William Lipovsky
Sanding your floors is a good idea — and not just for aesthetic reasons. Well-maintained wood floors have been shown to significantly increase the value of your home — 54% of home buyers are willing to pay as much as $2,000 more on a property solely on the basis of wood floors.
Many big-box stores like Lowe’s have their own guides to DIY floor refinishing, so sanding your own wood floors is now easier than ever.
Below, we’ll tell you where you can get a floor sander rental and what to keep in mind when using it.
Floor Sander Rentals
National Stores
The Home Depot
- Types of sanders available: Orbital or drum
- Rental periods available: Four-hour, daily, weekly, four-week
- Browse online or find a store
Sunbelt Rentals
- Types of sanders available: Orbital or drum
- Rental periods available: Four-hour, daily, weekly, four-week
- Browse online or find a store
True Value
- Types of sanders available: Varies by location
- Rental periods available: Three-hour, daily
- Find a store
Menards (Midwest only)
- Types of sanders available: Varies by location
- Rental periods available: Four-hour; $2 added charge for each additional hour after the first four
- Browse online or find a store
Reddy Rents
- Types of sanders available: Orbital or belt
- Rental periods available: Four-Hour, daily, weekly
- Browse online or find a store
United Rentals
- Types of Sanders Available: Orbital or drum
- Rental periods available: Daily, weekly, monthly
- Browse online or find a store
U-Sand
- Types of sanders available: Orbital
- Rental periods available: Daily, weekly, monthly
- Browse online or find a store
Herc Rentals
- Types of sanders available: Drum
- Rental periods available: Daily
- Browse online or find a store
Regional Stores
Many times smaller rental outfits will have floor sanders available for rent, usually with the same price point and rental periods as those available at larger home renovation stores.
This section offers you a selection of regional rental agencies that have floor sanders for rent, but of course, there are many other small and locally-owned options.
American Rentals Inc (Southern CA)
- Types of sanders available: Belt or orbital
- Rental periods available: Daily, weekly, monthly
- Browse online or find a store
Star Rentals (Pacific Northwest)
- Types of sanders available: Belt or orbital
- Rental periods available: Daily, weekly, monthly
- Browse online or find a store
And because you may be wondering, see our research on whether or not Lowe’s rents floor sanders.
What to Keep in Mind about Floor Sanders
Keep the following tips in mind when renting and using a floor sander:
Not all floor sanders are created equal.
When looking at which sander to rent, keep in mind that there are two major types of floor sanders: drum sanders and orbital sanders.
Drum sanders are efficient and can strip floors in minutes, but their power can make them difficult to control if you don’t have experience. Also, since drum sanders only sand in one direction, you have to pay attention to the direction of your wood grain to avoid messing up the final finish of your floor.
Orbital sanders are much gentler on floors and very easy to pick up and use, but this also means that it takes much longer to sand the same square footage and it may not have the power you need to get off paint, caked-on varnish, or smooth out any serious dings or scratches.
Not all floors are created equal.
Make sure before you get started that your floor is going to be able to handle re-sanding or refinishing.
Solid hardwood floors are usually fine to refinish, although the age of the floor and the number of times it’s been refinished may make refinishing an issue.
Engineered wood floors, laminate floors, and compressed board floors all have different properties that make sanding more complicated. If you have anything other than solid plank hardwood flooring, you might consider consulting a professional before taking matters into your own hands.
Rental periods, price, and availability can vary widely.
Large retailers like The Home Depot will have a variety of sanders available at different price points.
Most will require a four-hour commitment at least, but if you’re looking at a large or complicated job, it can get expensive to keep paying an hourly rate when you’re on day three of a rental. In these cases, it makes more financial sense to find a store that will rent to you for a longer period of time.
Also, keep in mind that many stores are franchised, which means that which products are available for rent depends on the products available at your local store; the best bet is to contact your local store directly and ask if it has floor sanders for rent.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Floor Sander?
The price to rent a floor sander for 4 hours at store will be in the neighborhood of $50 dollars, plus or minus $10.
For a day, the price is approximately $70; for a week, approximately $200.
If you plan on having the floor sander for a longer period of time, rent for the longest period you may need it, or you may find yourself paying upwards of twice as much as you would have with the longer rental period.
Of course, prices vary, so always check with your local store before making a decision to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.