Construction Machinery: Rent vs. Lease Calculator
Mobile-friendly tool for contractors to compare short-term rental costs against long-term leasing for skid steers, forklifts, and small machinery.
About
For general contractors and trade specialists, the decision to rent or lease small machinery often happens on the fly. Renting offers flexibility for short projects but becomes exponentially expensive over time. Leasing lowers the monthly cash burn but locks you into a contract. This "Rent vs. Lease" calculator is designed for quick field analysis.
The tool calculates the "Breakeven Point" - the specific week or month where leasing becomes financially superior to renting. It includes a database of standard rental rates for common job site assets like skid steers and scissor lifts, allowing for instant comparisons based on project duration.
Formulas
The breakeven analysis finds t (time in months) where Rental Cost equals Lease Cost.
Rental Cost Function:
Crent = Ratemo × t
Lease Cost Function:
Clease = (Pmtmo × t) + DownPmt
Breakeven (Months):
tbreak = DownPmtRatemo − Pmtmo
If tbreak is less than your project duration, Leasing is the better financial option.
Reference Data
| Equipment | Daily Rent | Weekly Rent | Monthly Rent | Est. Monthly Lease (3yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skid Steer (Small) | $250 | $750 | $2,100 | $750 |
| Mini Excavator | $350 | $1,050 | $2,800 | $950 |
| Scissor Lift (19ft) | $120 | $300 | $800 | $250 |
| Forklift (5k lbs) | $180 | $500 | $1,400 | $450 |
| Compactor | $150 | $450 | $1,100 | $350 |