Is it really cheaper to rent a U-Haul than hire movers?

For local moves, yes. But for long-distance moves (over 500 miles), the price gap shrinks rapidly. Once you add fuel (at 8–10 MPG), hotels, insurance ($150+), and equipment rentals, a DIY move often costs within 10-15% of a professional quote from American National Movers.

How many rooms actually fit in a 26-foot U-Haul truck?

U-Haul claims a 26' truck fits 4+ bedrooms, but in reality, it holds about 1,600 cubic feet (ideal for a 3-bedroom home). A fully furnished 4-bedroom house often requires two trucks.

Will a 20-foot U-Haul fit my 3-bedroom house?

Likely not. A 20-foot truck holds approximately 1,016 cubic feet, which is ideal for a 2-bedroom apartment. Trying to squeeze a 3-bedroom home into a 20' truck usually results in overflow.

What is the real gas mileage of a 26-foot moving truck?

While advertised at 10 MPG, a fully loaded 26-foot truck typically gets 7–8 MPG. Towing a car drops this to roughly 6 MPG, adding hundreds of dollars in hidden fuel costs.

What are the hidden costs of DIY moving?

Hidden costs include packing materials ($300–$600), SafeMove insurance ($150+), tolls, weigh station fees, and hotels/food during the drive.

American National Movers Is An Affordable U-Haul Alternative

Name: U-Haul vs Professional Movers Cost Comparison Tool
Availability: InStock
Author: American National Movers

U-Haul Vs. Hiring Movers: Not Always Cheaper Due To Hidden Fees

Yes, moving with U-Haul is cheaper than hiring movers if you’re relocating a short distance, but if you have a long out-of-state haul, the price difference is comparable to hiring a moving company.

The DIY moving cost calculator below will show you the real cost of U-Haul and whether renting a truck is cheaper than hiring a mover.

U-Haul's base cost's is usually cheaper than hiring a mover, but after factoring fuel, materials, mileage fees, and labor the price difference is minimal.

Warning: U-Haul's Truck Size Charts Are Not Accurate

U-Haul's size charts on its website are inaccurate, and if you’re not careful, you’ll end up renting a truck that won’t fit everything in your home.

This confusion makes U-Haul's pricing a bit deceptive. A 15-foot truck hold significantly less than a standard apartment, yet their website claims it can load a 1-2 bedroom.

While U-Haul's pricing is displayed on its website, this entity may be underestimating the size of the truck you need, which can affect the price.

Use the chart above to determine the truck size you need for 2-4 bedroom homes. Please note that if you are moving from a 3+ bedroom and have an office, a garage, or a basement, you'll likely need to rent more than one truck. Otherwise, you will have capacity issues.

Is U-Haul Cheaper Than Movers?

The answer depends on the moving company your'e comparing U-haul to.

U-Haul is cheaper than the major moving companies, but if you’re comparing U-Haul's costs with reputable brands such as American National Movers the savings are often under $900. Several consumers are ready to spend between 3-4k on a long distance move with U-Haul, when American National Movers can do it at around the same price without you having to DIY.

U-Haul vs. Major Van Lines Vs. American National Movers

The bottom line is U-Haul is more affordable than the big-name brands: Allied, United, and Mayflower. These are the long distance moving companies you see on the first page of Google. But if you compare U-Haul’s costs to PODS, American National Movers, and Bell Hops Moving, the cost savings are almost non-existent.

U-Haul Is Not Being Honest About The True Cost Of DIY

U-Haul is definitely cheaper than premium brands, and on paper, it seems to be one of the cheapest long distance moving options. But after factoring in other expenses, U-Haul is not as cheap as it seems. There are many hidden fees associated with renting a truck from U-Haul that they do not disclose.

The "10 MPG" Fuel Myth

U-Haul advertises that its trucks get 10 miles per gallon. However, that figure is based on an empty truck driving on flat ground. Once you load a 26-foot truck with a 3-bedroom home, the fuel efficiency drops to 6–7 MPG. On a 1,200-mile trip, this can instantly add $300 to $600 to your fuel budget.

