U-Haul vs. The Home Depot Truck Rental

U-Haul and The Home Depot both offer moving trucks, rental trailers, rentable moving equipment, and moving boxes, but who does it better? In this article, we’ll be looking at what both moving companies have to offer and how valued customers can benefit most from choosing the right company.

Key Takeaways U-Haul offers pickup trucks, cargo vans, and four sizes of moving trucks with more locations across the U.S. and Canada, versus The Home Depot. U-Haul moving truck rentals start at $19.95 plus mileage and fees per day, while The Home Depot truck rentals start at $129 per day, without taxes or fees. You must be 21 to rent a truck and 18 to rent a trailer from The Home Depot.

 U-Haul vs. The Home Depot Truck Rental Sizes and Prices

When choosing a truck rental, it’s important to consider price; going with the wrong truck rental company can cost you big if you don’t do your research. For example, The Home Depot commonly advertises the cost of the first 75 minutes of use of a truck or cargo van rental. While it sounds like a great deal, you are charged an additional rate for every fifteen minutes you use the vehicle until the daily rate is reached.

With U-Haul, the local daily rental rate does not increase by the hour; you only pay the rate, mileage cost, and fees. You can rent a U-Haul truck for either 2 or 24 hours and still pay the same daily rate. This helps customers like you not stress about rental time when they are done using the truck.

U-Haul Moving Trucks and Cargo Vans	Daily Price	The Home Depot Trucks and Cargo Vans	Daily Price
8’ Pickup Truck	$19.95 plus mileage and fees	8' Pick-Up Truck	$129
9’ Cargo Van	$19.95 plus mileage and fees	8' Flatbed Truck	$139
10’ Moving Truck	$19.95 plus mileage and fees	10' Flatbed Truck	$139
15’ Moving Truck	$29.95 plus mileage and fees	Cargo Vans	$149
20’ Moving Truck	$39.95 plus mileage and fees	Box Truck	$159
26’ Moving Truck	$49.95 plus mileage and fees

Prices used for this table were sourced in April 2025 and are subject to change.

U-Haul vs. The Home Depot Truck Rental Perks

Perks	U-Haul	The Home Depot
Five Vehicles with Towing Capability	Yes	No
One-way Truck Rentals	Yes	No
Safe Storage Space with Mom’s Attic®	Yes	No
Lowest Deck Height	Yes	No
Shortest Loading Ramp	Yes	No

The Biggest Difference Between U-Haul and The Home Depot

While both companies provide truck rentals, they are both very different in how they operate. With U-Haul, you can pick up a rental truck or trailer in one location and drop it off in another (often called a “one-way” reservation). At The Home Depot, you must bring your truck or trailer rental back to the same location where you picked it up.

To circumvent this, The Home Depot will occasionally have Penske truck rentals at its locations. However, for local rentals, if you rent a Penske truck at The Home Depot, you may see a higher rate than when choosing to rent a Penske truck at a Penske-owned location.

What Insurance Options Are Available for The Home Depot Truck and Trailer Rentals?

When it comes to rental insurance options for trucks, vans, pickups, and trailers, there are several differences between U-Haul and The Home Depot that you should know about. 

Insurance Requirement

The Home Depot requires you to have automobile insurance for vehicle rentals. U-Haul does not require personal auto insurance, and at the same time, U-Haul provides total peace of mind with customizable protection options like Safemove®, Safemove Plus®, and Safetow®, ensuring you're covered no matter where the road takes you. 

Collision Damage Waiver

The Home Depot Damage Protection Plan is designed to offset costs related to non-collision-related damages. Damage costs from a collision or accident can add up quickly. That’s why U-Haul includes a collision damage waiver with the purchase of Safemove, Safemove Plus, and Safetow that covers most accident damage to rental equipment, including overhead and tire damage. 

Limits

The Home Depot Damage Protection Plan has a $500 limit for repair for non-collision physical damage. U-Haul Safemove has a collision damage waiver up to the full value of the rental equipment. U-Haul also offers medical/life protection, as well as cargo protection with limits up to $15,000 for in-town rentals and $25,000 for one-way rentals, which The Home Depot does not offer at all. 

Pricing

The Home Depot prices its Damage Protection Plan for 15% of the total rental fees. U-Haul offers a daily rate for in-town insurance options. If you are renting for a full day, the 15% fee from The Home Depot can quickly add up to be more expensive for a protection plan that offers fewer benefits than U-Haul. 

Are you worried about covering your truck or trailer rental from damage? Learn more about:

• What Insurance Options Are Available for U-Haul Truck Rentals
• What Insurance Options are Available for U-Haul Trailer & Towing Rentals

Where The Home Depot Truck Rental Comes Up Short

With The Home Depot, there are certain stipulations with truck and trailer rentals that impact what equipment you can rent and for how long.

Firstly, you must be 21 years old to rent a truck from The Home Depot and 18 years old to rent a trailer. At U-Haul, you only need to be 18 to rent any moving truck, and only 16 to rent a trailer.

At The Home Depot, you must also pay a deposit for any rental that you make. This deposit ranges between $25-$300 for trailer and tool rentals, and a deposit of $150 is required for all truck rentals at The Home Depot.  Paying for your rental with cash at The Home Depot is also not possible; you must have a credit or debit card to rent, and you must have your identity verified through a third-party application to rent a truck or cargo van. The Home Depot is also not clear on after-hours pickup and drop-off.

With U-Haul, you can rent over the app, online, over the phone, and in person — whichever suits your needs. You can also rent a U-Haul truck or cargo van at any time and return that truck at any time with 24/7 Truck Share®.

Another upside with U-Haul is that you only need a deposit if you are paying with cash or check. This deposit is $100 or the cost of estimated rental charges (whichever is greater) for a local in-town truck or trailer reservation. For a one-way truck or trailer reservation, there is a $100 deposit plus the rental rate.

