Renting Furniture Instead of Buying: Who It Actually Pays Off For

If you're only staying in a city for a limited time, or want to preserve your starting capital for a first apartment, you don't necessarily have to buy furniture. Furniture rental now covers everything from a single sofa to a complete multi-room setup, but over the long run it almost always costs more than buying.

What furniture rental actually costs

Prices range from single pieces to complete setups. According to Business Insider, a sofa bed on a 36-month contract costs around €22 a month, while a complete two-room setup starts at around €1,570 a month. Individual appliances can be rented too: manufacturer programs offer things like fridges or washing machines from around €14 to €30 a month.

When renting really pays off

Furniture rental pays off above all for a clearly time-limited stay, for example during a semester abroad or a temporary work assignment in a new city. Delivery, assembly, and repairs for normal wear and tear are usually included in the rental price, which offsets part of the price disadvantage versus buying, since those costs would come on top of a purchase.

When buying pays off more in the long run

If you plan to stay in your first apartment long-term, renting over several years almost always adds up to noticeably more than a one-time purchase of the same piece, even accounting for delivery and repairs. According to the same market observations, the average rental period is around two years; shorter contracts starting at one month are available from some providers, but they push the monthly rate up further.

Our used-furniture guide shows where to find a cheap alternative to buying new, and our furniture-buying rights guide covers the legal questions around buying new furniture online.