Rent a generator from a neighbor near you
A portable generator is the classic buy-it-and-never-use-it purchase. Renting one from a neighbor for the storm week, the campsite or the food stall gets you the power without a machine to maintain.
What it costs to rent a generator
Rental counters typically charge about $60 to $150 a day for a generator, plus a damage waiver and tax. On Rentsome, neighbors set their own daily rate, and it is usually lower because they are not running a store. Every booking adds a 15% service fee (minimum $2) and sales tax, both shown before you confirm. A refundable security deposit is held on your card, never charged, and released 72 hours after you return it.
A new generator runs roughly $400 to $1,500. At about $105 a day, renting stays cheaper until you have used it around 9 days in total, before counting storage, maintenance and the resale value you never get back.
Run your own numbers in the rent-vs-buy calculatorNothing listed near you yet?
Tell us what you need and when. We ask neighbors nearby who own one, and email you the listing link, usually within a day.
Request a generatorWhat people rent a generator for
- Keeping a fridge and sump pump running through an outage
- Powering a food stall, market booth or outdoor event
- Camping and tailgating
- Running tools where there is no outlet
Check at pickup
- Add up the running watts you need and allow for motor start-up surge; a 3,500 W unit comfortably runs a fridge, a pump and lights.
- Check the outlets match your cords; a transfer switch needs a 30 A twist-lock.
- Start it with the owner, check the oil level and ask what fuel level to return.
- Never run it indoors, in a garage or near a window. Carbon monoxide kills every storm season.
Renting a generator: common questions
Can I extend if the outage lasts longer?
Yes. Request an extension from the booking screen; the owner approves it and the extra days are charged at the same daily rate.
Is an inverter generator worth it?
If you are charging laptops and phones, yes: inverter units deliver clean power and run much quieter. For a fridge and a pump, an open-frame unit is cheaper per watt.
How does the security deposit work?
It is a hold on your card sized to the item’s declared value, never a charge. It releases automatically 72 hours after you return the item, unless the owner files a damage claim within that window.
Tools neighbors are lending, by town
Other things people rent instead of buying
Before you rent a generator
Renting a generator for a power outage or an event
How to size a portable generator for a fridge, a sump pump or a food stall, what to check at pickup, and the safety rules that are not optional.
Power tool rental checklist: what to check before you pick up
A pre-pickup checklist for renting drills, saws, compressors and other power tools from a neighbor, including the safety acknowledgment Rentsome requires.