Fuel is one of the easiest costs to underestimate on a DIY truck move. Enter your distance, truck's MPG, and local gas price for a quick estimate, including cost per mile.
The math behind the estimate is intentionally simple, so you can check it yourself:
Say you're driving a truck 400 miles one-way, plus about 50 additional miles for the return leg and a couple of detours. The truck averages 10 MPG, and gas is running $3.50 a gallon.
Swap in your own distance, MPG, and gas price above to get a figure that matches your actual route and truck.
This calculator assumes one constant MPG for the whole trip, but real fuel economy shifts with truck size, how heavily it's loaded, terrain, weather, and driving style — a fully loaded truck climbing a grade will burn noticeably more fuel than the same truck cruising an empty highway on the way back. Gas prices also vary by state, region, and day, sometimes by more than a dollar a gallon across a long route, so the price you enter is a snapshot rather than a guarantee for the entire trip. This estimate covers fuel only — it doesn't include tolls, parking, lodging, rental fees, or insurance. If you're renting, check whether your agreement bills fuel separately or requires the tank returned full, since that changes your real out-of-pocket cost.
It depends mostly on truck size. Cargo vans and smaller trucks often get around 12-16 MPG, mid-size 15-17 ft trucks often land in the 10-14 MPG range, and large 20-26 ft trucks often see 8-12 MPG. A heavy load, highway speeds, or hilly terrain will typically pull actual mileage toward the lower end of these ranges.
No. This calculator only estimates fuel cost from distance, MPG, and gas price. It doesn't account for tolls, parking, lodging, rental fees, or insurance. If you also want the full rental picture, pair this with the Moving Truck Rental Cost Calculator.
Use the MPG your rental company publishes for that specific truck rather than a guess, and enter a current local gas price instead of a national average — prices can swing by more than a dollar a gallon between states. Adding your expected detours or a loaded return trip to the additional miles field also brings the number closer to what you'll actually spend.
Yes, if you're driving the truck back or dropping it off somewhere other than your destination. Use the additional miles field to add those miles so the total reflects the full round trip, not just the one-way distance to your new home.
Once you know your fuel cost, add it to your full rental cost with the Moving Truck Rental Cost Calculator to see base rate, mileage, insurance and extras alongside gas.
Not sure what size truck you need, or what MPG to expect from it? The Moving Truck Size Calculator helps you pick the right truck first, so you can come back here with a realistic MPG.
Ready to see fuel cost next to every other moving expense? The Moving Cost Calculator combines gas, rental, labor, and more into one total.