company Fees
When you check your order invoice or estimate, you may spot some extra fees. Some companies may charge an environmental or green fee for their sustainability work. Others may require a warranty purchase. Be sure to carefully review the charged fees and talk with your moving truck company about any questionable fees.
Storage Unit Rental
If you’re moving across the country, you may need a storage unit to help organize your belongings. Storage unit costs vary depending on size and type, but you can expect to pay around $240 per month or $1 to $1.80 per square foot.
Moving Insurance
If you take out moving insurance to protect your items during the move, you can expect to pay about 1% of the total value of all your items. For example, if your belongings are valued at $25,000, you can expect to pay around $250 to insure those items.
5 Ways to Save Money When Renting a Moving Truck
The cost of moving can quickly balloon into a four-figure price tag, so it's not uncommon for people to attempt to cut costs. Here are a few suggestions on how to save money when renting a moving truck.
1. Calculate the Mileage
You may feel tempted to rent a pickup truck because of its lower per-mile rate, but what if you have to make four trips instead of one? It may cost you more to rent a smaller truck instead of making one trip in a larger box truck. Calculate the mileage cost of every vehicle option to find the most cost-efficient option.
2. Consider a Trailer
If your vehicle has a hitch you can hook a trailer onto, renting a trailer is a cost-effective alternative to a pickup or box truck. You may not have to pay a per-mile rate, which is the significant cost driver. You might be able to get all of your moving done for $20 to $50.
3. Move in Winter
If your climate doesn’t have much snow or ice, consider renting a truck during the winter and planning your move for the middle of the week. This season is when truck rental prices tend to be at their lowest due to a lack of demand.
4. Look for Discounts
Ask about any available discounts when renting your moving truck. You may be able to access specific discounts through your work or via programs like AAA, which can help you get up to a 10% discount on rental fees.
5. Consider Shipping Items
Rather than packing everything and moving it yourself, consider shipping a few items to your new address. That way, you can rent a smaller vehicle, especially for long-distance moving. However, remember that you’ll have to pay shipping costs, which may offset your savings.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Is a moving truck required for your project, or can you make do with help from friends with trucks and a van? You may be able to DIY a local move with minimum belongings, but even small moves may require renting a moving vehicle to avoid endless trips back and forth from your old to new home.
However, when large furniture, whole desks, mattresses, and couches are involved. Even a large consumer truck or van won’t be able to handle all those items efficiently. That’s even more true if you’re moving a long distance in variable weather.
Finally, you can go the extra step and hire movers to move your belongings in and out of the truck. This service typically includes packing materials, handling fees, and storage costs. It’s also an excellent way to find specialists to deal with tricky-to-move items like TVs, oversized mirrors, artwork, and more.
If you’re hiring movers for a move within 100 miles, expect to pay an average of $1,720 for the service. Local movers typically charge between $25 to $50 per hour for a small move, but this price can rise to over $100 per hour if more movers are required, plus a flat fee based on the size of the home. A cross-country move will cost an average of $4,800.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a long trip, it is less expensive to schedule a one-way rental since you're driving fewer miles. Plus, it's usually not feasible to move across the country and then drive the vehicle back to where you got it. However, a round-trip option makes more sense if you're moving in town.
It costs an average of $4,565 to move out of state, but prices vary significantly based on the specifics of your move. Your total price tag will depend on the load size and the distance you’re traveling, but you can expect it to cost significantly more to move out of state than locally.
Generally, you should hire movers when moving large, heavy objects. Professional movers can take much of the work off your hands and remove the risk of personal injury. But if you’re only moving a few light items, you can save money by making the move on your own and renting a moving truck.
There are plenty of moving truck rental options available, depending on where you live. The nationally known companies are U-Haul, Penske, Enterprise, and Budget Truck Rental. However, you may find local moving companies that offer better deals in your area. Be sure to research customer reviews before hiring a moving company.