Rent vs Buy Equipment Calculator
Example: Purchase price: 1500 $ · Rental cost per use: 80 $ · Storage cost/yr: 60 $ · Maintenance/yr: 50 $ · Years until you sell: 5 yrs · Times used per year: 6 · If invested, return: 5 %/yr
| Verdict (1=buy, 0=rent) | 1 |
| Uses to break even | 24.66 |
| Owning: cost per use | $66 |
| Owning total cost | $1,973 |
| Renting total cost | $2,400 |
Worked example
A $1,500 tool used 6 times a year for 5 years — 30 uses — with storage, upkeep, and opportunity cost, nets roughly $1,400 after resale, about $47 per use. Renting at $80 per use for 30 uses costs $2,400. Owning wins here; drop usage to twice a year and renting takes the lead.
Frequently asked questions
What is the break-even in uses?
It is the number of uses at which the total cost of owning equals the cost of renting that many times. Below it, rent; above it, buy. The tool computes it directly so you can compare to your realistic usage.
Why include opportunity cost?
The purchase price is money that could have been invested. Counting its forgone growth keeps ownership from looking artificially cheap, especially for expensive gear used only a few times a year.
What about storage and hassle?
Owned equipment needs space and upkeep even when idle, both of which this tool counts. If storage is tight or the item is bulky, renting’s "nothing between uses" advantage grows.