Should you buy or rent? Enter your numbers below to compare the total cost of ownership against rental over your project timeline.
Percentage of available hours the crane is working
Fully loaded: base + benefits
Percentage of equipment value per year
Expected value at end of period
Buying saves you money
$370,923
saved over 36 months by buying
Total Cost (Buy)
$931,125
Total Cost (Rent)
$1,302,048
Cost/Hour (Buy)
$210
Cost/Hour (Rent)
$294
Breakeven Utilization
~0%
Below this, renting wins
Total Operating Hours
4,435
Over 36 months at 70% utilization
Equipment (financing vs rental payments)
Fuel
Operator
Insurance + Maintenance (buy only)
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This tool compares two scenarios: purchasing a crane (with financing) vs. renting it on a monthly basis. It factors in all major cost components including fuel, operator wages, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and financing costs.
Well-managed crane fleets typically achieve 65–80% utilization rates. The breakeven point for owning vs. renting usually falls between 60–70% utilization. If your expected utilization is below 60%, renting is almost always more economical.