Ways to move
Moving truck rentals
Self-drive truck rentals from U-Haul, Penske, Budget, and Enterprise cover local and one-way moves, and size, mileage, and fuel rules change the bill. Haulest is not a carrier and is not paid by these companies.
Rental trucks by size. Cubic feet and mpg as each company publishes them.
| Company | 10 to 12 ft | 15 to 16 ft | 20 to 22 ft | 26 ft | One way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U-Haul | 402 cu ft, gas, up to 12 mpg | 764 cu ft, gas, up to 10 mpg | 1,016 cu ft, gas, up to 10 mpg | 1,682 cu ft, gas, 8 to 10 mpg | Yes |
| Penske Truck Rental | 450 cu ft, gas, up to 12 mpg | 800 cu ft, gas, up to 12 mpg | yes, diesel, up to 13 mpg | 1,700 cu ft, diesel, up to 13 mpg | Yes |
| Budget Truck Rental | yes, gas, 8 to 14 mpg | yes, gas, 6 to 10 mpg | yes, diesel, 8 to 10 mpg | Yes for trucks | |
| Enterprise Truck Rental | 800 cu ft | Box trucks generally no |
Sources: U-Haul: the ultimate truck guide; Penske: moving truck sizes; Budget: 16 ft truck; Enterprise: one-way truck rentals.
This week's fuel
What the truck will burn
Fuel
$588 to $735
Diesel at $6.53 a gallon
Gallons
90 to 113
At 8 to 10 mpg, published
Not included
The rental, mileage fees on in-town rentals, the damage waiver, and your time. A loaded truck uphill beats nobody's mpg figure.
Sources: fuel economy as published by each company; US EIA weekly retail prices, week of 2026-09-21.
Companies
4 companies
- U-Haultruck rental · US, CASelf-drive trucks, trailers, and pickups from a large network of company and dealer locations. One-way and in-town rentals.Sizes10 ft, 15 ft, 20 ft, 26 ftReviewsBe the firstOne wayYes
- Penske Truck Rentaltruck rental · US, CASelf-drive moving trucks for consumers alongside a large commercial rental and leasing fleet. One-way rentals include unlimited miles.Sizes12 ft, 16 ft, 22 ft, 26 ftReviewsBe the firstFMCSA fleet38,075 trucks
- Budget Truck Rentaltruck rental · USCargo van plus three truck sizes, one-way and round trip.Sizes12 ft, 16 ft, 26 ftReviews3.3 · 3FMCSA fleet5 local operators
- Enterprise Truck Rentaltruck rental · US, CABox trucks, cargo vans, and pickups, mostly for local moves.Sizes15 ft, 16 to 26 ftReviewsBe the firstOne wayBox trucks generally no: return to the same location. Pickups can go one way with a drop charge.
When renting a truck beats hiring movers
Rent when the heavy lifting is already covered and the route is one you can drive.
A rental wins on labor you already have. If you and a few helpers can pack, carry, and drive, a truck from U-Haul, Penske, Budget, or Enterprise is the direct cost: the truck, fuel, and any extras. Full-service movers charge for the crew and the truck together. Rent when the heavy lifting is already covered and the route is one you can drive.
Keep the truck for a short local move. In-town rentals at U-Haul and Penske are a daily rate plus a per-mile charge. Budget uses a daily rate plus mileage on round trips. Enterprise quotes a daily rate plus mileage and asks you to check the location. The bill follows the days and miles you actually use.
Skip the rental when the load needs a crew. A 26 ft truck still needs people to fill it. Stairs, fragile furniture, and long carries are the part a rental does not include. If you cannot staff the load or the unload, hiring movers is the safer plan. The comparison on this page is about trucks, not the crew.
Picking a truck size
U-Haul says the 15 ft is the smallest with a loading ramp.
Match cubic feet to the rooms you are leaving. U-Haul lists a 10 ft truck at 402 cubic feet for a studio or dorm, and a 15 ft at 764 cubic feet for a one-bedroom. Penske lists a 12 ft at 450 cubic feet for one to two rooms. Enterprise lists a 15 ft box at 800 cubic feet for a studio or one-bedroom.
