Renting an Enclosed Trailer vs. Hiring a Moving Truck: Cost and Convenience Compared

An enclosed trailer rental runs $100–$175/day depending on size and market. A national moving truck appears to start lower — advertised as low as $20–$60/day for a 16-foot truck — but local move totals including mileage fees, insurance and taxes typically land between $130 and $310 once all charges are included. The trailer is almost always cheaper per day. But the comparison isn't just daily rate: the trailer requires a capable tow vehicle, must return to the same pickup location and takes some towing experience to drive well. The moving truck is self-contained, available one-way and requires no tow setup. This post puts both options side by side on real all-in cost, convenience and the scenarios where each one wins.

The Real Cost Comparison

Enclosed trailer: what you actually pay

Enclosed trailer rental rates across the Big Rentals marketplace run approximately $100–$175/day depending on trailer size and location. Current listings from the marketplace give a clear picture of the market range: a 16-foot trailer in Dallas at $100/day; a 16-foot in Whittier, CA at $120/day; a 16-foot in Knoxville at $125/day; a 16-foot in New Hampshire at $115/day; a 20-foot in Dallas at $125/day; a 22-foot in Millville, MA at $175/day; and a 24-foot in Azusa, CA at $150/day.

That is the daily rate — full stop. There are no per-mile charges on top of it. The only variable cost beyond the day rate is fuel in the tow vehicle, which uses more while towing — typically 2–5 fewer mpg than unloaded depending on trailer weight, tow vehicle size and terrain. The trailer must be returned to the pickup location unless the specific listing indicates otherwise.

• Day rate: $100–$175 depending on size and market — no per-mile charges
• 16-foot trailers: $100–$125/day across current Big Rentals listings in major markets
• Larger trailers (20–24 ft): $125–$175/day
• Fuel: tow vehicle uses 2–5 fewer mpg while towing — factor into total cost estimate
• Return: same pickup location unless the listing specifies a drop-off option

Moving truck: what you actually pay

National moving truck companies advertise local base rates that can look lower than trailer day rates — some as low as $20–$60/day for a 16-foot truck. That number rarely reflects the total. For local round-trip moves, mileage fees apply at $0.47–$1.50 per mile depending on the company and location. Here is the part most renters miss: the mileage counter runs from the moment the truck is picked up to the moment it's returned. A 50-mile move involves picking up the truck from the rental lot, driving it to the origin, loading, driving to the destination, unloading and returning the truck to the lot — commonly 80–120 total miles, not 50.

At a common rate of $0.99/mile, that's $79–$119 in mileage fees on top of the base rate, before insurance ($10–$35/day), taxes and environmental fees. Research on actual all-in local move totals shows $130–$165 for a 30-mile move and $220–$310 for a 100-mile move using a 16-foot truck once all charges are included. Data from multiple national moving truck providers indicates that one major company's final checkout averages 40–60% above its initial online quote. Fuel is separate from the rental fee — at 8–10 mpg loaded, a 100-mile total drive uses 10–12 gallons.

• Advertised base rate: $20–$60/day — not the all-in cost for local moves
• Mileage fees: $0.47–$1.50/mile applied to total miles driven including pickup, loading, delivery and return
• Total miles: commonly 80–120 for a 50-mile local move once the full round trip is counted
• All-in local totals: $130–$165 for a 30-mile move; $220–$310 for a 100-mile move (16-foot truck)
• Insurance: $10–$35/day additional — confirm what the listed rate includes
• Final checkout: averages 40–60% above the initial online quote at one major national company
• Fuel: 8–10 mpg loaded — separate cost on top of rental fees

The Tow Vehicle Requirement: The Central Variable

Confirm the tow vehicle qualifies before comparing prices

A 16-foot enclosed trailer loaded with a two-bedroom apartment's worth of furniture and boxes weighs approximately 3,000–5,000 lbs depending on load density. A 20–24-foot trailer loaded reaches 6,000–8,000 lbs. Towing either requires a full-size pickup truck or a heavy-duty SUV with a Class III or Class IV receiver hitch rated for the loaded trailer weight. A midsize SUV, a small truck or a standard car generally does not qualify. The tow vehicle also needs trailer wiring for brake lights and turn signals.

If the vehicle is capable, the trailer almost always wins on all-in cost. If it isn't — and many renters discover this when they pull up the towing capacity spec — the moving truck is the practical option regardless of price. This is the first question to answer, not the last. See our towing capacity guide for the full check before booking either option.

