Buy vs. Rent a Bottleless Water Cooler
Answer a few questions and see both paths side by side, plus the month where buying stops costing you more than renting.
Your setup
Change any answer and the comparison below updates right away.
This is the single biggest lever. Short stay favors renting. Long stay favors owning.
Both paths scale per unit. Not sure how many you need? Try the office cooler sizing tool.
Not sure which one suits your space? The cooler type selector asks six quick questions.
Sparkling is the one option that punishes buyers. You own the carbonator and you buy your own gas.
Reverse osmosis costs more to buy and a lot more to keep in filters, since the membrane goes too.
All inclusive rates are the norm in the US. Get it in writing before you sign.
Plenty of suppliers waive this to win the account, so always ask.
Buying means the hookup is on you. A simple saddle valve job is cheap. Running new copper is not.
Override the price assumptions
Leave at 0 to use our range. Carbon runs $60 to $200 a year, reverse osmosis $150 to $400.
Leave at 0 to use our range of $50 to $175 a year. Most owners pay for one sanitizing visit.
Once the warranty runs out, a pump or a board failure is your bill. Renters never see this line.
Over 5 years
Buying wins by about $313
1 freestanding cooler, hot and cold, standard carbon filters, kept for 5 years.
Rent it
$1,880 to $3,800
About $47 a month, all in
Buy it
$1,180 to $3,875
About $42 a month, all in
| Line item | Rent | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment1 freestanding unit | $0 | $400 to $1,100 |
| InstallationOne time, each path | $80 to $200 | $150 to $350 |
| Rental payments60 months | $1,800 to $3,600 | $0 |
| FiltersCarbon, over 5 years | Included | $300 to $1,000 |
| Service and sanitizingOver 5 years | Included | $250 to $875 |
| Repairs after warrantyReserve, over 5 years | Included | $80 to $550 |
| Carbon dioxide gasSparkling, over 5 years | Included | $0 |
| Total | $1,880 to $3,800 | $1,180 to $3,875 |
| Average per month | $31 to $63 | $20 to $65 |
Electricity and water are left out on purpose. They cost the same either way, so they never move the decision. If you want those numbers, run the cost estimate tool. And treat everything here as a range, not a quote. Your city, your building, and your contract length all shift it.
Example: one cooler, 30 person office, 5 years
Its a free standing unit hot & cold will come with standard carbon filters. If you rent it comes with filters and service and standard installation. If you buy you will need to have a plumber install. This is what your 5 years would look like.
| Line item | Rent | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| EquipmentNothing upfront when you rent | $0 | $400 to $1,100 |
| InstallationSupplier install, or your own plumber | $80 to $200 | $150 to $350 |
| Rental payments60 months at $30 to $60 | $1,800 to $3,600 | $0 |
| Filters$60 to $200 a year once you own it | Included | $300 to $1,000 |
| Service and sanitizing$50 to $175 a year once you own it | Included | $250 to $875 |
| Repairs after warranty4 to 10 percent of the price each year | Included | $80 to $550 |
| Five year total | $1,880 to $3,800 | $1,180 to $3,875 |
So if you're renting mid range to buying mid range your looking at around $2,840 and $2,528 to buy. That's about 313 dollars cheaper over the course of 5 years. It takes 44 months before it's cheaper so if your on a 2 year lease rent. If your a company that owns their building buy. Everything else will be close enough that your better off deciding on service.
All numbers are based on suppliers pricing in the US and cost to buy retail. Check out our cost estimator to see what it costs per month. Bottleless Water Cooler Guide or How we rate suppliers on our ratings & badges page.
Now go price the rental side for real.
The rent number moves with your city and your contract, so get a few actual quotes and drop them back into the tool.