Where to rent
Pallet jacks are widely available to rent from the major national equipment-rental companies. Home Depot Tool Rental stocks manual pallet jacks (commonly rated around 6,000 lb) at over a thousand locations. United Rentals rents hydraulic pallet jacks in the 5,000-lb class, and Sunbelt Rentals carries them as well. Local equipment and party-rental outfits often have them too. For a one-time move or an occasional need, these renters make it easy to get a pallet jack for a day or a weekend without buying one.
What it costs to rent
Rental rates for a manual pallet jack run roughly $50 to $60 a day, plus any delivery charge, based on the most concrete figures available, though the big renters typically quote exact daily, weekly, and monthly rates by location rather than publishing one national price. Weekly and monthly rentals lower the effective daily cost. Powered electric pallet jacks rent for more. When you call or check online, ask about the daily and weekly rates and any delivery or pickup fees, since delivery can add meaningfully to a short rental's total cost.
Rent or buy?
The economics usually favor buying if you'll use a pallet jack more than a handful of times. A new manual jack costs $200 to $600, so it pays for itself against roughly four to ten rental days. If you move pallets regularly, even a few times a month, owning a jack like the standard pallet truck or budget-friendly economy model is clearly cheaper over time, and it's always on hand. Rent only for a genuine one-off: a single move, a short project, or a need you're sure won't recur. Our cost guide covers the buy side.
When renting makes sense
Renting is the right call in a few situations. A one-time move, clearing out a space, relocating, or receiving a single large shipment, doesn't justify a purchase. A short-term project with a defined end date may too. And if you need a specialized jack (all-terrain, or a powered unit) for a single job, renting avoids buying equipment you'll rarely use again. In all these cases you get the tool for exactly as long as you need it. The key is honesty about how often you'll actually use a pallet jack going forward.
What to check when renting
Before you rent, confirm a few things. Make sure the jack's capacity covers your heaviest load with margin, most rentals are 5,000 to 6,000 lb, which suits most pallets. Check that the fork size fits your pallets, especially if they're non-standard. Inspect the jack when you pick it up: the forks should raise and lower smoothly and the wheels should roll freely, since rental gear sees hard use. And clarify the rate, the rental period, and any delivery or damage terms up front. A quick check avoids surprises with a tool you're relying on for a specific job.
Renting an electric pallet jack
If your one-off job involves moving heavy pallets over long distances or up ramps, a powered pallet jack rental may be worth the higher rate. Electric units rent for more than manual ones, but for a demanding short-term task they can save real labor and reduce injury risk. For most rental needs, though, a manual jack is cheaper and sufficient. Reserve the electric rental for jobs where the powered drive genuinely earns its cost, and otherwise take the manual unit. Our electric pallet jack cost guide covers the powered option in more detail.
The smarter long-term move
For most operations that handle pallets at all regularly, owning beats renting. A manual pallet jack is cheap, lasts for years with almost no maintenance, and is always available when you need it, no calling ahead, no delivery wait, no daily fees. If you've rented a pallet jack more than once, that's usually a sign it's time to buy one. Browse our pallet jack collection to see how little a reliable unit costs, or compare models in our best pallet jacks guide.
The bottom line
Rent a pallet jack from Home Depot, United Rentals, or Sunbelt for roughly $50 to $60 a day plus delivery, with exact rates quoted by location. Renting suits one-time moves and short projects. But because a manual jack costs only $200 to $600 and lasts for years, buying is almost always cheaper if you'll use one regularly, it pays for itself in a handful of rental days. See our cost guide and best pallet jacks comparison to decide.
Delivery and logistics of a rental
One thing that surprises pallet-jack renters is that the tool itself is heavy, 150 to 200 lb for a manual unit, so getting it to your site matters. Some renters deliver for a fee; otherwise you'll need a vehicle and a way to load and unload it, ideally a ramp, since manhandling a 180-lb jack is a two-person job. Factor delivery cost and pickup logistics into a short rental, because on a one-day rental, delivery can cost as much as the jack. If you can transport it yourself and the rental location is close, you'll save; if not, the delivery fee is part of the real price.
The rent-versus-buy math
The break-even is quick. A manual pallet jack rents for about $50 to $60 a day but costs only $200 to $600 to buy, so roughly four to ten rental days equals the price of owning one outright, after which the purchase is pure savings and the jack is always on hand. Add delivery fees to each rental and the case for buying gets stronger still. Unless you're certain you'll use a pallet jack only once, buying a modest economy or standard model is almost always the smarter long-term spend.
