Air cushion machine Rental vs Purchase — a complete cost comparison for E-commerce businesses
Choosing between renting and purchasing an air cushion machine often determines how effectively an e-commerce business can reduce packaging costs and stay flexible in a changing market.
Business owners frequently focus only on the purchase price, but in many cases, the rental model proves to be more cost-effective — not just because of lower upfront costs, but also due to greater flexibility for seasonal fluctuations and growth, built-in technical support, and reduced downtime risks.
Seasonal peaks, promotions, or rapid growth can cause significant changes in shipping volumes. By renting equipment, businesses can quickly adapt to these fluctuations without tying up working capital in machinery or taking on additional risk.
In this article, we’ll break down the cost comparison between renting and purchasing, and explore flexibility and service aspects that often define the real long-term value.
Air cushion machine Rental vs Purchase: Key cost items
| Cost item | Rental (Pakful Start / Grow) | Purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Machine purchase price | €0 (included in monthly fee) | €285 – €573 (one-time payment) |
| Monthly fee | from €19.50 / month (Start) from €29.50 / month (Grow) |
€0 |
| Maintenance and service | Included in rental price — repairs, servicing, replacements | Paid separately |
| Replacement in case of fault | 24–48 h replacement at no extra cost | Rent replacement during repairs (€39.00 / month) or buy new |
| Flexibility | Switch models easily, scale with seasons or growth | One machine, limited flexibility |
Quick summary of the table
◼️ With rental, your business pays only for usage and maintains flexibility.
◼️ With purchase, expect higher upfront investment, additional service costs, and downtime risk.
When is it smarter to rent an air cushion machine?
Renting an air cushion machine is especially advantageous for businesses that value flexibility, lower upfront costs, and minimal downtime risk. It works best in these cases:
◼️ Seasonal businesses — start renting at the beginning of the season and stop when volumes drop, without tying up capital in machinery.
◼️ New or growing e-shops — avoid large initial investments; start with a small monthly fee and scale your plan as you grow.
◼️ Fluctuating shipping volumes — easily increase or decrease machine capacity based on demand.
◼️No in-house service team — all repairs and replacements are handled automatically within 24–48 h at no extra cost.
When is it smarter to buy?
Purchasing a machine can still make sense for businesses with stable, high shipping volumes and a long-term packaging strategy. It’s typically more cost-effective if:
◼️ You have consistently high volumes that fully utilize the machine long term.
◼️ You have an experienced warehouse team that can handle maintenance and repairs in-house.
◼️ Your packaging capacity needs are stable over time, with no significant fluctuations.
◼️ You have sufficient capital that can be allocated to equipment purchase without affecting other business operations.
Market trend: More companies are switching from Buying to Renting
Many business owners still view equipment purchase as a “safe and cost-effective” choice. However, current market trends increasingly favor the EaaS (Equipment as a Service) model, especially across Europe. Here’s why:
1. Rapid market growth and model adoption
The European Equipment as a Service market reached USD 464.8 million in 2023, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 52.4 % from 2024 to 2030. This shows that more manufacturers and service providers are moving away from traditional sales towards subscription-based and service-oriented models.
Note: What is EaaS (Equipment as a Service)?
EaaS (Equipment as a Service) is a business model where companies do not purchase equipment outright — instead, they pay a regular fee to use it, with service, maintenance, and upgrades included. In practice, the provider retains responsibility for the equipment’s acquisition, servicing, modernization, and repairs. The client simply pays a fixed rental fee covering everything.
Unlike traditional ownership, where the business makes a large upfront investment and manages technical issues internally, EaaS provides flexibility, lower risk, and predictable costs. This model is already common in IT, manufacturing, and logistics — and is rapidly entering the packaging equipment sector.
2. Shifting from ownership to “Outcome” models
EaaS focuses less on selling machines and more on delivering results as a service. Customers pay for the use and performance of the equipment, not ownership. This allows providers to upgrade machines more frequently, keep technology current, and centrally manage the entire lifecycle — including repairs and updates.
3. Lower capital risk and more flexibility
Purchasing equipment ties up capital and exposes businesses to market risks. With rental or EaaS, companies retain liquidity and can quickly scale capacity up or down based on demand changes.
4. Built-In Service and reduced downtime
Standard EaaS / rental agreements include service, maintenance, and rapid replacement in case of failure. This minimizes downtime and eliminates the need for the customer to handle technical issues.
5. Sustainability and circular economy principles
EaaS models often support repairs, refurbishment, and extended equipment lifecycles — reducing waste and resource consumption. This aligns with EU “green economy” initiatives, where manufacturers are incentivized to minimize environmental impact.
Conclusions and next steps
The choice between renting and buying an air cushion machine is not just about price — it’s a strategic decision that affects your company’s flexibility, risk exposure, and cash flow.
The rental model allows you to:
◼️ Reduce upfront investments and keep working capital available for growth.
◼️ Eliminate downtime risk through fast replacement and included service.
◼️ Adjust machine capacity to seasonal changes or business growth.
◼️ Predict costs and avoid unexpected repair expenses.
Purchasing only makes sense if you have very stable and high volumes, an in-house technical team, and a long-term packaging strategy with minimal capacity changes.
The bottom line: In today’s e-commerce landscape, air cushion machine rental is becoming the smarter, more flexible, and lower-risk choice — especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Air cushion machine rental in Latvia — explore Pakful RENT plans
Pakful RENT offers flexible air cushion machine rental solutions for e-commerce businesses in Latvia looking to reduce costs and keep capital free for growth. All rental plans include full servicing, maintenance, and machine replacement in case of failure — at no extra cost.
Choose the plan that best fits your shipping volume and operational needs.