Here's a statistic worth sitting with: by various estimates, the average household drill is used for just 13 to 15 minutes over its entire lifetime. We buy it to hang a shelf, drill a couple of holes, mount a picture — and then it lives in a garage drawer for years. The same goes for the impact driver, the angle grinder, the orbital sander, and that set of jigsaw blades you only touched during a move.
For anyone renting these items out, that "garage laziness" becomes a real opportunity. Power tools are among the most profitable categories relative to their cost: everyone needs them eventually, but almost nobody wants to buy one to use for a single afternoon. In this guide we'll look at how much they actually earn, how to price them, and what strategy turns a drawer of tools into steady income.
Why power tools are ideal to rent out
Unlike a camera or a road bike, power tools have qualities that make them perfect for peer-to-peer rental. They have a low to medium entry cost: a solid hammer drill runs $90–160, an angle grinder $50–130. That means break-even comes fast. They have widespread, recurring demand: anyone doing a small home project — fitting a kitchen, laying flooring, sorting out the garden — needs a specific tool for a few days. And they have a great value-to-size ratio: they take up little space, are easy to hand off in person, and need no complex upkeep between rentals.
Above all, there's a buying resistance that works in your favor. Spending $200 on a miter saw to cut twenty pieces of trim feels (rightly) like a waste. Renting it for $12 a day is the rational choice for the borrower — and that's exactly where you come in.
💡 The key principle: power tools aren't rented for their value, but for their usefulness at a precise moment. The borrower doesn't want to own your drill — they want to solve a problem by Sunday night. You're selling the solution, not the object.
How much renting out tools earns: the numbers
Let's get concrete. The table below shows average daily prices in urban areas and estimated monthly net earnings (after the Lendmates fee) at three usage levels: low, medium and high.
| Tool | New cost | Price/day | 4 days/mo | 10 days/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hammer drill | $100–160 | $7–11 | $25–40 | $63–99 |
| Impact driver | $80–140 | $6–10 | $22–36 | $54–90 |
| Angle grinder | $60–130 | $8–13 | $29–47 | $72–117 |
| Orbital sander | $50–110 | $6–10 | $22–36 | $54–90 |
| Miter / circular saw | $150–320 | $12–20 | $43–72 | $108–180 |
| Rotary hammer (SDS) | $180–380 | $15–24 | $54–86 | $135–216 |
| Pressure washer | $120–270 | $10–18 | $36–65 | $90–162 |
Values vary by city, brand (professional-grade tools like Makita, Bosch Professional or DeWalt command higher prices) and season. On their own these look like modest sums, but that's not the point: you already own these items, they're sitting idle, and the earnings are almost pure margin. There's no purchase to recoup, no weekly effort.
The rotary hammer case: small outlay, fast ROI
Take a concrete example. A mid-to-high-range SDS-Plus rotary hammer costs around $230. It's a tool most people use once or twice in a lifetime — yet when it's needed, it's really needed (drilling reinforced concrete, removing tiles, anchoring heavy fixtures). That's why it's in high demand as a rental.
- Daily price set: $19
- Estimated average requests in a mid-size city: 6–9 days/month
- Estimated monthly net earnings: $100–150
- Break-even on purchase: 2 to 3 months of active renting
In under a quarter you've recouped the tool's entire cost. From then on, every rental is pure profit on an item that would otherwise be gathering dust. It's one of the most favorable risk-to-return ratios of any category on Lendmates.
"I had a rotary hammer and a miter saw I'd bought to renovate my place. Once the work was done, they would've just sat in the basement. In three months they paid back nearly half of what I'd spent on the project."
Who rents power tools?
Understanding your borrower helps you write better listings. In the tool world, demand comes mostly from three profiles. There are occasional DIYers: people tackling a specific home task (assembling furniture, sanding a door, drilling for an awning) who don't want to buy a tool for one afternoon. There are new homeowners, suddenly needing to mount, fix and sort out dozens of things but without a complete tool kit yet. And there are small pros and hobbyists who need a specific tool outside their usual kit, maybe for a single job.
All three have one thing in common: they want a quick solution close to home. That's why proximity and response speed matter enormously in this category.
How to maximize earnings with tools
1. Build "kits" instead of single items
A drill on its own is fine, but a drill + a full set of masonry, wood and metal bits + anchors is worth more and rents more often. The borrower wants a complete solution: if they have to run to the hardware store for bits, your listing loses appeal. Assemble logical kits (drilling kit, sanding kit, garden kit) and price them slightly higher: perceived value rises, competition drops.
2. Specify model, power and what it can do
With tools, technical detail sells. State the brand, model, power (watts or battery voltage), and — above all — explain in plain words what the tool can do. "Bosch 800W rotary hammer, drills reinforced concrete up to 26mm" converts far better than a generic "powerful drill." A precise description cuts down chat questions and attracts the right borrower.
3. Include accessories, spares and a quick how-to
Spare discs for the grinder, assorted-grit sandpaper for the sander, a charged backup battery. These are cheap for you but make a huge difference to the borrower's experience — and to your reviews. A short safety note on how to use the tool is a thoughtful touch that gets noticed.
4. Think about safety and cleanliness
Hand the tool over clean, with the cord tidy or batteries charged. Check that discs and bits aren't worn past the safety limit. A tool presented with care signals reliability and justifies a slightly higher price.
💚 Practical tip: always photograph the tool (and any included accessories) right before handover and again at return. For tools, where wear is normal, these photos are your protection if a damage dispute comes up.
Deposit, safety and liability
Power tools involve more "physical" use than other items, so safety deserves attention. On Lendmates, the deposit held at booking protects the lender: the amount is proportional to the declared value and is released to the borrower only if the item is returned undamaged. In case of damage, you open a dispute with photo evidence and Lendmates reviews the case.
One important note: in your description, clearly state that the tool must be used according to the manufacturer's instructions and with proper protective equipment (goggles, gloves, a mask where needed). You're not responsible for misuse by the borrower, but a common-sense note protects both sides and signals professionalism.
A quick word on taxes
Income from occasional peer-to-peer rentals is generally taxable, and rules vary widely by country and even by region. For small amounts many people overlook it, but the obligation exists. Always check with a tax advisor about your specific situation: sharing-economy rules are evolving fast.
Where to start
Power tools are probably the simplest, fastest way to start earning on Lendmates — precisely because almost everyone has at least one or two sitting idle at home. Open the garage, the closet, the shed: the drill bought to hang shelves, the pressure washer used two summers ago, the sander from the DIY project you never finished. They're all potential listings.
🎯 Rule of thumb: a lender with 3–4 well-photographed tools, organized into kits and priced in line with the market, can generate $80–180 net per month in a mid-size city — with virtually zero weekly effort.
Start with a single tool, learn the process (photos, description, handling the request), then add the others over time. Within a few months, that drawer of forgotten tools can become your most reliable source of extra income.
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