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Rental trucks appeal to people looking for a DIY, affordable moving experience. It costs only about $200 to use a rental truck for a local 2-bedroom move, while long-distance 5-bedroom moves cost about $3,000 on average. Of course, there are many other options to choose from like moving containers and full-service movers. It all depends on the type of move.
We’ll break down some of the average costs if you decide to use one of our best rental truck companies.
The average cost of a truck rental is approximately $1,005. Costs range from $90 for a small local trip to $3,740 for a sizable long-distance move. The specific amount depends on rental truck size, features like a lift gate or towing ability, and distance.
Data current as of 9/4/2025. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs for four home sizes across three distances with a one-week lead time. Fuel costs extra.
The total cost of a local move is cheaper than the total cost of a long-distance, one-way move.
However, when you consider the per-mile rate, longer moves are more affordable.
Local moves are generally about 50 to 100 miles. You may be expected to return the moving truck to the its pick-up location during a local move, which is less convenient but may save you money overall. In contrast, a one-way move means you drop the truck off at the company's nearest location, not the original pick-up location.
The size of your moving truck impacts the total cost. In general, the bigger a truck is, the more it costs. However, not all companies have the same truck sizes—we like to look at home size.
We contacted the three biggest rental truck companies and asked what size truck they recommend for several different home sizes. U-Haul’s 10-foot rental truck is the smallest on the market, while the 26-foot version offered by both U-Haul and Budget Truck Rental is the largest truck you can find.
Moving truck fees often add up to hundreds of dollars. The prices vary by rental truck company, but everyone pays them. The only thing more certain than death and taxes is spending more on your truck rental than your quote suggests.
The most common costs not included in your quote are pretty basic—but they add up:
Budget Truck Rental has the lowest rates for moving trucks when you're moving a 4-bedroom home or smaller in a local or regional move. But the cost is about more than just the overall lowest option. Each of the biggest truck rental companies is the least expensive in certain situations.
We break this down in our list of the cheapest rental truck companies, but we’ll go over some of the highlights here.
Data current as of 9/4/2025. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Average cost calculated by comparing rental costs for four home sizes across three distances with a one-week lead time. Fuel costs extra.
You should use Budget Truck Rental if you’re moving across town or don’t have the time to compare prices (it’s the overall cheapest company). Budget Truck Rental costs less than $100 for most local moves, but its largest trucks can be pricey.
It’s also important to note that Budget Truck Rental is the king of discounts. While some companies offer only a few discounts, the leading truck rental company offers several significant price cuts for:
So, which moving truck rental is the cheapest? Budget Truck Rental.
Looking to save?
You should use Penske Truck Rental if:
It has the lowest prices for both large home sizes and long-distance moves.
Penske Truck Rental’s estimates are also nearly 100% accurate (they include everything except gas). That’s a big deal because not all rental truck companies are as straightforward about pricing. For example, U-Haul typically has the lowest overall quotes—but your actual price is about 60% higher. We love the way Penske Truck Rental takes the mystery out of its prices.
Want the lowest costs for a long-distance move?
You should use U-Haul truck if you want low-cost insurance or can’t find a Budget Truck Rental or Penske Truck Rental near you. The U-Haul price of $70 for insurance is almost twice as low as other rental truck companies.
Need truck rental insurance?
The best way to find a cheap truck rental near you is to contact U-Haul. As the nation’s largest truck rental company, U-Haul claims to have more than 20,000 locations. Other options include Budget Truck Rental and Penske Truck Rental. Learn more about the differences in Move.org’s guide to the cheapest moving truck companies. You can also use our free moving concierge to locate the best discounts on truck rentals.
You can get a small moving truck rental by contacting a major truck rental company like U-Haul, Penske Truck Rental, or Budget Truck Rental. Not every company has the same sizes, but U-Haul’s 10-foot truck is the smallest option.
The three biggest moving truck companies you can choose from are U-Haul, Budget Truck Rental, and Penske Truck Rental. Enterprise Truck Rental and Home Depot also offer cheap truck rentals.
Yes, Budget Truck Rental is similar to companies like U-Haul. Budget Truck Rental is known for being the cheapest place to rent a truck. Its average price of $1,520 is about $30 cheaper than other moving truck companies.
The best budget truck rental companies are Budget Truck Rental, Penske Truck Rental, and U-Haul. Each company has wide availability and competitive pricing.
It depends on what matters most to you. A DIY move is cheaper than a professional mover, but a professional mover is more convenient.
Yes, most truck rental companies offer other vehicles aside from moving trucks. Companies like U-Haul, Enterprise Truck Rental and Budget Truck Rental have smaller truck options like a cargo van, pickup truck, or van rental. However, in most cases, a cargo van, pickup truck, or van won’t be large enough to move all your belongings.
A cross-country move involves moving all your belongings from one side of the country to the other. Your most convenient option is to use one of Move.org’s Best Interstate Moving Companies.
Is a rental truck not quite what you’re looking for? See if one of these options is a better fit:
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