For most people, planning a move means deciding between renting a U-Haul and hiring full-service movers. The choice typically comes down to time vs. money. While renting a U-Haul and DIYing your move is a lot of work, it’s also the more affordable option. On the other hand, hiring full-service movers will save you a lot of time, effort, and stress, because the pros are taking care of everything.
Generally, it’s cheapest to rent a U-Haul that you load and unload yourself for about $154.54, vs. the typical cost of $1,200–$1,600 for local full-service movers to do it for you.
So, what do you do if you want to save both time and money? In this article, we’ll compare U-Haul vs. movers and introduce you to a third option: renting a U-Haul and hiring movers to help with the loading and unloading. You don’t have to hire moving labor when you rent a U-Haul, but professional packers and loaders can help you save time and maximize truck space—which in the end could save you from taking time off work or lower your final truck rental bill—not to mention the heavy lifting will be handled for you.
This happy medium may be just what you’ve been looking for.
Table of Contents
U-Haul vs. Movers Overview
There are three main factors to consider when deciding whether to rent a U-Haul or hire movers: time, effort, and money.
If it were cheap to hire full-service movers — who load up all your belongings, drive them to your new home, and unload everything — everyone would do it. Spoiler alert: it’s not cheap. In fact, hiring full-service movers can be the most expensive moving option, especially when moving long-distance.
“Schedule your U-Haul rental to allow time for you to pick it up and get it to your home at least an hour before the movers arrive.”
On the other hand, renting a moving truck from U-Haul is the cheapest option — and also the most time-consuming and exhausting. After packing everything securely into boxes, you have to load up the truck, tie everything down, drive to your new place, and then do it all in reverse. So yes, it may be affordable, but it’s also a lot of work.
The happy middle ground (which many people aren’t aware of) is renting a U-Haul and hiring labor-only movers. Labor-only movers cost a fraction of what full-service movers would cost because they don’t supply the truck or handle the transport. They simply charge an hourly rate for loading and unloading your belongings, which is one of the most exhausting parts of moving.
U-Haul vs. Movers vs. U-Haul With Labor: Pros and Cons
|
U-Haul |
U-Haul + |
Full Service Movers |
|
| Pros |
|
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
|
Cost Comparison: Is It Cheaper To Rent a U-Haul or Hire Movers?
Is U-Haul cheaper than movers? In short, yes. As you can see in the table below, renting a truck will always end up cheaper when comparing the cost of a moving company vs. U-Haul. However, for at least half the cost of full-service movers, you can rent a truck and hire labor-only movers to help with the loading and unloading.
U-Haul vs. Movers Comparison: Estimated Moving Cost Averages
|
U-Haul |
U-Haul + |
Full Service Movers |
|
| Local Move (Less than 50 miles) |
$154.54 |
$566.54 | $1,200–$1,600 |
| Mid-Range Move (~500 miles) |
$327.67 |
$739.67 | $5,000–$7,000 |
| Cross-Country Move (1,000+ miles) |
$3,568.67 |
$3,980.67 | $8,000–$11,000 |
*Based on a variety of quotes for medium-sized moves (2–3 bedroom home). Local, mid-range, and cross-country U-Haul estimates include fuel costs calculated at $3.19/gallon for 50 miles, 500 miles, and 1,000 miles, respectively.
Budget aside, you still need to consider time and effort as a price too. A DIY local move with a U-Haul will cost around $150 if you can complete the move within 24 hours and keep your mileage to a minimum. If you take longer than a day to complete your move, exceed the expected mileage, or opt for pricier damage coverage, expect to pay more.
Full-service movers will charge between $1,200 and $1,600, on average, for a similar-sized local move, which can be steep for many people’s budgets.
By combining labor-only movers with a U-Haul rental truck, you can easily complete a local move in 24 hours (technically, 2–4 hours of loading and unloading time). This method of moving allows you to take advantage of U-Haul’s low pricing while also saving time and energy — and for less than half the cost of hiring full-service movers.
