Tool 09 · Field
Construction Equipment Buy vs. Rent Calculator
Compare multi-year ownership cost with rental cost using purchase, resale, maintenance, financing, utilization, and the same holding period.
- Math shown
- Local calculation
- No signup
DecisionAt my expected utilization, is buying or renting cheaper?
Live calculator
Enter your numbers
Your result
Estimated savings from lower-cost option$105,000.00
- Total ownership cost
- $87,500.00
- Total rental cost
- $192,500.00
- Buy/rent break-even days/year
- 31.8 days
Planning estimate based only on the values above. Inputs remain in this browser and are not submitted.
Method
How the calculation works
- Ownership cost = purchase − resale + years × annual ownership cost
- Rental cost = rental rate/day × days/year × years
- Break-even use = ownership cost ÷ rental rate ÷ years
Worked example
The default five-year model estimates $87,500 ownership cost and $192,500 rental cost. Break-even is about 32 use days per year.
Read the full methodologyKnow the boundary
What this estimate does not decide
- Tax depreciation, Section 179 treatment, opportunity cost, repairs, downtime, operator cost, and utilization revenue are not modeled.
- Get current dealer, lender, insurer, accountant, and rental quotes before committing capital.
Questions
Buy vs. rent FAQ
Does the cheaper option automatically win?
No. Availability, transport, downtime, capacity, cash flow, and strategic flexibility can outweigh simple cost.
Should operator labor be included?
Only if it differs between options. Common costs cancel out in a like-for-like comparison.