Quick answer
Renting a dehumidifier costs $50–$100+ per day ($300–$1,500 per week) at a Home Depot counter, and $75–$150 a day for the LGR machine a restoration company actually dries with, from an equipment yard; Lowe's generally doesn't rent either. For a typical 5–7 day water damage dry-out, rental fees reach $250–$700 — often more than buying a capable machine outright, which is why the rent-vs-buy math deserves five minutes before you spend either way. Call (888) 840-6512 to reach a certified water damage restoration company in your area; the line is answered 24/7.
Written & reviewed by Marcus ReedIICRC WRT
Reviewed August 19, 2026· Next review Feb 2027
What Dehumidifier Rental Actually Costs
Fifty-four hundred people a month search for dehumidifier rentals, land on Home Depot's listing pages, and find no straight answer on price. Here is the straight answer — every rate, the Lowe's reality check, and the rent-vs-buy math that the rental counter will never do for you.
The 2026 Price Table
| Rental | Per day | Per week | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial dehumidifier (17–29 gal/day) | $50 – $100 | $250 – $500 | Home Depot, Sunbelt, United |
| Large / desiccant industrial unit | $150 – $300 | $600 – $1,500 | United Rentals, Sunbelt |
| Air mover / carpet fan | $20 – $35 each | $80 – $140 | Home Depot |
| Typical add-ons (hoses, filters) | $20 – $100 per job | — | varies |
Weekly rates run 20–30% below stacked daily rates, and most stores also quote a 4-week rate. Deposits are standard on commercial units.
Home Depot: What They Actually Rent
Home Depot's 1,200+ rental desks carry Dri-Eaz commercial units — the same brand restoration contractors run — in 17, 18, and 29 gallon/day capacities, most with auto pump-out and a drain hose so you're not emptying buckets at 3 AM. Reserve online before driving; drying equipment sells out locally the same week a storm hits.
The Lowe's Answer Nobody Publishes
Nearly 500 people a month search "Lowe's dehumidifier rental." The honest answer: Lowe's generally doesn't rent dehumidifiers. Its tool rental program exists in limited stores and rarely includes drying equipment. Lowe's *sells* dehumidifiers; for rental, your realistic options are Home Depot, Sunbelt, and United Rentals.
Already have a quote? Compare it
National brands price from a franchise rate card. A local IICRC-certified crew often scopes the same job differently — you keep whichever quote is better.
(888) 840-6512- Tell them the scope you were quoted
- A local certified crew prices the same work
- Compare line by line — no obligation either way
The Rent-vs-Buy Math
Here is the calculation that matters, priced for a typical residential dry-out:
| Scenario | Rental total | Buy instead |
|---|---|---|
| 1 room, 3 days | $150 – $300 | Consumer unit $200 – $300 |
| Multi-room, 6 days | $300 – $600 | Commercial LGR $500 – $900 |
| Basement, 2+ weeks | $700 – $1,400+ | Commercial LGR $500 – $900 |
Read the middle row twice: a standard 6-day dry-out in rental fees costs roughly what owning the machine costs — except the rental goes back, and the owned unit handles every future leak, humid summer, and basement season without spending anything. Water incidents repeat: the appliance that leaked once leaks again, the basement that seeped this spring seeps next spring.
Renting still wins in two cases: you need extreme desiccant capacity for a day or two, or you will genuinely never face moisture again (you won't — you own a house).
The equipment restoration pros actually use — AlorAir, Dri-Eaz, Santa Fe LGR units — is available to homeowners; the Sylvane box below this article links the commercial models we've tested against rental-yard units. For the full drying procedure with equipment placement, see how to dry out a house after flooding.
Don't Rent a Dehumidifier Alone
The rental counter rarely mentions it: a dehumidifier without air movers dries a room days slower. The dehumidifier takes moisture out of the air; air movers force moisture out of walls and subfloor into the air. Rent or buy 2–4 movers per affected room, angled at wet surfaces. This combination — not either machine alone — is what gets you dry inside the 24–48 hour mold window.
