How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Generator?
You might be wondering, “How much does it cost to rent a commercial generator?” Commercial generators are used for more than just construction. They can also provide power during emergencies or when the power goes out. A generator rental company will typically charge by the hour, day, or week. It depends on how long you need one and what your needs are.
The average price for renting a commercial generator ranges from $200 to $800 per week, with prices depending on the size of the generator needed and usage requirements. For example, you can expect to pay up to $350-$500 for an electric start generator that is 50 kilowatts or less in size if it’s rented by the day.
However, if hired by month, this same type of generator could be as low as $100-$250 per day. A rental company might also charge different rates based upon whether you use diesel fuel (such) or gasoline/propane gas (diesel generators).
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Generator?
You might be surprised by how much a generator rental can cost if you are only looking for one day of power. However, if the generator is needed for more than just emergency purposes, it may be cheaper to buy your own and rent from someone else if there’s an outage.
For example: on average, generators cost between $30-$50 per hour or $150-$200 per day depending on size and usage specifications which will include time limits, fuel type required, etc., but prices vary due to location too.
In most cases, renting a generator costs anywhere from 50$/day up to 100$. The price also depends on whether electricity needs to be connected or not, as well as other variables such as city restrictions.
A Breakdown Of Cost To Rent a Generator
- $50/day for generator rental
- $100 day for generator rental, with electricity included.
- $300-$600 per week to rent a small generator (less than 1000 watts)
- $1200-$3000 per month to rent a large generator (1000+ watts). This price is based on the average cost of using the given size and power capacity every 24 hours over 30 days or 60 continuous hours.
The price will vary depending on usage specifications, including time limits, fuel type required, etc., but prices can range anywhere from $400. It can be cheaper if you are in an area that doesn’t require renting out equipment at night when demand is low.
Diesel Generator Rental Rates
The average cost of using one gallon of diesel fuel every 24 hours over either 14 continuous days or 28 discontinuous hours ranges from $0.75 -$0.99 per gallon of fuel. The purchase cost of diesel generator fuel can range from $0.35 to $0.50 per gallon, depending on the type and grade purchased (i.e., diesel-grade or ultra-low sulfur).
The average cost for diesel generators is typically calculated based on how much electricity it would take to power one 60-watt light bulb for 24 hours if you were using a 100% efficient system.
If we convert this number into kilowatt-hours, that comes out to about 36 kWh worth of energy each day which corresponds with an average daily operating price of approximately $12-$15 per day in most areas.))
$1200-$3000 per month to rent a large generator (1000+ watts). This price is based on the average cost of using one gallon of diesel fuel per day
- $25/hour ($200/day; $800/week)
- Monthly cost: $2400-$6000
- Reserve Capacity (hours): 60
- Daily fuel use per day/month (%): 100%
- Cost of the generator without a rental fee ($/Kwatt hour): $0.05-$0.07)
Three-Phase Generator Rental Cost
What To Know About 3 Phase Generators Before Renting One?
- Three Phase generators are a more expensive option than single-phase models but can produce three times as much power.
- It is not usually possible to use your fuel with these types of rentals since they require diesel or propane to work properly; however, you might be able to bring your own gas if needed for refueling purposes only.
- The generator will automatically shut off after a predetermined amount of time to conserve fuel and reduce emissions levels. This can also save money on rental fees because there won’t need to be any additional payments made for overuse charges based on hours used per day when this happens.
How Much Will A Three-Phase Generator Cost Compare To Others?
This type of generator will be the most expensive option because it can produce more power than single-phase models; however, this also means that they are not portable and must be installed in a fixed location. For example, a household with an electric water heater or well pump might need one of these generators instead of smaller units that can’t handle heavy loads.
As you know, there’s no such thing as a standard price for renting commercial generators. Instead, the cost depends on your specific needs, what equipment is needed to get them up and running when delivered (or if any assembly is required), plus how long you’ll need the generator at your site before returning it after use.
This generator rental cost is a per-hour rate that starts at $30 for the generator. You have to pay an additional $0.71 per kW/hr, so these generators come with a higher generator rental price tag than single-phase models. However, three-phase generator rentals are more powerful and provide excellent stability in electricity supply when power outages occur.
Weigh the Pros and Cons of Renting a Generator
If you are on the fence about renting a generator, you should weigh the pros and cons of your specific needs before renting one.
The first thing you need to consider is how long it will take for a generator rental company to deliver the generator where you need it? Some companies offer next-day delivery, but this can cost more money.
