Lease vs Buy Calculator
Leasing or buying? Compare total cost over the analysis period and see the breakeven year.
Model v1.0.0 · Data generated 2026-10-08 · 0 published reference values
Select a scenario to pre-fill realistic defaults for that facility type.
Anonymous, bucketed. We only store your decision profile (size, tier, scenario, result band) — never your inputs or identity.
Lower Total Cost
$59,700
45% confidence · model v1.0.0
Buying wins on total cost
4 × Commercial Treadmill (mid tier) over 5 years: buying costs $59,700 vs leasing at $117,360.
Break-even horizon
Buying breaks even after ~2.3 years. Holding the equipment past that point favours ownership; replacing sooner favours leasing.
Check the financing route
If cash is tight but you want ownership economics, compare an equipment loan against these lease terms.
Open Financing Calculator →Assumptions
- • Monthly lease rate: 2.2% of list price
- • Maintenance burden (buy): 3% of price per year
- • Electricity: $0.15/kWh — charged to both paths
- • Tier adjustment: mid ×1
- • Lease includes service: Commercial leases typically bundle preventive maintenance; electricity is paid by the operator either way.
Limitations
- • No residual value — Ownership retains resale value at end of term; conservative here.
- • Flat lease pricing — Real quotes step with credit tier and volume discounts.
Data sources & method
This tool is a calculation model, not a database lookup. It runs arithmetic on the numbers you enter, using an explicit formula and a small set of documented default assumptions (service intervals, energy prices, useful life). Every assumption it applies is listed in the result, and each one is a default you can overwrite.
We do not hold a benchmark dataset. FitnessNav operates no gyms, runs no fleet, and has never collected equipment telemetry, so there is no measured useful-life, maintenance-rate or downtime distribution behind these models. The default assumptions come from published manufacturer documentation and standard trade practice, and they are labelled as assumptions \u2014 not as findings. Treat the output as a structured way to think about a decision, and replace every default with your own numbers before it leaves your desk. If a vendor hands you a benchmark, ask for the sample size and the age of the machines in it.
Lease vs Buy Calculator — frequently asked questions
When does leasing beat buying gym equipment?
Below the breakeven usage point. Lease rent runs about 2.2% of price per month; ownership wins once avoided rent exceeds ownership running costs (maintenance plus electricity).
Are electricity charges symmetric between both paths?
Yes — both lease and buy paths carry the same electricity bill at $0.15/kWh against the machine's kWh rating, so the comparison never flatters either side on power.
What does a typical lease include?
Service and maintenance are typically bundled by the lessor; electricity never is. This model charges power to both paths explicitly and treats rent as maintenance-inclusive.
How is breakeven computed?
The model compares cumulative lease spend against cumulative ownership cost month by month; the crossover month where buying becomes cheaper is reported directly.