Camera Rental Pricing Calculator

Your Equipment

Item Retail Price ($)

Item Category

Condition

Market Size

How It Works

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Enter Your Gear Details

Input the retail price, equipment category, condition, and your local market size.

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Get Rate Suggestions

The calculator uses industry-standard rental-to-retail ratios adjusted for your category, condition, and market to suggest daily and weekly rates.

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Estimate Revenue

See your projected annual revenue based on average rental frequency so you can evaluate which gear to add to your inventory.

Manage Camera Rentals with Reservety

Reservety handles online booking, gear availability, damage deposits, and rental agreements for camera and AV equipment rental businesses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of retail price should I charge for camera rentals?

The industry standard is 3-5% of retail value per day. Camera bodies and drones command higher rates (4-5%) due to higher demand and risk. Lenses typically rent at 3-4%, and lighting and audio at 3-3.5%. These rates vary by market - major cities like LA and NYC can charge 15-20% more than smaller markets due to higher demand from production companies.

How should I set my deposit for camera rentals?

Most camera rental houses require a deposit of 20-30% of the equipment's replacement value. For high-value items (cinema cameras, premium lenses), some shops require a full replacement value hold on a credit card. You should also require a certificate of insurance (COI) for rentals over $5,000 in total kit value. The deposit should cover your deductible if a claim is filed.

Should I offer weekly rates at a discount?

Yes, weekly discounts are standard in camera rental. The typical weekly rate is 3-4x the daily rate (not 7x), giving renters a 40-50% discount for longer bookings. This incentivizes longer rentals which reduce your turnaround work while keeping revenue per item high. Some shops also offer 3-day rates at 2x daily.