Rent a U-Haul or Hire Movers?

Let's face it, moving can be costly. Trying to be frugal, many people wonder whether they should hire professional movers or just rent a truck and move with the help of their friends.

The short answer is:

U-Haul can be a better option if you have a very small move or just need to move a few items. It would also suit you if you don't have costly, bulky, heavy, or fragile items such as a wooden dresser or an expensive TV.

Family loading a uhaul for a long distance move
hire professional movers

Hiring movers is worth it if you have a larger move, big stuff that would require special handling, furniture that would need to be disassembled, and fragile items that would have to be carefully packed.

The short answer is:

U-Haul can be a better option if you have a very small move or just need to move a few items. It would also suit you if you don't have costly, bulky, heavy, or fragile items such as a wooden dresser or an expensive TV.

Family loading a uhaul for a long distance move

Hiring movers is worth it if you have a larger move, big stuff that would require special handling, furniture that would need to be disassembled, and fragile items that would have to be carefully packed.

hire professional movers

Rent a U-Haul

Renting a U-Haul and moving by yourself can be a cost-effective option, especially if you have a limited budget. You can save money on labor costs by packing and loading your belongings on your own.

U-Hauls come in different sizes, so you can choose the right size for your needs and only pay for the space you need. You also have the flexibility to move on your own schedule and take breaks when you need them.

long distance moving truck uhaul
speech bubble saying 'Make Sure This is not you :)'person dropping a tv

However, moving by yourself can also be physically and emotionally exhausting. You will need to handle all aspects of the move, including renting a truck, buying boxes and materials, packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking. This can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially if you have a large household or fragile items.

Additionally, you may not have the necessary tools, equipment, or experience to safely transport, load, and unload your belongings, which could result in damage or injury. Remember, it's not just about your stuff - damage to the property can deliver you a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Rent a U-Haul

Renting a U-Haul and moving by yourself can be a cost-effective option, especially if you have a limited budget. You can save money on labor costs by packing and loading your belongings on your own.

U-Hauls come in different sizes, so you can choose the right size for your needs and only pay for the space you need. You also have the flexibility to move on your own schedule and take breaks when you need them.

long distance moving truck uhaul

However, moving by yourself can also be physically and emotionally exhausting. You will need to handle all aspects of the move, including renting a truck, buying boxes and materials, packing, loading, driving, unloading, and unpacking. This can be overwhelming and time-consuming, especially if you have a large household or fragile items.

Additionally, you may not have the necessary tools, equipment, or experience to safely transport, load, and unload your belongings, which could result in damage or injury. Remember, it's not just about your stuff - damage to the property can deliver you a lot of unnecessary trouble.

speech bubble saying 'Make Sure This is not you :)'person dropping a tv

Hire Professional Movers

Hiring a professional moving company can alleviate some of the stress and physical strain of moving. Professional movers have the experience, training, and equipment to safely pack and transport your belongings. They can handle all aspects of the move, including disassembling and reassembling furniture, loading, unloading, and unpacking. This can save you time and energy and reduce the risk of damage or injury.

professional movers loading a truck

Hiring a professional moving company can alleviate some of the stress and physical strain of moving. Professional movers have the experience, training, and equipment to safely pack and transport your belongings. They can handle all aspects of the move, including disassembling and reassembling furniture, loading, unloading, and unpacking. This can save you time and energy and reduce the risk of damage or injury.

professional movers loading a truck

Movers will save you time. Seriously. Experience matters a lot when it comes to moving. It might take over an hour for an average person to disassemble an Ikea bed, especially with the lack of the right tools. Movers see those beds every day, have the most suitable tools, and to the amazement of the customers can disassemble a bed in minutes.

Movers will save your items. Do you know how to dismount and properly protect a 50” TV? Or how not to tear your couch while trying to pull it through that narrow doorway? Or how to pack your glasses and dishes so that they don't arrive all shuttered after you accidentally drive into a pothole? What about your white mattress, you probably don't want it to get dirty. Oh, and you certainly don't want to scratch those hardwood floors and freshly painted walls. Professional movers know all the caveats of the process. Accidents happen of course, but with a moving company, your property is fully insured.

experienced movers perform furniture assembly

Movers will save you money. Movers typically bring higher-quality packing materials than you might buy yourself. Leftovers don't go wasted. They also have more expensive thicker moving blankets that provide better protection as compared to rental blankets. KZ2 Moving Company also provides boxes for free to save you the stress of deciding how many and what sizes of boxes you need.

experienced movers perform furniture assembly

Movers will save you money. Movers typically bring higher-quality packing materials than you might buy yourself. Leftovers don't go wasted. They also have more expensive thicker moving blankets that provide better protection as compared to rental blankets. KZ2 Moving Company also provides boxes for free to save you the stress of deciding how many and what sizes of boxes you need.

Movers save you pain. Moving is a back-breaking job. One who underestimates it is destined to find it out the next morning. Professional movers who perform this task daily have a very high level of stamina, and endurance, and their bodies are well adapted for the job. Even if you and your friend exercise often, an intense moving day will challenge you and might even lead to injuries.

Movers are more efficient for long-distance hauls. If you are moving far, having movers can be especially helpful. Typically, for such a move you would get 2 movers who are both professional drivers. They change often and therefore can drive non-stop all day long in any weather conditions. You might be surprised how that huge 26ft truck can beat you on the way from San Francisco to Los Angeles :)


Bottom Line

Overall, saving money is good when it is appropriate. Drawing an analogy, you can certainly buy a bulb in a store and replaced one that went out of service by yourself, but if you need to replace a power panel, you hire a certified electrician. It is exactly the same with moving. You can likely save some money by doing a small move yourself, but if it is a more serious task, it is better to trust the professionals.

Lastly, you can always go with a hybrid choice - hire movers to help you load a rented U-Haul. In fact, this option is quite popular among our customers who go for a long-distance move. Loading a U-Haul typically takes our team 3 hours or less. Should you choose this option, we are here to set you properly for a long trip.