Fuel cost by truck size
Based on 1,963 miles, a gas price of $4.307 and a diesel price of $6.387 a gallon. Towing a car on a trailer or dolly lowers fuel economy by about 15%.
| Truck | MPG | Gallons | Fuel cost | Towing a car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo van | 16 | 123 | $528 | $622 |
| 10 to 12 ft truck | 11 | 178 | $769 | $904 |
| 15 to 17 ft truck | 9 | 218 | $939 | $1,105 |
| 20 to 22 ft truck | 8 | 245 | $1,057 | $1,243 |
| 26 ft truck | 7 | 280 | $1,208 | $1,421 |
| 26 ft truck (diesel) | 8 | 245 | $1,567 | $1,844 |
The gap between the smallest and largest trucks on this route is about $679 in fuel alone, so it pays to rent only as much truck as you need.
Fuel prices at each end of the move
| Where | Gas | Diesel | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | $4.145 | $6.352 | Midwest average |
| Boise, ID | $4.468 | $6.422 | Rocky Mountain average |
Gas runs about $0.32 a gallon cheaper around Detroit, MI. Fill the tank before you leave Detroit and stretch it as far as you safely can.
Weekly retail averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration for the week of October 19, 2026. Prices along the way will vary. EIA source
Planning the drive
A loaded box truck is slower than a car on hills and safest at moderate speeds, and most drivers find 450 miles a comfortable day. That makes Detroit, MI to Boise, ID a 5-day drive, so budget for hotel nights and meals on top of fuel. The rental itself and any per-mile fees are charged separately from fuel.
Other moves
Going the other way? See Boise, ID to Detroit, MI.
More moves from Detroit
- Detroit to New York
- Detroit to Los Angeles
- Detroit to Chicago
- Detroit to Houston
- Detroit to Phoenix
- Detroit to Philadelphia
- Detroit to San Diego
- Detroit to Dallas
- Detroit to Austin
- Detroit to Charlotte
- Detroit to San Francisco
- Detroit to Seattle
- Detroit to Denver
- Detroit to Nashville
- Detroit to Atlanta
- Detroit to Miami
- Detroit to Boston
- Detroit to Las Vegas
- Detroit to Orlando
- Detroit to Tampa
- Detroit to Raleigh
- Detroit to San Antonio
- Detroit to Jacksonville
- Detroit to Columbus
- Detroit to Indianapolis
- Detroit to Sacramento
- Detroit to Oklahoma City
- Detroit to Portland
- Detroit to Louisville
- Detroit to Memphis
- Detroit to Baltimore
- Detroit to Washington
- Detroit to Milwaukee
- Detroit to Albuquerque
- Detroit to Tucson
- Detroit to Kansas City
- Detroit to Salt Lake City
- Detroit to Minneapolis
- Detroit to Cleveland
- Detroit to Pittsburgh
- Detroit to St. Louis
- Detroit to Cincinnati
- Detroit to New Orleans
- Detroit to Richmond
- Detroit to Birmingham
- Detroit to Omaha
- Detroit to Charleston
- Detroit to El Paso
More moves to Boise
- New York to Boise
- Los Angeles to Boise
- Chicago to Boise
- Houston to Boise
- Phoenix to Boise
- Philadelphia to Boise
- San Diego to Boise
- Dallas to Boise
- Austin to Boise
- Charlotte to Boise
- San Francisco to Boise
- Seattle to Boise
- Denver to Boise
- Nashville to Boise
- Atlanta to Boise
- Miami to Boise
- Boston to Boise
- Las Vegas to Boise
- Orlando to Boise
- Tampa to Boise
- Raleigh to Boise
- San Antonio to Boise
- Jacksonville to Boise
- Columbus to Boise
- Indianapolis to Boise
- Sacramento to Boise
- Oklahoma City to Boise
- Portland to Boise
- Louisville to Boise
- Memphis to Boise
- Baltimore to Boise
- Washington to Boise
- Milwaukee to Boise
- Albuquerque to Boise
- Tucson to Boise
- Kansas City to Boise
- Salt Lake City to Boise
- Minneapolis to Boise
- Cleveland to Boise
- Pittsburgh to Boise
- St. Louis to Boise
- Cincinnati to Boise
- New Orleans to Boise
- Richmond to Boise
- Birmingham to Boise
- Omaha to Boise
- Charleston to Boise
- El Paso to Boise