A ramp is not on every small truck. U-Haul says the 15 ft is the smallest with a loading ramp. Budget notes a loading ramp on the 16 ft and the 26 ft. U-Haul's 20 ft holds 1016 cubic feet and is listed for a two to three bedroom apartment. Penske's 16 ft holds 800 cubic feet and is the smallest Penske size that can tow a car.
The 26 ft trucks are not the same box. U-Haul lists 1682 cubic feet for a three to five bedroom home. Penske lists 1700 cubic feet for five to seven rooms. Budget lists its 26 ft for a two to three bedroom home. Enterprise groups 16 to 26 ft trucks for larger apartments and homes, and payload and size vary by location.
One-way rules, days and miles, and fuel
Penske one-way rentals include unlimited miles inside a set number of days.
One-way rules are not the same at each company. U-Haul one-way rentals come with a set number of days and miles on a route quote. Penske one-way rentals include unlimited miles inside a set number of days. Budget offers one-way on trucks, and its pickups are local only. Enterprise box trucks generally return to the same location.
Fuel is extra on every rental listed here. U-Haul trucks in these sizes are gas, with the 26 ft listed at 8 to 10 mpg. Penske's 12 ft and 16 ft are gas, and the 22 ft and 26 ft are diesel at up to 13 mpg. Budget's 12 ft and 16 ft are gas, and the 26 ft is diesel at 8 to 10 mpg.
Days and miles sit inside the quote. A U-Haul one-way quote includes allotted days and miles, and fuel, insurance, and equipment are extra. A Penske local round trip is a daily rate plus a per-mile fee, and one-way includes unlimited miles. Enterprise pickups can go one way with a drop charge, and the location sets the daily rate plus mileage.
What people get caught out by
Penske says the 16 ft is the smallest size that can tow a car.
A diesel tank is not a gas tank. Penske's 22 ft and 26 ft are diesel. Budget's 26 ft is diesel. U-Haul's listed sizes here are gas, including the 26 ft at 8 to 10 mpg. Filling a diesel truck with gas is a mistake these facts do not price. Check the fuel type on the truck you reserved before you use a pump.
Towing is listed for one Penske size. Penske says the 16 ft is the smallest size that can tow a car. U-Haul, Budget, and Enterprise do not list a tow rating in the sizes here, so confirm any car trailer at the location. A trailer also changes fuel use and the return plan, which a room-count fit does not capture.
Return inside the days on the contract. U-Haul one-way quotes allot a set number of days and miles. Penske one-way rentals allow unlimited miles inside a set number of days. These facts do not list a late fee or an extra-mile fee. U-Haul lists insurance as extra, with fuel and equipment. Ask the counter whether a damage waiver is included before you leave the lot.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- Which of these companies rent trucks one way?
- U-Haul one-way rentals include a set number of days and miles. Penske one-way rentals include unlimited miles inside a set number of days. Budget offers one-way on trucks, and its pickups are local only. Enterprise box trucks generally return to the same location, while its pickups can go one way with a drop charge.
- How is a local truck rental priced?
- U-Haul and Penske charge a daily rate plus a per-mile fee for local round trips. Budget charges a daily rate plus mileage on round trips. Enterprise uses a daily rate plus mileage and tells you to ask the location. Fuel is extra at each company, and U-Haul also lists insurance and equipment as extra.
- What size fits a one-bedroom?
- U-Haul lists a 15 ft truck at 764 cubic feet for a one-bedroom home, and that size is its smallest with a loading ramp. Budget lists a 12 ft truck for a studio or one-bedroom. Enterprise lists a 15 ft truck at 800 cubic feet for a studio or one-bedroom. Penske lists a 12 ft at 450 cubic feet for one to two rooms.
- Which trucks take diesel?
- Penske's 22 ft and 26 ft trucks are diesel, rated up to 13 mpg. Budget's 26 ft truck is diesel, rated 8 to 10 mpg. U-Haul's 10 ft, 15 ft, 20 ft, and 26 ft trucks on this page are gas. Penske's 12 ft and 16 ft and Budget's 12 ft and 16 ft are gas.
- Can I tow a car with the rental truck?
- Penske says the 16 ft is the smallest size that can tow a car. The size lists for U-Haul, Budget, and Enterprise do not include a tow rating. Confirm towing with the location before you add a car trailer.
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