Running the business
Access tower or scaffold hire cost against buying
- where
- hire cost for the job (£)
- hire weeks charged: days needed ÷ 7, rounded up
- weekly hire rate (£)
- delivery and collection charge (£)
- buy price minus hire cost (£)
- price to buy an equivalent tower (£)
Explain this equation
Compares the cost of hiring an access tower for a job with the cost of buying one. Use it when deciding whether to buy your own tower.
W is the number of hire weeks charged: the days needed divided by 7, rounded up. rw is the weekly rate and dc the delivery and collection charge, so C is the job's hire cost. P is the purchase price, and D shows how much more buying would cost than hiring for this one job.
Hire firms usually charge by the week, so part weeks are rounded up. Comparing P with rw also shows how many weeks of hire would equal the purchase price.
Sense check: 10 days at £120 a week plus £40 delivery is £280. A £900 tower equals 7.5 weeks of hire, so buying only pays if you would use it for more than that over its life.
Watch out: owning brings storage, transport, inspection and training costs that this does not include.
Compares hiring an access tower for a job with buying one, using the hire firm's weekly rate.
Enter your values to see the result.
Good to know
Hire is charged here in whole weeks (days ÷ 7 rounded up); some firms charge a day rate or a reduced rate for extra weeks, so enter the rate that matches your quote. Owning means paying for storage, transport, inspection and replacement parts, and the user must be trained (PASMA or equivalent) and inspect the tower as HSE guidance requires. Hire charges are a normal running expense; a purchased tower is capital equipment for tax.
Common mistake
Comparing a single job's hire cost with the purchase price. The decision depends on how many weeks a year you would use it.
Limits
Simple cost comparison before VAT, insurance, damage waivers, transport time and resale value.
Sources
Results are calculations from the published methods and manufacturer figures shown, and depend on the data you enter. Always follow the manufacturers’ system and product data, BS 8212, BS EN 13914 and Building Regulations. Coverage rates vary by product, background and thickness. Check prices, VAT and CIS rules with your own records and HMRC.