To buy or to hire: it’s a question we hear all the time when it comes to our industrial air compressors. While there’s no “one size fits all” approach, there is a framework to help you decide. Here, we’ll run you through the basics: the costs, flexibility versus control, as well as important and often-overlooked factors like repair and replacement costs. Plus, we’ll run you through a simple decision-making checklist to help you feel confident in your final choice.
This Article, compressed.
No time to read the whole thing?
Here’s what you need to know when choosing whether to buy or hire an air compressor.
- Both hiring and purchasing come with costs that often get forgotten: always remember to account for maintenance, servicing, storage, and excesses.
- Consider hiring if you’re working on short-term projects, planning around your own equipment’s maintenance, working on remote sites, inconsistent projects, or aren’t sure what kind of compressor you’ll need ongoing.
- Consider buying if you’ve got a daily or extremely consistent need for compressed air in your business, if you’re looking to build asset value or if you need complete control of your equipment and its schedules.
- Service and repairs are part of choosing a strong partner, whether you're buying or hiring: find a provider who emphasises support and maintenance.
What Does Air Compressor Hire Involve?
When it comes to air compressor rentals, you’ve got three main options: short, long, and project-based hire. Hire, regardless of its duration, often comes with support, and often servicing, as well as delivery, depending on location. It’s usually chosen for shorter, one-off jobs, but it’s also a great option for supporting your business during peak trade periods. Some businesses even opt to hire a machine to see if it’s the right fit or model for their operations. Some businesses might even choose to hire a backup or standby unit to control for equipment failure, especially if they’re on a tight deadline or in a remote area.
What Does Buying an Industrial Air Compressor Involve?
While you’ve got flexibility with a choice of models and manufacturers, and can plan around your own budget, an industrial air compressor is still a significant financial investment for most businesses. Without the upfront capital outlay, some businesses choose to rent one while they make decisions about ownership, or to test if a specific model is correct for their application and future growth plans. But it’s not just the upfront cost that needs to be considered: industrial compressors also attract costs from maintenance, parts and repairs, as well as storage.
If your business has an ongoing, predictable need for an air compressor, purchasing often makes the most sense, once you’ve got the capital available.
Air Compressor Rental Costs vs Purchase Costs
Cost is – without a doubt – the biggest factor driving most businesses’ purchasing decisions. If they have the upfront capital and ongoing need, they will likely opt for purchase, and if budgets aren’t available or the need is inconsistent, they’ll opt for hiring. At its core, it’s the classic breakeven equation: at what point does hiring cost more than purchasing?
But there are a few extra cost factors that business owners occasionally overlook when they’re making their calculations. These factors include hire excesses and damage waivers on one hand, with servicing, breakdown repairs, and storage on the other.
When Flexibility Matters More Than Ownership: Choosing to Hire
When it comes to industrial air compressors, businesses with project-based work tend to benefit most from hiring. That’s why you’ll often find our air compressors for hire on short-term construction or civil projects. This also includes remote or temporary sites, specifically in mining exploration or disaster response situations.
Even if the projects are extremely consistent and demand is high, sometimes a change in specifications between jobs can mean that one compressor can’t fit every project’s needs. Maybe you’re adding a new type of work to your roster that requires a different type of compressor than the one you already own: hiring is a great opportunity for testing a compressor type or specification before committing to a purchase.
And, in industries where work is highly seasonal, this can mean lengthy periods of equipment sitting in storage, which can be costly. Plenty of business owners favour the flexibility of scaling up and down with hire options for this reason. Finally, hiring can help you handle short-term shutdowns either in the case of an emergency backup, or during planned maintenance.
When Ownership Gives You More Control: Choosing to Buy
Consistency often demands control. For mine sites and fleet vehicles with daily, continuous compressed air demand, it almost always makes most sense to purchase. If you’re not able to accommodate booking lead times in your project plans, and want complete oversight of servicing schedules, buying your compressor is going to be more inviting. Plus, when you own your own compressor, you can even customize or integrate it into your vehicle or fleet, as with our PTO-drive, hydraulic, or under bonnet air compressors: this is common for businesses who own service trucks. Ownership also gives you the potential for re-sale value, alllowing you to make the most of your investment: it’s perfect for businesses looking to scale their operations long term.
Servicing and Repairs: Who's Responsible?
Equipment downtime is never good news – it doesn’t matter if you buy or hire your equipment.
If you choose to hire, however, the party you hire from tends to be responsible for repairs and replacements. This can help minimise the risks associated with downtime, giving the hirer important peace of mind when it comes to project planning.
If you choose to buy, you will be responsible for parts, maintenance, and repairs.
However, TRHC offers ongoing after-sales support and repair for clients regardless of whether they buy or hire: you’ll be able to access high-quality help whichever option you choose.
Quick Decision-Making Checklist
Still feeling stuck? Here’s a quick test to help you with your buy-versus-hire choice.
How long will you need the compressor — weeks, months, or indefinitely?
Weeks or months – hire! Indefinitely, think about buying.
Is the workload consistent or seasonal/unpredictable?
Consistent: buy. Seasonal and unpredictable: a point for hiring.
Do you have capital available, or is cash flow flexibility a priority?
Capital available means you can buy. When cash flow flexibility is important, hiring is often best.
Will the compressor need to be integrated into a vehicle or custom setup?
If yes, buy. If not, hiring is an option.
Do you have in-house capacity to manage servicing and maintenance?
If yes, buying could be cost-effective for you. If no, hiring is a safe bet.
The Final Word
It’s not an easy decision, but taking into account usage patterns, your budget, and operational needs can help you along the way.
At TRHC, we understand how businesses use their equipment. That’s why we offer customer-focused solutions for both buyers and renters, with superior support, repairs, and high-quality products to meet a wide range of applications.
If you’re still not sure, our team is here to help!
Get in touch and we’ll help you find the smartest solution for you and your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I need to hire multiple tools at once?
We’re proud to offer scalable rental solutions, so we can help you find exactly the right option for your project. Whatever your needs, our expert team is here to find a suitable, reliable solution that delivers you the cost savings and efficiencies you’re after.
What if I'm not sure what kinds of air compressors are right for my job?
It can be hard to determine the right air compressor for the job, but we’re here to offer timely advice for when you need it. Get in touch with us to talk through your compressor needs, and we’ll help you understand the
Can I use a hired machine to trial before purchase?
Absolutely – this is one of the benefits of hiring an air compressor rather than buying one outright. We’re always happy to talk through what works best for you: you can always contact us to get more information about air compressors for hire or sale, or browse our range of machines for sale here.
What transport and delivery options do you offer?
Wherever your site, whatever your needs, we’re all about helping you get the equipment you need on the timeline you need. Discuss delivery options with us here.