Should I include maintenance?

For simple gear, the price-minus-resale figure is usually enough; add maintenance to the buy side for anything with upkeep.

What about storage and hassle?

Owning means storing and maintaining it. If you're near the break-even, those tip the scale toward renting.

Calculators › Everyday Money Decisions › Buy vs Rent Calculator (Equipment)

Calconomics

Buy vs Rent Calculator (Equipment)

For anything you might only need a few times — a pressure washer, a carpet cleaner, a truck for a move — renting can beat buying, or not. Enter the price, resale value, and rental rate to find your break-even number of uses.

Buy it

Purchase price

Resale value after what you'd sell it for

Rent it

Rental cost per use

Times you'll use it

Verdict

Buy it — renting costs more

Break-even uses

Total to rent

$480

The numbers

Net cost to buy

$300

US$3.99 · download & own it forever

Prices in

✓ Includes the full toolkit. One purchase — this calculator already does everything these do, no add-ons: Cost Per Use Calculator

How it's calculated

Net cost to buy = purchase price − what you could resell it for.
Total to rent = rental cost per use × number of uses.
Break-even uses = net buy cost ÷ rental cost per use.

Our methodology & 2026 data sources →

Frequently asked questions

Should I include maintenance?: For simple gear, the price-minus-resale figure is usually enough; add maintenance to the buy side for anything with upkeep.
What about storage and hassle?: Owning means storing and maintaining it. If you're near the break-even, those tip the scale toward renting.