Rent or Buy? A Short Discussion

When deciding whether to rent or buy power equipment, three factors matter most: frequency of use, total cost of ownership, and convenience. Let’s apply those to two common tools: a walk-behind lawn mower and a pressure washer. Assume both are gas-powered; the mower costs $600 and the pressure washer $1,000. 

Start with the lawn mower. There are roughly 30 weeks in “mowing season” (March through September). If you mow weekly, that’s 30 uses per year, or about 300 over a 10-year lifespan. In this case, frequency of use is high. 

Now consider total cost of ownership. Assume annual maintenance at $150 and one $200 repair over the life of the mower. Ignoring fuel—as this cost is the same whether equipment is purchased or rented—the total cost is: 
$600 + ($150 × 10) + $200 = $2,300. 

Current mower rental rates at $37 per two-hour rental across 300 uses totals $3,700 over ten years—before any rate increases. Convenience also favors ownership. Renting a mower 30 times per year isn’t realistic.  

With high usage, better convenience, and lower long-term cost, buying a mower is the clear choice.  

Toro 21485 Toro Recycler Max Mower

Top Gun PX200RB Pressure Washer

The pressure washer tells a different story. Most homeowners use one only once or twice per year; even at three uses annually, that’s just 30 uses over ten years. Frequency of use is low. 

Ownership costs also shift. Pressure washers tend to sit unused for long stretches, increasing the likelihood of unexpected repairs such as starting issues or pump failures. For our purposes, assume three maintenance visits at $150 each and two $400 repairs over the life of the unit. Total cost becomes: 
$1,000 + ($150 × 3) + ($400 × 2) = $2,250. 

Compare that to renting: a eight-hour rental of a 3,000 PSI washer is about $70. Over 30 uses, that totals $2,100. 

While owning a pressure washer offers on-demand access, the lower frequency of use, higher failure rate and lower overall cost make renting the better option. 

These factors apply regardless of what type of power equipment or cost. By weighing frequency of use, total cost of ownership, and convenience, the rent-versus-buy decision becomes much clearer.