How To Save on Moving Costs
While the moving option you choose will have the greatest impact on your moving expenses, there are things you can do to minimize the overall cost of your move:
- Schedule your move for the middle of the week in the mid-month. It’s the cheapest time to move
- Avoid moving in the summer, which is the most expensive time of year to move
- Rent the smallest U-Haul that will accommodate your move, but make sure it’s not so small that you’ll have to make multiple trips
- Take care of the packing yourself rather than paying for packing services
- Enlist the help of friends and family to lighten your moving workload
- Declutter before moving. The less you move, the less it costs
- Get free moving boxes from friends, neighbors, and local businesses
Renting a U-Haul Overview
Renting a U-Haul is the cornerstone of a DIY move, but it’s still only part of the process. Once you’ve got the vehicle, the rest is up to you.
After picking up the truck, you drive it to your current home, load it up, secure everything inside the truck, drive to your new home, unload, and return the truck to U-Haul. If you have a personal vehicle to transport and nobody to drive it for you, you’ll need to tow it behind the truck.
Needless to say, it’s the most time- and energy-consuming way to move.
How Does U-Haul Charge for Truck Rentals?
We’ve all seen the U-Haul ads for $19.95 truck rentals, but that’s never how much a U-Haul really costs. There are several things that determine what you’ll actually be charged for your rental, including the following.
- Size of the truck
- Rental period
- Mileage fee
- Environmental fee
- Vehicle license/cost recovery fee
- Health care surcharge fee (some locations)
- Damage coverage
- Equipment rentals
- Taxes
If you’re planning to get free help from friends and family on moving day, remember to add food and beverages to your budget (or they might say no next time).
Pros and Cons of Renting a U-Haul
There are two big pros to renting a U-Haul: low cost and scheduling flexibility. U-Haul has locations all over the country, and it’s usually not difficult to get a rental, which means you can schedule your move for the day and time you want rather than when a moving company has availability. Of course, you’ll need to make sure to reserve the truck in the size you need in advance of your move.
As for the drawbacks, moving with a U-Haul requires a lot of effort and time. You may need to tow your car, and driving a big truck can be intimidating. Plus, after all the additional fees have been tacked onto your bill, renting a U-Haul may be more expensive than you expected.
Pros of Renting a U-Haul
- Cheapest option
- Flexible scheduling
- Nationwide availability
Cons of Renting a U-Haul
- Time-consuming
- Physically demanding
- You may need to tow your car
- Driving a truck can be intimidating
- Unexpected fees
When Should You Rent a U-Haul?
Renting a U-Haul isn’t for everyone, but there are certainly situations where it makes the most sense, such as:
- Local moves
- People who don’t mind driving a big truck
- Budget moves (any distance)
Hiring Movers Overview
There are two options when you hire movers: full-service and labor-only. While both involve pros helping you out with your move, they differ in a few key ways.
Full-service movers
With this option, the movers bring the truck, load it up, drive it to your new home, and unload it. They typically charge based on the date and distance of your move, the number of movers required, volume of your belongings, and the damage coverage you select.
“Pairing labor-only moving help with a U-Haul rental spares you the heavy lifting and speeds up your move. For example, a move that would take two professional movers 2 hours to complete could take a layman over 8 hours.”
There are additional fees to be aware of, as well. For example, if the movers have to go up or down multiple flights of stairs, carry extra-heavy or specialty items (like a piano or safe), or if you hire them to help with packing/unpacking, additional fees will apply. Tipping is also expected, so be sure to work that into your moving budget.
Labor-only movers
These movers are hired on an hourly basis to load or unload your truck or moving container. They can also help with packing and unpacking, or furniture disassembly and assembly. Labor-only movers often charge a minimum of 2 or 3 hours of work. Once your truck is loaded, it’s up to you to drive it to your new home. There, you can have the same labor-only movers (for a local move) or another team of movers (for a long-distance move) unload the truck. Oh, and don’t forget to tip.
Pros and Cons of Hiring Movers
The advantages of hiring full-service movers are: it saves time and effort, your belongings are expertly loaded and secured, you don’t have to worry about driving a big moving truck, and all the heavy lifting is taken care of by the movers. The cons are simply that it’s expensive and scheduling is less flexible (there are also often fees if you cancel or reschedule without enough notice).