When Rental Is the Wrong Conversation Entirely
If water stood for more than a day, soaked more than one room, or came from a sewage source, DIY drying is a false economy — Category 3 losses and saturated structures need extraction, containment, and verified drying that equipment alone doesn't deliver. That job costs real money, and knowing the number before you burn a week on rental fees is precisely the point of pricing both paths. When in doubt, our guide on who to call for water damage sorts it in five minutes.
Bottom Line
Budget $50–$100/day or $250–$500/week for a commercial rental at Home Depot, skip the Lowe's trip, always pair with air movers, and run the rent-vs-buy math against your honest day count — for most multi-day dry-outs, owning the machine costs the same and keeps working long after the rental would have gone back.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to rent a dehumidifier?
Commercial dehumidifier rental typically costs $50–$100 per day for mid-size units (large desiccant units run to $300/day), with weekly rates of $300–$1,500 running 20–30% cheaper than stacked daily rates. Home Depot rents Dri-Eaz commercial units from roughly $50–$95 per day depending on capacity and market.
Does Home Depot rent dehumidifiers?
YesHome Depot's tool rental desks carry Dri-Eaz commercial dehumidifiers (17–29 gallon/day capacities) at 1,200+ rental locations, priced per day, per week, or per 4 weeks.
Air movers rent separately. Availability varies by store, so reserve online before driving.
Does Lowe's rent dehumidifiers?
Generally noLowe's tool rental exists in limited stores and rarely stocks drying equipment — the 'Lowe's dehumidifier rental' most people search for doesn't exist in most markets.
Lowe's sells dehumidifiers; for rentals, Home Depot, Sunbelt, and United Rentals are the realistic options.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a dehumidifier for water damage?
For a typical 5–7 day dry-out, renting a commercial unit costs $250–$700 in fees — money you never see again.
A capable consumer dehumidifier costs $200–$300 to own, and a commercial-grade LGR unit (AlorAir, Dri-Eaz) runs $500–$900 and handles future incidents free. Renting only wins for one-off jobs needing extreme capacity for a day or two.
How long do you need to run a dehumidifier after water damage?
Plan on 3–7 days of continuous operation for a typical residential water loss, verified with moisture readings rather than guesswork — wood subfloor should read under 16% moisture content before you stop. Concrete and block basements can need weeks, which is exactly when rental fees overtake purchase prices.
What size dehumidifier do I need for water damage?
For active structural drying, capacity matters more than room size: a 17–29 gallon/day commercial unit (what Home Depot rents) dries a flooded room in days, while a 4–6 gallon/day consumer unit is better suited to maintenance and prevention after the structure is dry. Pair either with air movers — airflow does half the work.
Who do I call right now for water damage?
Call (888) 840-6512. The line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects you with an IICRC-certified water damage restoration company that serves your area. Describe what you can see — where the water is coming from, how long it has been there, and whether it smells — the more specific you are, the faster the right company is on the line.
If the source is a pipe or an appliance, shut the main water valve first. Have four things ready and the call goes quickly: the address, when the water started, what is wet now, and whether you have filed an insurance claim.
Still not sure which of these is your situation? (888) 840-6512 · toll-free · answered 24/7
Sources
- The Home Depot — Drying and Restoration Equipment Rental
- United Rentals — Dehumidifier Rentals
- IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration
Methodology: How we source and verify data · Report an error
Disclaimer: HearthDry is an independent educational resource. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional, legal, or insurance advice. Consult licensed professionals before making decisions about your property or insurance claims.
Professional Equipment
Own the Machine Rental Yards Charge $75/Day For
AlorAir, Dri-Eaz, and Santa Fe commercial LGR dehumidifiers — the same units Home Depot rents — are available to homeowners on Sylvane. A 6-day rental often costs more than owning the equivalent machine.
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Watch
Source: Learn To Restore — YouTube
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Dehumidifiers, air movers, and moisture meters qualify for free Prime delivery — bulk items that otherwise cost $15–$40 to ship.
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Equipment
What each machine actually does
Removes the moisture the structure is still giving off — the machine that decides how long drying takes
See the picks →Moves air across wet surfaces so the dehumidifier has something to take out of the air
See the picks →Finds water behind walls and under floors, and tells you when a material is actually dry
See the picks →Alerts you the moment a leak starts — the cheapest thing on this list and the only preventive one
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