 

U-Haul vs. The Home Depot Trailer Rental Prices

The Home Depot and U-Haul both offer two varieties of local trailer rentals to make hauling easier and fit your everyday needs.

U-Haul and The Home Depot have open utility trailers; however, The Home Depot only has three varieties of utility trailers, no bigger than 5’ x 8’. U-Haul has five different utility trailers ranging from the smallest, a 4’ by 7’ trailer, all the way up to our 16’ Flatbed Utility Trailer.

The difference between the two moving companies is that The Home Depot carries three unique dump trailers, and U-Haul does not. Dump trailers are for dumping large piles of sand, loose gravel, mulch, etc. U-Haul does not have dump trailers and instead has cargo trailers. U-Haul cargo trailers come in three sizes but have ramp doors to make loading and unloading easier.

When you rent a trailer from The Home Depot, you are charged for a minimum usage time of four hours, no matter if you only need it for one or two hours. After that, prices increase every fifteen minutes at a fixed rate. With U-Haul, your money simply goes further. To rent a 3’ x 5’ lawn and garden trailer from The Home Depot for a day, you could have already paid for two full days’ use with a U-Haul 4’ x 7’ utility trailer.

Unlike U-Haul, The Home Depot still requires you to put down a deposit for trailer rentals, even when you are using a credit or debit card.

U-Haul Trailers	Daily Price	The Home Depot Trailers	Daily Price
4′ × 7′ Utility Trailer	$14.95	Lawn and Garden Trailer 3 ft. x 5 ft. Rental	$35
5′ × 8′ Utility Trailer	$24.95	5 x 8 Channel Frame Trailer Rental	$55
5′ × 9′ Utility Trailer w/ Ramp	$29.95	Solid Wall Trailer 5'x8' Rental	$60
6′ x 12′ Utility Trailer	$34.95	5' x 8' Dump Trailer Rental	$199
6′ × 12′ Utility Trailer w/ Ramp	$39.95	6' x 10' Dump Trailer Rental	$219
4′ × 8′ Cargo Trailer	$19.95	7' x 14' Dump Trailer Rental	$239
5′ × 8′ Cargo Trailer	$24.95
6′ × 12′ Cargo Trailer	$34.95
16’ Toy Hauler Flatbed Utility Trailer	$89.95

 

U-Haul vs. The Home Depot Rentable Moving Equipment

Rentable moving equipment can often mean the difference between spending hours or minutes trying to move a refrigerator, washer and dryer, or an entire moving truck. Rentable moving equipment often includes utility dollies (hand trucks), furniture dollies, moving blankets (The Home Depot does not rent any), and appliance dollies.

At The Home Depot, rentable moving equipment follows the same pricing structure as its trailer rentals. You will still also need to pay a deposit with The Home Depot for any moving equipment rental.

With U-Haul, you are charged per day per rental item. The best part about U-Haul rentable moving equipment is that you can take it with your one-way truck or trailer rental. Plus, your money goes further; you can locally rent a U-Haul utility dolly for three days versus paying a single-day rental price from The Home Depot for the same item.

U-Haul Rentable Moving Equipment	Daily Price	The Home Depot Rentable Moving Equipment	Daily Price
Furniture Pads (Moving Blankets)	$5 per half dozen per day $6 per half dozen one-way rental	N/A	N/A
Utility Dolly (Hand Truck)	$7 local rental per day $12 one-way rental	Hand Truck	$25
Furniture Dolly	$7 local rental per day $12 one-way rental	4-Wheel Dolly	$15
Appliance Dolly	$10 local rental per day $15 one-way rental	Appliance Dolly	$30

Prices used for this table were sourced in April 2025 and are subject to change.

Which Truck and Trailer Rental Is Right for You?

When comparing U-Haul and The Home Depot truck rentals, the right choice comes down to how you plan to use your rental. If you need flexibility, more vehicle options, and the ability to complete a one-way move, U-Haul gives you more control over your schedule and overall cost. With flat daily rates and no hourly pressure, you can move at your own pace without watching the clock.

For DIY movers, having predictable pricing, broader equipment options, and one-way availability makes the biggest difference in keeping your move simple and stress-free.

Ready to get started? Get a quote and reserve your U-Haul truck or trailer today.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About U-Haul vs. The Home Depot

Is U-Haul cheaper than The Home Depot truck rentals?

U-Haul starts at a lower daily base rate, with pricing beginning at $19.95 plus mileage and fees for local rentals. The Home Depot rentals start at a higher daily rate and use 15-minute pricing increases that can add up quickly depending on how long you need the truck.

Can you rent a truck from The Home Depot for a one-way move?

No. The Home Depot requires you to return the truck to the same location where you picked it up. U-Haul offers one-way rentals, allowing you to drop off the truck at a different location.

Do you need insurance to rent a truck from The Home Depot or U-Haul?

The Home Depot requires renters to have auto insurance that covers truck rentals. U-Haul does not require proof of insurance, but optional coverage like Safemove®, Safemove Plus®, Safetow®, and Safetrip® is available for added rental protection.

What is the minimum age to rent a truck?

At The Home Depot, you must be 21 to rent a truck. With U-Haul, you only need to be 18 to rent a moving truck or 16 to rent a trailer.

Does The Home Depot charge a deposit for truck rentals?

Yes. The Home Depot typically requires a $150 deposit for truck rentals, along with a credit or debit card. U-Haul doesn’t require a deposit unless you choose to rent with cash or check.

Which company has more truck size options?

U-Haul offers a wider range of vehicles, including pickup trucks, cargo vans, and multiple box truck sizes up to 26 feet. The Home Depot offers fewer size options, which may limit choices depending on your move.