Equipment Rental Cost Calculator

Rental cost = best of (daily × days) vs. (weekly × weeks) vs. (monthly × months) — picks the cheapest tier.

Inputs

Result

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General calculation reads

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How to use this calculator

  • Enter days needed (round up — they don't prorate hours).
  • Get all three rate tiers from the rental yard.
  • Compare totals — cross-over usually happens at 4-5 days and 10-12 days.
  • Add delivery + fees once.

About this calculator

Rental yards (United, Sunbelt, Home Depot) charge in tiers — and the tiers cross over fast. A skid steer at $250/day, $750/week, $2,200/month: at 4 days you save $250 by paying for a week. At 11 days you save $250 by paying for a month. Always price all three tiers — many small contractors leave hundreds on the table by defaulting to "I need it 10 days, so 10 × daily." Add delivery, pickup, fuel, damage waiver, and tax — typically $100-300 in fees on top of any rental.

Frequently asked

Why does weekly often beat 5 daily days?+
Yards price weekly at ~3× daily, so a week costs as much as 3 days but covers 7. Once you need 4+ days, weekly often wins.
Damage waiver worth it?+
Usually 12-15% of rental. Skip if you're fully insured and operating carefully. Pay if you're moving dirt with subs you don't know.
Is fuel included?+
Almost never — return it full or pay $5-7/gal at premium yard prices. Fill before you return.
Should I buy used instead?+
For 4+ weeks of intermittent use, often yes. Used skid steers, scaffolding, and dump trailers hold value well if maintained.
What about Home Depot vs. United?+
HD is cheaper but inventory thin. United/Sunbelt deeper inventory, contractor accounts, but list rates higher (negotiate).

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