Moving Truck Cost Calculator

For a one-way 1,000-mile move, expect roughly $1,600–$2,000 before fuel: a U-Haul 20 ft truck estimates at about $1,790 ($1,200 base + 1,000 miles × $0.59), a Penske 22 ft at about $1,850, and a Budget 16 ft at about $1,600. Add fuel — a 20 ft truck at ~9 mpg and $3.50/gallon burns about $389 for 1,000 miles — so the all-in one-way cost is typically $2,000–$2,400. These are estimates from published 2026 rate tables; confirm with an official quote.

Sometimes. Penske quotes higher base rates but lower effective per-mile costs — for example, a 22 ft Penske estimates at $1,400 + 1,000 × $0.45 = $1,850 versus a U-Haul 20 ft at $1,790 for the same 1,000 miles, but Penske includes newer trucks and unlimited-mileage-style flat quotes on many routes. Budget often undercuts both on base price ($1,600 for a 16 ft in the same example). Use the brand comparator above with your exact size and distance — the cheapest brand flips depending on truck size and mileage.

A 2-bedroom apartment typically fits a 17 ft truck (U-Haul) or 16 ft truck (Penske/Budget). Rule of thumb: studio → 10 ft, 1 bedroom → 15 ft, 2 bedroom → 16–17 ft, 2–3 bedroom home → 20 ft, 3 bedroom → 22 ft, 4+ bedroom → 26 ft. Renting one size too big wastes fuel (a 26 ft truck gets ~8 mpg versus ~12 mpg for a 10 ft); one size too small forces a second trip. The size picker tab above matches your home size to the right truck and its fuel economy.

They use completely different math. Local (in-town) rentals charge a daily rate plus a per-mile fee — e.g. $29.95/day + $0.99/mile — and the truck must be returned to the same location. One-way rentals charge a flat base for the route plus a bundled mileage/days allowance — e.g. $1,200 + $0.59/mile for 5 days included. Because one-way pricing bakes in the drop-off premium, comparing them honestly means doubling local miles (you must drive back), which is exactly what the one-way vs local tab does — it also shows the crossover distance where one-way becomes cheaper.

For local (in-town) rentals, U-Haul typically charges $0.79–$0.99 per mile depending on truck size and market — for example, a 15 ft truck at $0.99/mile driven 50 miles adds $49.50 on top of the $29.95 base rate ($79.45 total). For one-way rentals there is no separate mileage line item in the quote; the mileage cost is effectively bundled into the route price — our comparator models it as roughly $0.49–$0.59/mile so brands stay comparable. Always check the quote, because per-mile rates vary by location.

Divide your distance by the truck's mpg, then multiply by the gas price. A 15 ft truck at 10 mpg burns 100 gallons for 1,000 miles — $350 at $3.50/gallon. Bigger trucks thirst more: a 26 ft truck at ~8 mpg burns 125 gallons ($437.50), while a 10 ft truck at ~12 mpg burns 83 gallons (~$291). Loaded trucks get about 10–15% worse economy than their rating, and towing a car trailer cuts mpg by another 15–25%. The fuel cost tab applies all of this to your truck size and route.

Yes — U-Haul and others rent tow equipment. A tow dolly (front wheels up) runs about $44.95/day locally or $199 one-way; a full auto transport / car hauler trailer runs about $54.95/day locally or $399 one-way; a motorcycle trailer is about $14.95/day or $149 one-way. Check your truck's towing capacity first — most 20–26 ft box trucks can tow a car on a dolly or trailer, but small 10 ft trucks may not. Towing also cuts fuel economy roughly 15–25%, which the trailer tab adds to your fuel estimate.

The quote is rarely the total. Common add-ons: environmental fee (~$5 one-way), SafeMove/damage coverage (~$28 per rental, or daily collision waivers $15–$30/day), equipment (furniture pads ~$10/dozen, dolly ~$10, appliance dolly ~$15), pre-paid fuel top-off (~$35 — return it full yourself instead), late return (~$40/day), mileage overage (~$1.00/mile over the allowance), cleaning fee (~$25), and state taxes (~8%). The hidden-fee checklist tab totals everything you tick so there are no surprises.

A California-to-Florida one-way move is roughly 2,400–2,700 miles depending on cities. Using the 2026 estimate model, a U-Haul 20 ft truck would be about $1,200 + 2,500 × $0.59 ≈ $2,675 before fuel, plus ~278 gallons at 9 mpg ≈ $972 at $3.50/gallon — roughly $3,600–$3,800 all-in. Summer rates and popular routes run higher; winter often lower. Enter your exact cities and size in the comparator for a tailored estimate, then confirm with U-Haul's official quote tool.

NYC to Seattle is about 2,850 miles — one of the longest common US routes. A 26 ft truck one-way estimates around $1,400 + 2,850 × $0.59 ≈ $3,080 for U-Haul, ~$1,550 + 2,850 × $0.45 ≈ $2,830 for Penske, before fuel. Fuel at ~8 mpg and $3.50/gallon adds roughly $1,247. All-in, budget roughly $4,000–$4,500 for the truck alone on this corridor. Cross-country one-way rates are the most volatile — book 2–4 weeks ahead and compare all three brands.

Local rental math is the same everywhere (daily rate + per-mile), but base rates vary by market. A 15 ft truck for a 50-mile local move estimates at $29.95 + 50 × $0.99 = $79.45 before tax in a typical market — Miami and Las Vegas usually land within a few dollars of that. One-way prices out of Florida and into/out of Las Vegas swing more because they depend on directional demand (trucks flowing one way). Use your actual route in the comparator rather than a national average.

No — Home Depot truck rental is local (in-town) only; there are no one-way drop-offs. The box truck rents at a flat $129/day, which can beat U-Haul for short local moves since there is no per-mile charge. It appears in the brand comparator for local mode only. For any move where you are not returning to the same store, compare U-Haul, Penske, and Budget one-way quotes instead.

About 8 mpg loaded is the working estimate for a 26 ft box truck (6–10 mpg real-world range depending on load, speed, and hills). Smaller trucks do better: ~12 mpg for a 10 ft, ~10 mpg for 15–17 ft, ~9 mpg for 20–22 ft. At $3.50/gallon, a 1,000-mile trip in a 26 ft truck costs about $437.50 in fuel alone — nearly 25% of the total one-way cost. The fuel tab lets you enter your own mpg if you have real figures.

It depends on the trip shape. Budget usually wins short one-way moves on base price; Penske's lower effective per-mile cost can win very long hauls; U-Haul wins on availability (most locations) and small-truck local rates. Home Depot wins short local moves with its $129 flat day rate. The comparator above ranks all four for your exact size, distance, and days — re-run it when your dates firm up, because the winner flips with mileage.

Read the fine print before you decline. Basic rental rates include minimal liability; your personal auto policy or credit card may already cover rental trucks — call them first, because many exclude trucks over a certain weight. U-Haul's SafeMove (~$28/rental) adds cargo and damage coverage; daily collision waivers from Penske/Budget run $15–$30/day. For a multi-day one-way move, a waiver is usually cheaper than one scratched box truck. Whatever you choose, photograph the truck at pickup and drop-off.

The moving cost calculator answers "which way should I move?" — it compares DIY truck rental vs hiring professional movers vs shipping a container, plus packing and international estimates. This tool goes deep on ONE of those options: renting the truck itself — brand-by-brand pricing (U-Haul vs Penske vs Budget vs Home Depot), truck sizes, one-way vs local math, fuel costs, tow trailers, and hidden fees. Use the moving cost calculator to pick your method, then this lab to price the rental precisely.