Moving is one of the most chaotic life events a person can go through, and you likely have what feels like a never-ending laundry list of tasks to get to. With all the worrying about packing and home hunting (or selling), it can be easy to push the actual logistics of your move to the side.
However, figuring out these things ahead of time can help relieve some of that moving anxiety and ensure that you have the right type of transportation lined up far in advance. Plus, you’re more likely to get a truck or van reserved for your preferred move date.
If this is your first time moving DIY-style (or you’re just on the fence about what type of vehicle you really need), knowing what size rental to get is tricky. Most people are likely going to need a truck, but there are instances where you might be able to get away with piling everything you own in the back of a cargo van.
What to know about rental trucks
The biggest benefit of getting a rental truck is space, an extremely valuable commodity for those moving out of larger homes. Rental trucks cost a little more, but they vary quite a bit in size . Many rental truck companies take a small, medium and large approach to sizing. The most common rental truck sizes you’ll see (from companies like Budget and Penske) are 12-foot (small), 16-foot (medium) and 26-foot (large). However, U-Haul’s sizing is a bit different: They offer 10-foot, 15-foot, 20-foot and 26-foot trucks.
Every company is going to have its own parameters on what can and can’t fit in its trucks , but these general rules apply: small trucks are mainly used for loading studio or one-bedroom apartments, while larger trucks can typically support the belongings of a three-bedroom house. Anything larger means you’re probably going to need another truck.
Taking a look at pricing and specs from U-Haul , Budget and Penske , we put together a table showing what you can expect from an average rental truck. Note that in addition to paying the flat rate daily rental fee, you’ll also be charged anywhere between $0.75 and $1 per mile driven. Most larger trucks also tend to have a loading ramp, which makes using dollies and moving heavy furniture a whole lot easier.
| Truck size |
Best suited for |
Cubic feet |
Average cost per day (local moves) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12-foot truck |
Studio or one-bedroom apartment |
415 |
$20 |
| 16-foot truck |
Two-bedroom apartment or small home |
729 |
$30 |
| 26-foot truck |
Three-bedroom home |
1,693 |
$65 |
What to know about moving vans
The line between fitting everything in the back of a cargo van and needing to upgrade to a small truck is very thin. So thin, in fact, that if your gut is telling you that all your boxes and pieces of furniture aren’t going to fit in the van, then you might want to just go ahead and reserve a truck. Better to be safe than sorry.
Most moving vans are only suited for moving in and out of studio apartments or college dorm rooms. A van might work for a one-bedroom apartment move, but you’d probably be pushing your luck. The average-sized cargo van is about 11 feet long and can hold around 364 cubic feet worth of stuff. U-Haul, again, is an outlier, as their cargo van is only nine feet long with 246 cubic feet of space. Unlike moving trucks, where there are several sizes to choose from, most rental companies only offer one size of moving van.
The good news is that vans are typically a little cheaper than trucks. Comparing prices from U-Haul, Budget and Penske for a local move, we found the average price to be $20 per day, along with the classic dollar per mile charge that rental companies like to tack on. Considering a small truck typically only costs $10 to $15 more, the price really isn’t a big factor here.
Aside from a lower rental price, the biggest benefit to getting a moving van is the easy maneuverability. Driving a van through narrow (and often congested) city streets is much easier than trying to fit a truck through a crowded downtown area, or a street with limited parking. Vans also have multiple points of entry, with doors on the back and sides, allowing for loading and unloading at different angles.
Start preparing early
The biggest favor you can do for yourself is to start prepping for your move as soon as you know you’re moving. Moving day tends to sneak up on the best of us, even when it’s months away. Be sure to get your rental truck (or van) reservation on the books at least two weeks in advance. And if you plan to hire professional movers , give them at least a month’s notice.
Packing is a beast of a task to tackle when you wait until the last minute. To prevent early packing burnout (and procrastination), try to take things slow by packing one room at time, or one room a day. You’ll also want to be sure that you have plenty of boxes to fit all your belongings. The good news is that free moving boxes are very easy to find if you know where to look. Local liquor, grocery and retail stores receive deliveries all the time, meaning they likely have dozens of cardboard boxes laying around waiting to be disposed of (or picked and taken to a good home). You can also find plenty of free boxes and packing materials on Facebook Marketplace.
More Yahoo Local-approved U.S. movers
Best California movers
Bakersfield / Berkeley / Escondido / Fremont / Fresno / Huntington Beach / Irvine / Long Beach / Los Angeles / Norwalk / Oakland / Sacramento / San Diego / San Francisco / San Jose / Santa Cruz / Santa Rosa
Best Florida movers
Boca Raton / Bradenton / Fort Lauderdale / Fort Myers / Gainesville / Jacksonville / Melbourne / Miami / Naples / Ocala / Orlando / Pompano Beach / Sarasota / St. Petersburg / Tallahassee / Tampa / West Palm Beach
Best New York movers
Albany / Binghamton / The Bronx / Brooklyn / Buffalo / Clifton Park / Hamburg / Ithaca / Kingston / Manhattan / New Rochelle / Poughkeepsie / Queens / Rochester / Syracuse
Best Texas movers
Amarillo / Arlington / Austin / Beaumont / Corpus Christi / Dallas / Denton / El Paso / Fort Worth / Houston / Katy / Midland / Odessa / Plano / Round Rock / San Antonio / Tyler / The Woodlands / Waco
