Truck Rental Cost Calculator
Estimate the full cost of a rental or moving truck: day rate, mileage charges, fuel, damage protection, equipment and tax, with cost per mile.
A rental truck's advertised day rate is only the start: per-mile charges, fuel, damage protection, equipment and tax can more than double the bill for a local move. This calculator adds up every line so you can compare quotes and budget the real cost before you book.
How to use this tool
- Enter the number of rental days and the base rate per day from your quote.
- Enter the miles you expect to drive, any miles included with the rental, and the charge per extra mile.
- Enter the truck's fuel economy and the local fuel price.
- Add damage protection, equipment such as a dolly and pads, other fees and the sales tax rate.
Formula
Rental charges = Days × Day rate + Billable miles × Rate per mile + Days × Protection + Equipment + Fees
Total = Rental charges × (1 + Tax %) + Miles ÷ MPG × Fuel price
The mileage allowance applies to the entire booking. The model applies the entered tax to all non-fuel charges uniformly; actual taxable items and local surcharges vary. Pump fuel price is assumed to include applicable fuel taxes, and fuel use assumes return at the original level.
Example
A one-day local rental at $39.95 with 120 miles at $1.09 a mile adds $130.80 in mileage. With $25 of damage protection and $20 of equipment the rental charges come to $215.75, plus 8% tax ($17.26). The truck burns 12 gallons at 10 MPG — $43.20 at $3.60 a gallon. The estimated total is $276.21, about $2.30 per mile driven.
Frequently asked questions
What MPG should I use for a moving truck?
Use the rental company's figure for the size you book, and allow for a loaded truck doing worse than an empty one. Box trucks use far more fuel per mile than a car.
How do one-way rentals work here?
Keep the actual number of rental days so daily protection is counted correctly. Divide a flat bundled rental price by those days for the base daily rate, and enter the booking’s total included mileage.
Which quote items are included?
Enter the protection, equipment and fees shown on your quote. The model does not determine insurance coverage or automatically retrieve company charges. Verify included mileage, taxable items and any one-way surcharge.
Last updated: 2026-10-30