For decades people have been renting cars, wedding tents and folding chairs. Renting formalwear is now commonplace among fashion lovers. But entrepreneurial startups and solo operators alike are steadily expanding the range of items consumers can lease rather than purchase outright. Rental terms are typically flexible, and renting frequently reduces costs.
There are many reasons to lease a tool, musical instrument or couture gown instead of paying full price. Maybe you only need it for a single occasion. Or perhaps you prefer not to be restricted to only one model of circular saw or one style of strapless maxi dress.
Often it’s sensible to rent an item once or twice, even if you later buy one. Why? Renting increases the chance you’ll select something you truly love.
There’s also the appeal of cutting clutter at home and decreasing waste in landfills. The more goods that are rented and reused, the fewer are purchased and tossed. “Reduce new” is becoming a popular mantra, and renting is a practical way to reach that goal.
10 Items You Can Rent Rather Than Buy
1. A Casket From a Funeral Provider
This is an item you will almost certainly use only one time. With the typical casket costing anywhere from $2,000 to upwards of $20,000, casket rentals can yield substantial savings. Most funeral homes will offer rentals for about$725 to $1,250, but sales reps may not volunteer that information when pushing a sale. You may need to ask your funeral director specifically about rental alternatives.
When a family rents a casket, an inner wooden container actually holds the body while the exterior casket appears more presentable for the service. The interior box is buried, and the outer casket can be reused.
2. Baby Equipment for Traveling Light
Leasing baby gear from a hotel, a local rental company or a national provider can cut costs and reduce hassle. Frazzled parents needn’t wrestle with hauling a jogging stroller, high chair or travel crib. Hosts expecting young visitors won’t have tospend a fortuneon items they’ll seldom use.
Call ahead when you travel; many hotels will provide baby equipment for rent. If you’re staying in a private home or an Airbnb, a quick online search will reveal local agencies that rent infant and toddler gear.
There are also nationwide services such as BabyQuip and Baby’s Away.
BabyQuip, a “Shark Tank” alum, operates through a network of independent providers who complete thorough training, background screening and safety inspections to qualify. Prices differ by market across over 2,000 locations in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Europe and elsewhere.
Each individual entrepreneur sets their own rates. Delivery fees vary the most, typically ranging from $20 to $100, determined by each independent Quality Provider.
Baby’s Away maintains its own inventory of baby equipment in more than 100 cities.
Both companies commonly rent a street stroller for roughly $5 per day, safety gates for about $3 per day, and Pack ’n Plays for around $8 per day.
3. Power Tools
Most people know they can rent a carpet cleaner from a local Home Depot or Lowe’s, but many other power tools are available for lease as well.
If you’ll use a tile saw just once, renting is an obvious choice. Even tools you only need annually for DIY projects don’t remain in peak condition, so renting them can be the smarter option.
Home Depot and Lowe’s offer a broad array of tools — items that can be prohibitively costly to buy — that are maintained and accompanied by staff who can advise on proper use.
Renting costs less than buying and spares you maintenance and repair expenses.
“When you rent a tool, it is always in good shape, clean and ready to use. No hoses are broken, nothing needs to be replaced or refilled,” said Rob Littke, a builder and handyman in St. Petersburg, Florida. “You never get to a job site and find out it doesn’t work.”
Rental prices depend on availability and store location.
4. A Pickup Truck for Short Tasks
Renting a truck can be smarter than hiring movers to haul a few pieces of furniture or paying extra for a couch or bed delivery. And you can only lean on your truck-owning friends so often.
Pickup truck rentals are offered atHome DepotandLowe’s, subject to location.
5. Camping Gear and Other Athletic Equipment
Renting sports gear is a cost-effective route for families when children participate in expensive sports. Seasonal equipment like skis or golf clubs can be a pricey purchase for items used just a few months annually.
TryFriendWithA.com, a peer-to-peer marketplace for renting sports gear. You can locate folding bikes, snowboards, tennis rackets and more across the country.
Thinking about outdoor adventures? First decide whether renting camping equipment makes more sense than owning it.
Outdoor retailer REI both rents and sells camping and sports equipment. Their offerings include gear for camping, downhill skiing, cycling and paddling. The website recommends calling yourlocal REIto confirm rental availability, as stock varies by store.
REI operates as a co-op, so customers can pay a one-time $30 fee for membership, which provides perks. You don’t need to join to rent, but depending on your usage, membership might lower long-term rental costs.
6. Musical Instruments
Whether it’s a child learning an instrument at school or an adult trying a new pastime, starting with a rental trumpet, flute or electric guitar is smart. If the interest is short-lived, you avoid overspending.
Many neighborhood music shops rent instruments, and there’s an online hub at Musicarts.com. Rental payments are often credited toward a purchase or applied to continued payments if you decide to buy down the line.
7. Designer Dresses, Workwear and Everyday Clothes
Clothing rental has grown so popular that you can subscribe to receive a rotating selection of high-quality garments at your doorstep. Most clothing rental services also include accessories like handbags and jewelry.
Rent the Runway is a leading name in apparel rentals, allowing women to wear designer pieces for a fraction of the retail price. Whether it’s a one-shoulder Badgley Mischka or a Caroline Constas gown, there are abundant formalwear choices. The company also stocks attire for work, weekends, club nights and outdoor events, and it offers subscription plans.
Nuuly is another popular rental platform, with a more casual, budget-friendly selection that would otherwise cost $120 to $300 or more to buy. Nuuly is owned by URBN, the parent company of Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie. Renters pay $98 a month for six items.
Armoire offers styling recommendations based on a customer questionnaire. Membership rates run from $89 to $129 per month, with an unlimited option available for $249 per month.
Also explore local independent boutiques. For example, at Valhalla in Tampa, Florida, customers can access thousands of garments for a starting fee of $49 per month.
8. Men’s Formalwear and Everyday Wardrobe
Men also enjoy the opportunity to wear high-end clothing they couldn’t otherwise afford for special events or on a rotating basis.
Taelor is a subscription service for men that includes styling help. Subscribers pay $95 a month for one shipment of six items, or $119 a month for two shipments of five items. Taelor says each box contains roughly $800 worth of clothing.
9. Toys
Tiny Earth Toys is a subscription company that delivers thoughtfully chosen toys to families each month. Because children quickly outgrow toys and their developmental stages change rapidly, rotating toys regularly is practical.
Tiny Earth employs two early childhood experts who curate wooden toys like stacking rings, puzzles, wooden figures, trees, bridges and trucks. The selection emphasizes “open-ended” toys that children can use in many ways.
Tiny Earth Toys also promotes “local circularity” by organizing toy swaps. These events are a helpful resource for budget-conscious parents.
10. Handbags
Whether you want a statement piece for a one-time event or more variety in your monthly rotation, handbag rentals can be a great option.
Bag Borrow or Steal is one of several services where you canrent designer purses. Customers can rent bags for a month with free shipping. Options include asmall Gucci disco bagfor $125, aquilted Chanel totefor $400 a month and aPrada envelope bagwith a gold chain for $100 monthly. Buying these pieces outright would typically cost between $1,000 and $5,000 each.
A Single Place to Find Rentals
Just as Amazon is a one-stop destination for purchases, several platforms act as hubs where you can rent nearly anything.
RentItToday.com connects you to rental providers worldwide, making it straightforward to lease everything from beach shelters and mobility scooters to computers and camera lenses.