Material Expenses

U-Haul doesn't let you borrow packing materials; they charge you for them. If you have a lot of stuff, the cost of boxes, tape, shrink wrap, and furniture pads can easily reach $800+ for packing materials.

Hotel Costs

Most people would rather spend money on a hotel or motel to catch up on some rest because box trucks do not have reclining driver or passenger seats. Depending on the hotel's comfort level, this will also add $150- $400 to your DIY moving costs with U-Haul.

Mileage Fees

U-Haul's one-way rentals come with a strict mileage policy. If your packing takes longer than anticipated (common), take a detour to a hotel or a place to eat, you will exceed that limit. U-Haul charges hefty late fees if you don’t return the truck on time and charges $1.00 per mile if you exceed your mileage limit.

Important Note About U-Haul's Fees

This is just scratching the surface; there are other hidden fees associated with a DIY with U-Haul, such as insurance, tolls, and labor.

U-Haul Vs. Movers: A Price Comparison

Here is an average cost comparison of choosing U-Haul versus hiring a moving company. These numbers are meant to give you a ballpark idea—actual costs for U-Haul and movers will vary based on location, distance, moving company rates, and household size.

Short Haul (Under 400 Miles)

U-Haul: ~$700–$1,200 (fuel + rentals)
Movers: ~$1,400–$2,000 for a full-service approach
Verdict: U-Haul may be $700.00 to $800.00 cheaper than movers for long distance moves with fewer mileage.

Medium Haul (400–800 Miles)

U-Haul: ~$1,500–$2,500, plus lodging if multi-day.
Movers: ~$2,700–$4,000, depending on the size of your home.
Verdict: U-Haul costs become comparable to hiring movers, especially after factoring in gas, tolls, and packing materials. If you prefer less labor, movers might be worth it.

Long Haul (800+ Miles)

U-Haul: ~$4,000–$6,000 or more, factoring in fuel, tolls, and extra days for one-way trips.
Movers: ~$3,800–$5,500, especially if shared-load or mid-sized mover options are available.
Verdict: For cross-country moves, U-Haul costs at times can be just as expensive as hiring a moving company due to gas, tolls, food etc...

Why American National Movers is As Affordable As U-Haul

U-Haul is not the only budget-friendly long distance moving option. American National Movers offers the benefits of full-service moving at a price point comparable to U-Haul. Here is how we keep our rates low:

Truck stop on Rest area On the highway. Top view car parking lot. Truck Driver company. Vi

Nationwide Network.

American National Movers has trucks and warehouses in major cities, allowing us to provide one-way moving services and consolidated shipments, avoiding extra mileage costs.

photo of packed items and furniture done by American National Movers.

Packing Materials Are Free

Renting a U-Haul requires buying $300- $800 worth of packing materials—an added fee they don’t mention to their budget customers. American National Movers includes premium moving blankets, tape, and protective wrapping in your quote at no extra charge.

Shared Load Moving.

To keep your costs down, instead of giving you a dedicated truck, we piggyback your items onto loads traveling a similar route. This will reduce your fuel and driver compensation costs, making our prices similar to U-Haul without you having to do any driving or labor.

Delivery house moving service lift up sofa and put in place owner standing advise where to unload items.

Labor Included

When you rent a truck, you have to load it, or pay for a helper to help you pack, load, and unload. Hiring local labor on both ends can add another $1,000 in fees, and the help you get isn’t the greatest. With us, professional loading, driving, and unloading are included. We save your back and your wallet.

Happy service team of delivery worker working load customer boxes from truck and makes inv

No Hidden Fees

U-Haul charges a base rate to rent a truck, but your total costs are never certain with U-Haul because there are too many variables, such as travel time, fuel, labor time, and mileage. At American National Movers, you know what you’re paying upfront — our rates include fuel, labor, materials, tolls, and mileage.

A picture of well packed furniture by American National Movers.

Mid-Sized Brand.

As mentioned previously, U-Haul is cheaper than major moving companies, but if you compare their costs to a mid-sized brand, the savings are barely noticeable. Though we are a national moving company, we don’t consider ourselves a major van line, and frankly, we don’t want to be. This allows us to undercut big corporate movers while providing a safer, more personal service than DIY and renting a U-Haul.