Pros of Hiring Full-Service Movers
- Most hands-off option
- Expert loading and unloading
- They take care of the driving
Cons of Hiring Full-Service Movers
- Most expensive option
- Tight schedule
When it comes to labor-only movers, the pros and cons are the same except that you take care of driving the truck, and it’s still affordable.
Pros of Hiring Labor-Only Movers
- Affordable option
- Less time and work required of you
- Expert loading and unloading
Cons of Hiring Labor-Only Movers
- You still need to drive the truck
- You may need to tow your car
- Unexpected fees from U-Haul may apply
- Additional coordination and planning (renting the truck and hiring the movers)
When Should You Hire Movers?
With the exception of super-small local moves, hiring movers (particularly labor-only movers) is a game-changer that most people find to be worth every penny. Here are the situations when hiring movers is recommended:
- Local moves for 2+ bedroom homes
- If you have heavy furniture or specialty items (piano, hot tub, etc.)
- Long-distance and cross-country moves
- If you simply don’t have time to handle the move yourself
- If you don’t have anyone available to help with heavy lifting
- If you would need to hire pet sitters or babysitters to do it yourself
Hiring Movers vs. U-Haul: Do You Actually Need Both?
Pairing labor-only moving help with a U-Haul rental spares you the heavy lifting and speeds up your move. For example, a move that would take two professional movers 2 hours to complete could take a layman over 8 hours. On the other hand, hiring labor-only movers also costs a bit more than doing it yourself and requires additional coordination and planning. It’s a great option for most moves, but may not be necessary for others.
Do you need both movers and a U-Haul for your move? Ask yourself the following questions:
- Can I lift all these boxes and furniture myself, or do I have friends who can help?
- Do I have time to do this?
- Do I want to do this?
If you answered “no” to any of the questions above, then you should definitely hire movers to help load and unload your U-Haul.
U-Haul vs. Movers: Which Option Is Right for You?
Of course, there are three options to consider here: full-service movers, DIY move with a U-Haul truck rental, and combining labor-only movers with a U-Haul rental.
Hire Full-Service Movers If:
- You don’t want to or can’t drive a truck
- You don’t want to or can’t lift heavy boxes and furniture
- You can afford it
- Your company is paying for your relocation
Rent a U-Haul Truck If:
- It’s a small, local move
- You don’t mind heavy lifting or have friends to help
- You don’t mind driving a truck
- You have the time
- You want to save money
Rent a U-Haul Truck and Hire Labor-Only Movers If:
- You don’t mind driving a truck to save money, but you need help with the heavy lifting
- You want professionals to load and secure your belongings
- You don’t have time to spend a whole day hauling boxes
- You’re home is larger than a studio or a small one-bedroom apartment
- You’re moving cross-country (the price difference is negligible at that point)
Additional Tips for Mixing U-Haul and Movers
Ready to pair labor-only movers with your U-Haul rental? Here are some tips for how to choose a good moving company, secure coverage, and get the most out of your moving help.
Find Reputable Labor-Only Movers
Use HireaHelper’s mover marketplace to find reputable labor-only movers in your area and compare real quotes side-by-side. With hundreds of thousands of people moved and an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, the odds of you finding top-notch movers that are perfect for your move are all but guaranteed.
Make the Most of Your Movers’ Time
Make sure everything is packed, labeled, and ready to go before the movers arrive. This means all boxes taped up and clearly labeled by room, and all furniture disassembled and secured with stretch wrap (if needed). Labor-only movers charge by the hour, so the last thing you want is to have them waiting around while you pack.
Get the Timing Right
Schedule your U-Haul rental to allow time for you to pick it up and get it to your home at least an hour before the movers arrive. You don’t want to pay movers to wait around for you, so don’t cut the timing too close.
Secure Adequate Coverage for Your Move
You have a few options when it comes to coverage during your move. U-Haul offers several levels of damage coverage for its rental trucks. However, the cargo protection only applies to loss or damage from collision, fire, windstorm, and overturn of the rental truck.
You can purchase moving insurance through a third-party company, which will likely have fewer stipulations. Also, your homeowners or renters insurance may offer some protection for your belongings during the move, but you would need to consult your individual policy to confirm.
Review your options and choose the coverage that gives you peace of mind without breaking the bank.
Other Helpful Articles: