Understand Your U-Haul Rental Costs
Planning a move can be stressful, and one of the biggest expenses is often the rental truck. U-Haul offers a wide variety of trucks, from small pickups perfect for moving a few pieces of furniture to large moving vans capable of handling an entire household. The cost of your U-Haul rental will depend on several factors, including the size of the truck, the distance of your move, the rental duration, and any additional services or equipment you might need.
This calculator is designed to help you estimate your U-Haul rental costs based on the essential factors. By inputting the details of your planned move, you can get a clearer picture of the potential expenses involved, allowing you to budget more effectively and avoid any surprises on moving day.
Factors Affecting U-Haul Rental Rates
- Truck Size: U-Haul offers trucks ranging from 8ft pickup trucks to 26ft moving vans. Larger trucks generally have higher base rates and mileage charges due to increased fuel consumption and depreciation.
- Distance of Move: The total mileage of your trip is a primary cost driver. U-Haul typically charges a per-mile rate after an initial included mileage allowance. Longer distances will naturally increase the overall cost.
- Rental Duration: While most U-Haul rentals are priced for a 24-hour period, specific promotions or longer-term needs might affect pricing. This calculator assumes a standard daily rental period.
- Fuel: You are responsible for returning the truck with the same amount of fuel it had when you picked it up. The calculator includes an estimated fuel cost based on average MPG and estimated distance.
- Additional Equipment & Services: This calculator focuses on the truck rental itself. Remember to factor in potential costs for dollies, hand trucks, furniture pads, packing supplies, towing equipment, and insurance (like Safemove®).
- Taxes and Fees: Local taxes and environmental fees may also apply and are not always included in initial quotes.
.uhaul-calculator-wrapper {
font-family: sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 20px auto;
padding: 20px;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 8px;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
}
.uhaul-calculator-wrapper article {
margin-bottom: 30px;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.uhaul-calculator-wrapper article h1, .uhaul-calculator-wrapper article h2 {
color: #333;
}
.uhaul-calculator-wrapper article ul {
margin-top: 10px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.uhaul-calculator-wrapper article li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.calculator-inputs {
background-color: #fff;
padding: 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}
.calculator-inputs h2 {
margin-top: 0;
color: #555;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #666;
}
.input-group input[type="text"],
.input-group input[type="number"] {
width: calc(100% – 12px);
padding: 8px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
box-sizing: border-box; /* Include padding and border in the element's total width and height */
}
.input-group small {
display: block;
margin-top: 5px;
font-size: 0.8em;
color: #888;
}
.calculator-inputs button {
display: inline-block;
background-color: #e74c3c;
color: white;
padding: 10px 20px;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1em;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
}
.calculator-inputs button:hover {
background-color: #c0392b;
}
.calculator-result {
margin-top: 20px;
padding: 15px;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
background-color: #e8f5e9;
color: #333;
font-size: 1.1em;
text-align: center;
min-height: 50px; /* To ensure it's visible even when empty */
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
}
function calculateUhaulRates() {
var truckSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById("truckSize").value);
var rentalDistance = parseFloat(document.getElementById("rentalDistance").value);
var includedMileage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("includedMileage").value);
var ratePerMile = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ratePerMile").value);
var baseDailyRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("baseDailyRate").value);
var estimatedMPG = parseFloat(document.getElementById("estimatedMPG").value);
var fuelPricePerGallon = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fuelPricePerGallon").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = ""; // Clear previous results
// Input validation
if (isNaN(truckSize) || isNaN(rentalDistance) || isNaN(includedMileage) || isNaN(ratePerMile) || isNaN(baseDailyRate) || isNaN(estimatedMPG) || isNaN(fuelPricePerGallon) ||
truckSize <= 0 || rentalDistance < 0 || includedMileage <= 0 || ratePerMile < 0 || baseDailyRate < 0 || estimatedMPG <= 0 || fuelPricePerGallon 0) {
var gallonsNeeded = rentalDistance / estimatedMPG;
estimatedFuelCost = gallonsNeeded * fuelPricePerGallon;
}
var totalEstimatedCost = baseDailyRate + mileageCharges + estimatedFuelCost;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated U-Haul Rental Cost:
$" + totalEstimatedCost.toFixed(2) + "" +
"Base Daily Rate: $" + baseDailyRate.toFixed(2) + "" +
"Mileage Charges: $" + mileageCharges.toFixed(2) + " (based on " + taxableMiles.toFixed(0) + " taxable miles)" +
"Estimated Fuel Cost: $" + estimatedFuelCost.toFixed(2);
}