From the Founder
Nicholas Edmond Baucom — Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Two Marines Moving
"Maybe we'll just rent a U-Haul."
It's one of the most common things people say when planning a move. And on the surface, it sounds economical. There is absolutely nothing wrong with renting a U-Haul — for some situations, it's the right decision. But before making that decision, it's important to understand what a properly equipped DIY move actually costs. Not the advertised truck rate. The real number.
A Realistic Local-Move Scenario
Let's assume a common situation:
A 20-foot U-Haul truck
A local move
Approximately 50 total miles driven
A one-day rental
A customer who wants proper equipment
This is not a worst-case scenario. This is not a cross-country move. This is a fairly typical local move.
The Truck Is Only the Beginning
Truck Rental
~$39
Most local U-Haul rentals fall around $29–$39/day depending on location and demand.
Mileage Charges
~$45
Most local rentals charge $0.79–$0.99 per mile. For a 50-mile move:
Fuel
~$20
A 20-foot U-Haul averages roughly 10 mpg. 50 miles = ~5 gallons at average fuel prices:
Insurance / Protection Coverage
~$28
Most renters add protection coverage for peace of mind:
Equipment & Supplies: The Part People Forget
Dollies & Moving Equipment
~$35
Appliance dolly, furniture dolly, hand truck — most people need some combination:
Furniture Pads & Blankets
~$15
If furniture protection matters, blankets matter:
Tape (10 rolls @ ~$4 each)
~$40
Many supplies must be purchased rather than rented:
Stretch Wrap (2 large rolls @ ~$20 each)
~$40
Protection materials add up quickly:
Taxes & Miscellaneous Charges
~$15
Environmental fees, taxes, and location-specific charges vary.
The Real Total Before Labor
$275 – $315
Realistic midpoint: approximately $295
And that's before a single piece of furniture gets carried.
What This Number Does Not Include
The estimated $295 covers the truck and equipment. It does not include:
Labor
Physical strain
Injury risk
Furniture damage risk
Time overruns
Return logistics
Loading experience
Unloading experience
It also assumes no extra miles, no late return, no equipment shortages, no additional rental days, and no unexpected complications.
In the real world, many DIY moves quietly drift closer to $350–$400 once additional variables appear.
DIY Labor Has Value Too
The analysis above assumes your labor is free. For many people, that's a reasonable assumption. For others, it may not be. You may be:
Taking time off work
Asking friends to assist
Coordinating multiple schedules
Giving up a full weekend
Accepting the physical demands of the move
None of those things are necessarily bad. They simply have value. The goal is not to tell you one option is right and another is wrong. The goal is to compare real options using real numbers.
What a U-Haul Is Actually Competing Against
A U-Haul rental is not simply competing against a professional moving company. It is competing against:
Professional moving professionals
Your personal time
Your physical effort
Your risk tolerance
Your willingness to coordinate logistics yourself
A Useful Point of Comparison
At Two Marines Moving, our Truck & Equipment Fee is currently $250.
That fee includes:
A professionally maintained moving truck
Furniture pads and blankets
Tape
Dollies and moving equipment
Straps and load-securement equipment
Basic furniture tools
GPS-equipped vehicles
Professional moving infrastructure and readiness
When viewed through that lens, the gap between a properly equipped DIY move and a professionally equipped move is often smaller than many people initially assume.
The Bottom Line
There is nothing wrong with renting a U-Haul. For some moves, it makes perfect sense. But the advertised truck rate is only the starting point.
By the time you rent the truck, pay mileage, buy fuel, add insurance, rent equipment, and purchase protection materials, a local U-Haul move often costs around $300 before labor.
That's not a scare tactic. That's just the math.
At Two Marines Moving, we believe good decisions start with accurate information. And accurate information builds trust.
Good decisions start with real numbers.
Semper Fidelis,
Nicholas Edmond Baucom
Founder & Chief Executive Officer — Two Marines Moving
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