Van Rental for Furniture Pickup vs. Hiring a Pro

Rent a Van or Hire a Pro?

For a furniture pickup, the choice is between renting a van and driving it yourself, or hiring a van-and-pro. Here's the comparison.

Renting a Van

A cargo van from Home Depot or U-Haul is ~$20-40/day plus mileage. You drive, you load, you unload. The total for a day is ~$50-80 — the cheapest option, but you do all the work.

Hiring a Pro

A van-and-pro is $99/hour with a 2-hour minimum ($198). The pro drives, loads, carries, and places. A local pickup fits the 2-hour minimum.

When Renting Wins

• You have a friend to help carry and you're comfortable driving a van in NYC.
• The pickup is simple (one item, easy parking, elevator buildings).
• You have the time to do it yourself.

When a Pro Wins

• You're alone — the pro is your second person and your driver.
• The pickup is at a walk-up or involves stairs.
• The item is heavy, fragile, or requires disassembly.
• You don't want to drive a van in NYC traffic.

The Hidden Cost of Renting

Your time (a rental pickup is a half-day), gas, mileage overage, tolls, and the risk of damaging the van or the item. A pro's $198 covers everything and is done in two hours.

Book a van-and-pro for your furniture pickup in NYC.