Sometimes you need a tool for one weekend, maybe just for a few hours. Buying it might seem like the obvious choice, but there's a smarter way: rent it instead.
Renting not only makes sense for your wallet, it’s a more sustainable way to get work done. It helps cut down on clutter, manage limited workshop storage, and keeps tools in use longer rather than collecting dust or ending up in disrepair from lack of use. And when you rent from a local hardware store, you're also helping support a system built on reuse, repair, and smart resource management.
Renting Is Greener Than You Think
When you rent a tool, you’re sharing it with lots of other people. That means fewer tools need to be made, and fewer end up as waste later on. Did you ever consider that one tool can serve hundreds of customers before it's retired? Now consider the variety of equipment available to rent, and how many home improvement projects can be completed. That kind of reuse is a major part of what’s called the circular economy, where products are kept in use as long as possible.
Tony English, Senior Director of Merchandising for The Home Depot Rental, puts it simply: “Renting tools and equipment that you only need once a year, or even just once, is a smart and sustainable choice. It saves you money, reduces clutter, and ensures you always have access to well-maintained, high-quality equipment.” A paint sprayer rental, concrete tools, specialty tools, pressure washers, and air compressors are just a few of the products that are nice to have but nicer to rent as needed.
On Earth Day—or any day—this kind of thinking matters. When fewer people each buy their own individual tools, that means less mining, less manufacturing, and less packaging. It also means fewer tools that eventually break down and get tossed in the trash years after you finish a major project.
Tools Get Used More, and Tossed Less
The average tool from The Home Depot Rental stays in rotation for four to five years. That’s a long life, especially considering how often these tools are being used. And it’s not just about longevity... it’s about care.
“The Home Depot Rental has one of the youngest fleets in the industry,” shared English. “Our qualified technicians maintain the tools each time they return from being rented.” That means the tools stay in good shape, and users can count on getting something that works like it should.
Eventually, even the most top-quality tools reach the end of their rental period. But instead of throwing them out, The Home Depot gives them another life: they sell them.
When specialized tools are removed from the rental bay at the end of their rental life, the staff tags them with a sale price and places them at the front of the rental center. They’re also listed online at homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/used-tools. If you have a tool in mind for purchase, remember that any DIYers and Pros can walk in and buy them at a great discount and get even more life out of the product.
Rent for Less Stress and More Space
Beyond the environmental impact, there’s a practical reason to rent: less hassle of storage. If you’ve ever bought a bulky tool for a one-off project, you know the pain of figuring out where to store it later. Now multiply that by five or ten. That’s a garage full of stuff you don’t use.
When you rent:
- You don’t have to find a place to keep large equipment
- You avoid maintenance and repair tasks
- You save money on tools you rarely use
- You don’t have to research every brand or feature—just rent what works
- You can always get the right tool for the job, even if it changes
Are rental tools safe and reliable to use?
Yes. Tools go through a maintenance check every time they’re returned. They’re cleaned, tested, and repaired (if needed) before going back out. When you rent, you're not getting a beat-up drill or a chainsaw that barely runs... you’re getting a tool that's intended to get the job done, as if it were a tool you bought for yourself.
