Calculator
Instrument Rent vs Buy Calculator
Rental programs quietly cost 2–3× the price of the instrument. Find your break-even before you sign.
Your numbers
| If you rent for… | You will have paid | vs used ($400) | vs new ($900) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months | $222 | renting cheaper so far | renting cheaper so far |
| 9 months | $333 | renting cheaper so far | renting cheaper so far |
| 12 months | $444 | Used wins | renting cheaper so far |
| 18 months | $666 | Used wins | renting cheaper so far |
| 24 months | $888 | Used wins | renting cheaper so far |
| 36 months | $1,332 | Used wins | New wins |
Watch for "rent-to-own" contracts: credits usually apply to LIST price (often 40%+ above street price) — families routinely pay 2–3× the instrument's real value. Ask for the payoff figure in writing.
Typical figures per instrument are on each instrument guide. This calculator covers the instrument itself — rental contracts don't include ongoing consumables like strings, reeds, or valve oil; see what those typically cost by instrument family.
When renting genuinely wins
The maybe-committed beginner
Quitting insurance is real — about half of beginners stop within two years.
Fractional-size strings
Violin, viola and cello players outgrow 2–3 sizes; rental size-swaps beat re-buying.
School-owned rarities
Oboe, bassoon, French horn, tuba — ask the band director before renting anything expensive.