• 16-foot trailer loaded: approximately 3,000–5,000 lbs — requires a full-size truck or heavy-duty SUV
• 20–24-foot trailer loaded: approximately 6,000–8,000 lbs — requires an appropriately rated tow vehicle
• Minimum setup: Class III or IV receiver hitch, trailer wiring, tow vehicle rated above loaded trailer weight
• No capable tow vehicle: moving truck is the practical choice — price comparison becomes secondary
• Confirm towing capacity before booking: check the tow vehicle's rated capacity against the estimated loaded trailer weight

One-Way Moves: Where the Truck Has a Structural Advantage

The trailer has a return trip built in

For a local round-trip move — loading and unloading within the same city or metro area — the trailer's return requirement adds one empty trip back to the pickup location, but no additional rental cost if the return happens on the same day. For a one-way move to a new city, the math changes. Moving from Dallas to Houston on an enclosed trailer means driving the empty trailer 240 miles back to Dallas after unloading — unless the specific listing offers a drop-off option near Houston, which is not guaranteed.

National moving truck companies offer one-way drop-off at a destination location, with some including unlimited mileage on one-way rentals — meaning the full drive from origin to destination is included in the rental price without per-mile charges. For cross-city or cross-state one-way moves, the moving truck's one-way capability is a structural advantage that most trailer listings can't match. Before ruling the trailer out entirely for a one-way move, confirm with the listing whether any drop-off flexibility exists — some owners accommodate it.

• Local round-trip: trailer return adds one empty trip — manageable if pickup location is nearby
• One-way cross-city or cross-state: trailer requires driving back empty — significant added cost and time
• Moving truck advantage: one-way drop-off at the destination — some national companies include unlimited mileage
• Check the listing: some trailer owners offer drop-off flexibility — confirm before ruling it out

Convenience Factors Side by Side

Driving experience. A moving truck is self-contained and drives like a large box truck — unfamiliar for some but manageable without prior towing experience. A trailer requires backing accurately, turning wide and managing the combined length of the tow vehicle and trailer. These are learnable skills, but the learning curve on the first day of a move — when time pressure is highest and stress is real — is a genuine consideration for a first-time tower.

Loading and access. Both options typically offer a rear roll-up or swing door and comparable interior height. Some enclosed trailers have side doors in addition to the rear opening, which is useful for accessing items mid-load without disturbing the full stack. Check the specific listing for door configuration before booking if side access matters for the job.

Overnight security and multi-day flexibility. An enclosed trailer can be unhitched and left at the destination overnight — useful for a move that spans more than one day, when furniture needs to stay accessible or when loading happens across multiple sessions. A moving truck is returned to the rental company or incurs additional daily charges for each added day. For a move that realistically takes two days to pack, load and unload, the trailer's flexibility to stay at the destination can offset the return-trip cost.

Vehicle flexibility during the move. A trailer leaves the tow vehicle free as a separate vehicle throughout the move — useful for running errands, transporting people, or making additional light-load trips while the trailer is parked and being loaded or unloaded. A moving truck consolidates everything into one vehicle, which simplifies logistics on a single-day move but removes the two-vehicle flexibility that some households find useful on a longer move.

Quick Decision Reference

Have a capable tow vehicle, local round-trip move: go for an enclosed trailer — almost always cheaper all-in than a moving truck once mileage fees are factored into the truck total.

No capable tow vehicle: choose a moving truck — the trailer option isn't available regardless of price.

One-way move to a new city or state: go with a moving truck — one-way drop-off capability and mileage structure favor the truck for moves where driving the trailer back empty is impractical.

Multi-day move or staging over several days: choose an enclosed trailer — can be unhitched and left at the destination.

First-time tower, no prior towing experience: we recommend a moving truck — the driving learning curve on an already stressful moving day is a real cost in time and peace of mind.

Local move under 50 miles with a capable tow vehicle: choose an enclosed trailer — the cost gap is widest at short local distances where mileage fees add up fastest on the truck.

Large move requiring 20+ ft of cargo space: both options scale — compare specific trailer listings against truck availability for the size needed before deciding.

Insurance and Damage Protection

Before towing a rented trailer, contact your auto insurance provider to ask whether your policy covers liability and towing-related damage claims.

Eligible rentals booked through Big Rentals also include Basic Rental Protection at checkout. This added protection can help limit your financial responsibility for certain damage or theft events during the rental period.

For full details on how Basic Rental Protection works, including deductibles, exclusions and renter responsibilities, review our FAQ and platform terms.

The Short Version

For most local round-trip moves with a capable tow vehicle, the enclosed trailer wins on all-in cost — the day rate is lower, there are no per-mile charges and the total is predictable before the move starts. The moving truck wins for one-way moves, for renters without a capable tow vehicle and for first-timers who don't want to add towing to the list of things to manage on moving day. Once the trailer is confirmed as the right option, see our guide on how to secure furniture in an enclosed trailer before loading and our enclosed trailer capacity guide for sizing before booking.

Browse enclosed trailer rentals near you.