Suppose you rent a smaller generator (less than 1000 watts). In that case, they may not have any available in your area, which could be another reason why waiting until morning might be an option if there isn’t already something available that meets your needs locally.
If you decide on getting up early and going out at night or during low-demand hours, then make sure that’s what contractors do too! The last thing anyone wants is to come back after dark only to find someone has rented all of the available generators.
Do you also have to think about what type of fuel source they take? Gasoline, natural gas, or diesel are all available options. Still, they each cost differently even though, in some cases renting a generator with one option may be better than another because it’s cheaper over time.
You should also factor in how much space do I have where the generator would live? Most people don’t realize just how big these machines are, and this can make things difficult if there isn’t enough room on-site, like an extra building, shed, or garage.
What to Consider Before Renting a Generator
Before you jump in and pay for a rental there are a few considerations you will need to address:
- Price
- Discounts
- Maintenance
- Size and Type
- How long it will take to have the generator delivered
- Renting vs Buying
Compare Prices From Different Vendors
Not everyone will charge the same amount for a generator rental. Compare different companies and see which will fit best into your budget while also finding one with the features you need.
Haier, Weiman, and Generac each offer different generator models with various wattages and other features. Be sure to talk to a rental company representative about what will work for your needs, including their availability of the product, to make an informed decision on which company fits best based on price and customer service options available after business hours when emergency power may be needed!
Determine If You’re Eligible For Any Discounts Or Promotions
In some cases, businesses will offer coupons to reduce their generator rental costs. For example, one company in the US currently offers a coupon for $500 off of your first generator rental-purchase with them. Look for a way to save money any way you can.
How Will the Generator Be Maintained?
Will the company you rent from service the unit on-site? You’ll want to know if they will bring a backup generator with them in case of an emergency.
What Type Of Guarantee Does The Generator Company Have?
Any rental company worth its salt should have some type of equipment warranty, but it’s not always obvious what that means and how good it is. If you aren’t sure then check out reviews online or ask for quotes from several companies before choosing one.
Renters may not have access to the same type of equipment warranty as owners, and many renters are left on their own when it comes time for maintenance or repairs.
The cost of renting also tends to be more expensive than buying over the long-term due to increased fuel costs, taxes, and other expenses that come with owning your own generator. Therefore if you’re in need of backup power for just one day but could see yourself needing this service regularly then consider purchasing instead of renting.
Consider What Type and Size of Generator You Will Need
If you’re looking for a generator, it’s essential to know the wattages and capacities of everything using electricity before purchasing one. The bigger your power needs are in relation to what size generator you buy, the more expensive they’ll get and produce less waste heat than smaller generators do.
You can calculate how much watts, or KVA (that is kilovolt-amperes) capacity equipment uses by multiplying its voltage times amps used at a complete duty cycle, so if an appliance has 120 volts with 8 amperes running through it continuously on average, then your total would be 960watts/KW(kilowatt).
Here is an example of how much power certain devices use:
Appliance | Minimum Wattage | Maximum Wattage |
---|---|---|
Router | 5W | 15 W |
Vacuum | 60W | 45W |
Treadmill | 280W | 900W |
Refrigerator | 100W | 200W |
Oven | 1000W | 215W |
Microwave | 1000W | 2500W |
Inkjet Printer | 20W | 30W |
Espresso Machine | 1300W | 1500W |
When purchasing a generator, it’s essential to take into account the wattage of power needed. A 10-20% larger capacity than your requirements will help you manage underperformance due to adverse conditions such as extreme temperatures or high altitudes.
Once you know what size and type of generators are required for optimal performance within your facility, consider that the final decision about which model is best can be difficult because there are many factors involved in choosing one specific product over another; however, by following some simple guidelines when making this choice should make selecting an appropriate machine much more manageable.
Find Out About How Long It Takes To Get A Rental Delivered To Your Location
The amount of time it takes to get a generator delivered to your location will depend on where you live. For example, generators in Chicago usually take one day to be delivered while it might take up to three days for them to arrive at specific locations
Suppose the power outage happens during an extreme weather event or severe storms knock out power lines and substations. In that case, renters can expect longer wait times because of how many other people need generators.
In these situations, rental companies may require customers who want their deliveries expedited (like within 24 hours) to pay additional fees as well as make sure they have enough fuel available for multiple days.
Summary of Renting a Generator
It is important to remember when renting a generator that you have all the information you need to make an informed decision about which type of generator to rent. Make sure you rent a generator that will power all the equipment you need and then some.
Weigh the pros and cons of diesel generators and three-phase generators. Keep in mind the budget you are looking to stick to and allow for extensions when you will need to rent.