function calculateRentalRates() {
// Get inputs
var assetValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById('assetValue').value);
var salvageValue = parseFloat(document.getElementById('salvageValue').value);
var usefulLife = parseFloat(document.getElementById('usefulLife').value);
var annualCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById('annualCosts').value);
var utilization = parseFloat(document.getElementById('utilization').value);
var profitMargin = parseFloat(document.getElementById('profitMargin').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(assetValue) || isNaN(usefulLife) || isNaN(utilization) || utilization <= 0 || usefulLife <= 0) {
alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for Asset Value, Useful Life, and Utilization.");
return;
}
// Set defaults for optional fields
if (isNaN(salvageValue)) salvageValue = 0;
if (isNaN(annualCosts)) annualCosts = 0;
if (isNaN(profitMargin)) profitMargin = 0;
// Calculations
// 1. Annual Depreciation (Straight Line)
var annualDepreciation = (assetValue – salvageValue) / usefulLife;
// 2. Total Annual Cost (Fixed + Variable)
var totalAnnualCost = annualDepreciation + annualCosts;
// 3. Daily Cost (Break Even)
var dailyBreakEven = totalAnnualCost / utilization;
// 4. Target Daily Revenue (Including Profit)
// Using Markup method: Cost * (1 + Margin)
var dailyRate = dailyBreakEven * (1 + (profitMargin / 100));
// 5. Weekly and Monthly Rates
// Industry standard: Weekly is often charged as 3-4 days rent, Monthly as 3 weeks rent.
// We will use 4 days for weekly and 12 days (4*3) for monthly to be conservative, or 20 working days.
// A common rule of thumb is Weekly = 4 x Daily, Monthly = 3 x Weekly.
var weeklyRate = dailyRate * 4;
var monthlyRate = weeklyRate * 3;
// Formatting
var formatter = new Intl.NumberFormat('en-US', {
style: 'currency',
currency: 'USD',
minimumFractionDigits: 2
});
// Display Results
document.getElementById('displayDepreciation').innerHTML = formatter.format(annualDepreciation);
document.getElementById('displayAnnualCost').innerHTML = formatter.format(totalAnnualCost);
document.getElementById('displayBreakEven').innerHTML = formatter.format(dailyBreakEven);
document.getElementById('displayDailyRate').innerHTML = formatter.format(dailyRate);
document.getElementById('displayWeeklyRate').innerHTML = formatter.format(weeklyRate);
document.getElementById('displayMonthlyRate').innerHTML = formatter.format(monthlyRate);
// Show results section
document.getElementById('results').style.display = 'block';
}
How to Calculate Equipment Rental Rates
Calculating the correct rental rate for heavy equipment, AV gear, or construction tools is essential for maintaining profitability. Unlike simple loan calculations, equipment rental pricing must account for depreciation, utilization downtime, and maintenance costs. This calculator replicates the functionality often found in complex Excel spreadsheets to give you instant pricing guidance.
Key Formulas Used
This calculator determines your rates using the following industry-standard logic:
Annual Depreciation:(Purchase Price – Salvage Value) / Useful Life. This spreads the cost of the asset over the years you intend to use it.
Total Annual Cost: Your depreciation plus annual out-of-pocket expenses like insurance, storage, and maintenance.
Utilization Rate: The number of days per year the equipment is actually rented out. Most construction equipment averages between 160 to 200 billable days per year.
Break-Even Point: The total annual cost divided by the utilization days. You must charge at least this amount to avoid losing money.
Understanding Rate Multipliers
In the equipment rental industry, linear math rarely applies to long-term rentals. This calculator applies standard discounting logic:
Daily Rate: The base rate calculated to cover costs and margin.
Weekly Rate: Typically calculated as 3 to 4 times the daily rate. We use a 4-day multiplier, meaning the customer gets the 5th, 6th, and 7th days "free" compared to the daily rate.
Monthly Rate: Typically calculated as 3 times the weekly rate (or roughly 12 times the daily rate). This volume discount encourages long-term contracts.
Why Utilization Matters
The most critical variable in this calculation is Utilization (Days/Year). If you estimate 200 days of rental but only achieve 100, your effective cost per day doubles, potentially erasing your profit margin. It is always safer to underestimate utilization when setting prices to ensure your fixed costs are covered even in slow seasons.