Short answer
Marketplace data puts 53 ft dry vans at $25 to $55 a day (REPOWR) and $530 to $610 a month, with a 2025 average of $19.42 a day over an average 45-day rental (FreightWaves). Lessors such as XTRA and Premier quote by branch.
Size and capacity
Sources: ILS chart; XTRA Lease dry van page (101 in inside width, 24,000 lb rated oak floor, 48, 53 and 57 ft vans)
| Measure | Typical 53 ft dry van |
|---|---|
| Inside length | 52.5 ft |
| Inside width | 100 to 101 in |
| Inside height | 110 in |
| Rear door height | about 102 in |
| Floor pallets | about 26 standard 48 x 40 in pallets, single stacked |
| Max freight weight | about 45,000 lb |
The floor rating matters if a forklift drives in: XTRA lists a 24,000 lb rated floor (XTRA). Ask for liftgate vans (48 ft and 28 ft pups at XTRA) when you deliver to places without a dock.
Swing doors or roll door
Swing doors give the full opening and seal better; a roll door opens in tight alleys and at docks where you cannot open doors before backing in. Lessors list which door each unit has; ask when you book.
What the rate does not include
- Insurance or a damage waiver (see insurance).
- Tire and brake damage you cause, and cleaning if it comes back dirty.
- Delivery, or a one-way drop at a different branch (both XTRA and Premier offer one-way moves; XTRA, Premier).
Run your own numbers in the rental cost estimator.
Questions people ask
How many pallets fit in a rented 53 ft dry van?
About 26 standard 48 x 40 in pallets on the floor, single stacked. Double stacking roughly doubles that if the freight and weight allow.
Can I rent a dry van for one day?
Yes at most lessors. Premier lists a minimum rental term of one day once your account and insurance are approved.
Do I need a CDL to pull a rented dry van?
Yes, for almost every semi trailer. A tractor and trailer with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 lb or more, where the trailer is rated over 10,000 lb, is a Class A vehicle under 49 CFR 383.91, so the driver needs a Class A CDL.
Sources
- ILS: Truck and trailer dimensions chart (typical figures)
- XTRA Lease: Dry van trailers
- XTRA Lease: FAQs
- Premier Trailer Leasing: FAQ (account setup, insurance, billing)
- REPOWR: How much does trailer rental really cost? (November 25, 2025)
- FreightWaves: REPOWR data shows it cost more in 2025 for a short-term dry van rental (John Kingston, December 23, 2025)
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Rates, branches and terms change; confirm with the lessor before you book.