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Movers or a rental truck in Denver: which is worth it
For a studio or one-bedroom inside the metro, a rental truck is usually cheaper: moveBuddha prints $172–$1,566 for a local DIY truck move against $279–$1,100 published for movers. The gap narrows from two bedrooms up, once you count fuel, your own time, stairs, a Denver street permit and the Colorado consumer protections that only apply when a permitted mover does the transport.
Prices are published third-party figures with their dates, not quotes. Truck specifications are U-Haul's own published figures.
We are an independent publisher, not a moving company. Facts last checked . How we source.
The short answer
Rent a truck when
- The home is a studio or one-bedroom.
- You have two or more strong helpers.
- Ground floor or an elevator you can book.
- You are comfortable driving a box truck in Denver traffic.
Hire movers when
- Two bedrooms or more, or several flights of stairs.
- Heavy items: piano, safe, sleeper sofa.
- The move crosses I-70 or US 285 in winter.
- You want Colorado's written-estimate and 110% protections.
Split it when
- You'll drive, but don't want to lift.
- Book a truck and a labor-only crew for loading and unloading.
U-Haul truck sizes and what they hold
U-Haul publishes a size rating, interior volume and maximum load for each vehicle. These are the company's own figures. (U-Haul Truck Rentals; uhaul.com refused our fetcher, so we read the Internet Archive copy of 13–14 January 2026 on 2026-10-20.) Verify
| Vehicle | U-Haul's rating | Volume (cu. ft.) | Max load (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup | Small loads | 76 | 2,280 |
| Cargo van | Small loads, deliveries | 246 | 4,030 |
| 10-foot truck | Studio to 1-bedroom apartment | 402 | 2,850 |
| 15-foot truck | 1–2 bedroom home or apartment | 764 | 6,385 |
| 20-foot truck | 2–3 bedroom home or apartment | 1,016 | 5,700 |
| 26-foot truck | 3–4 bedroom home | 1,682 | 12,859 |
The archived page shows two versions of the 26-foot rating ("3–4 bedroom home" and "2–3 bedroom home/apartment"). We print the first; confirm on uhaul.com before you book. Note the 20-foot truck has a lower maximum load than the 15-foot.
Truck size picker
The picker matches your home size to U-Haul's own published truck ratings. It does not estimate cost.
Which U-Haul size fits your home?
What each option costs in Denver
| Option | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DIY truck rental, local | $172–$1,566 | moveBuddha, dated 2026-09-25 |
| Movers, 1 bedroom | $279–$1,100 | 5 sources |
| Movers, 2 bedrooms | $625–$2,400 | 5 sources |
| Movers, 3 bedrooms | $1,200–$3,600 | 5 sources |
| Two movers and a truck, hourly | $130–$220/h | Moving Brothers, Discipled Movers, Movemasters |
Sources read 2026-09-29. moveBuddha does not split its DIY figure by home size. Full table on the cost guide.
The truck figure leaves out what you add yourself: fuel, the street permit, dollies and pads, and the hours of two or three people. It also leaves out risk: a dropped dresser or a scraped door frame is your cost, not a mover's cargo claim.
Denver-specific catches
The street permit applies to your rental too
Denver requires a permit to park a moving truck or van in the street. Where there are parking meters you file a Parking Meter Request; otherwise a Right-of-Way Street Occupancy request. Street occupancy permits take at least five days to review. Denver meter bagging requests take up to 72 hours to process, and DOTI asks for them at least one week ahead. (Denver DOTI FAQ; Street Occupancy, read 2026-09-29.) A mover usually knows to file it; with a rental, filing is on you.
Mountain routes and the chain law
From 1 September to 31 May, commercial vehicles over 16,000 pounds must carry chains on about 1,400 miles of Colorado highway, including sections of I-70, CO 9 and US 40, 50, 160, 285 and 550. The fine for not carrying them is $500. (CDOT, read 2026-09-29.) Whether a rental falls under that rule depends on its weight rating, which we have not confirmed for each U-Haul size. Read the gross vehicle weight rating on the door sticker and ask the rental desk about chains before a winter trip west on I-70.
Snow season
Denver's average first measurable snow falls on 19 October and the last on 28 April. The 1991–2020 seasonal normal is 49.0 inches, with 8.8 inches in March. (NWS Boulder, read 2026-09-29.) A rental truck booked for one day doesn't wait for the weather; ask about rescheduling terms.
The hybrid: rent the truck, hire the lifting
Many Denver movers and labor marketplaces offer loading and unloading without a truck. You keep the rental's lower price and hand off the part that causes injuries and damage. Two cautions apply: the crew's minimum hours are billed twice (once at each end, unless they ride along), and the crew's insurance may not cover your truck. The labor-only guide covers rates and questions to ask.
- Size the truckUse U-Haul's rating, up one size if unsure.
- File the street permitDOTI, a week ahead for meters.
- Book labor at both endsConfirm minimums in writing.
- Drive it yourselfCheck weight and chain rules in winter.
What protection you give up
Colorado's mover rules attach to the company that transports your goods. Colorado defines a "mover" as a motor carrier that provides the transportation or shipment of household goods, and a motor carrier as a person operating a motor vehicle that provides intrastate transportation. (C.R.S. 40-10.1-101, read 2026-10-20.) When you drive, there is no mover in that sense, so there is no written estimate with a 110% cap and no valuation option. The contract must offer two cargo valuation options: released value, at the lesser of sixty cents per pound per lost or damaged article, or full replacement cost, where you declare the value of the shipment. (4 CCR 723-6-6608, read 2026-09-29.) Your own renter's or homeowner's policy and the rental company's optional damage coverage are what's left; read both before you decline anything at the counter.
How to decide
- Get the truck's real price for your date: base rate, per-mile charge and the damage coverage you'd take.
- Add fuel, the DOTI permit, equipment and any labor-only crew.
- Get two or three written estimates from permitted movers for the same inventory.
- Compare totals, then weigh stairs, heavy items, winter roads and your own time.
If the gap is under a few hundred dollars for a two-bedroom or larger, most people find the mover's protections and speed worth it. If it is a studio on the ground floor, the truck usually wins.
Common questions about movers vs truck rental in Denver
What size U-Haul do I need for a 2-bedroom?
U-Haul rates its 15-foot truck for 1–2 bedrooms and its 20-foot for 2–3 bedrooms. A full two-bedroom usually needs the 20-foot. If you have heavy items, note that the 20-foot's published max load (5,700 lb) is lower than the 15-foot's.
Do I need a permit to park a rental truck on a Denver street?
Yes. Denver's DOTI permit rule covers moving trucks and vans parked in the street, whoever drives them. File a Parking Meter Request on metered blocks or a Right-of-Way Street Occupancy request elsewhere, at least five days ahead.
Is it cheaper to rent a truck than hire movers in Denver?
For small local moves, usually. moveBuddha prints $172–$1,566 for a local DIY truck move. For larger homes, add your labor, fuel, permit and equipment before comparing with written mover estimates.
Can I hire movers just to load my rental truck?
Yes. Labor-only crews load and unload a truck you rent. Ask for the minimum hours at each end and what their insurance covers when the truck is yours.
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