Rental moving trucks get roughly 7 to 11 miles per gallon once they’re loaded, and a cargo van does better at around 16. That’s the single biggest number in any moving fuel budget, so it’s worth getting right.
Gas mileage by truck size
These are typical figures for a loaded truck on a mix of highway and town driving. Fuel cost uses this week’s national averages: $4.284 a gallon for gas and $6.276 for diesel.
| Vehicle | Typical MPG | Gallons per 1,000 miles | Fuel per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 63 | $268 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 91 | $389 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 111 | $476 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 125 | $536 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 143 | $612 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 125 | $785 |
Every 1,000 miles, the largest gas truck burns about 52 more gallons than a 10 to 12 ft truck. Over a cross-country move that difference alone is several hundred dollars.
Why the number on the truck is higher
Rental companies and truck makers often quote “up to” figures. Those assume an empty truck, flat roads and steady highway speed. Real moves rarely look like that: the truck is full, the route has hills and city traffic, and many people drive at interstate speeds that a tall, boxy truck handles poorly. Planning on the lower, loaded figure keeps you from running short on budget halfway through the drive.
What lowers a moving truck’s MPG
- Speed. A box truck has a large flat front, and wind resistance grows quickly with speed.
- Weight. Books, tools and furniture add up; a fully loaded large truck can carry several tons.
- Towing a car. A trailer or dolly with a car on it typically costs another 15% or so in MPG.
- Hills and mountains. Climbing passes in the Rockies or Appalachians uses far more fuel than flat highway.
- Idling. Running the engine while loading or waiting burns fuel and covers no miles.
Gas or diesel?
Most consumer rental trucks run on gasoline, but some larger trucks use diesel. Diesel engines usually get somewhat better mileage, but diesel often costs more per gallon; this week it’s $1.992 more than gas on average. Check the fuel type on the rental paperwork or the fuel door before you fill up: putting gas in a diesel engine or the reverse is an expensive mistake.
Know your route? The moving truck gas calculator uses these figures as starting points, and you can type in your own truck’s MPG if the rental company lists it.
Sources and method
Fuel prices are weekly retail averages including taxes from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Driving distances between cities come from OSRM using © OpenStreetMap contributors data. Fuel economy figures are typical real-world values that PumpTally uses as calculator starting points, not manufacturer ratings; your own vehicle may do better or worse. Every table on this page is recalculated each week when prices update.