Linen Rental vs. Buying: Which Saves More?

TL;DR: Should you rent or buy table linens? For most event planners, renting linens saves more time, money, and storage stress than buying. Here’s why:

• Buying table linens includes hidden costs like laundering and storage.
• Table linen rentals include shipping and cleaning—no post-event hassle.
• Rentals offer more style flexibility and no long-term commitment.
• Renting saves time and effort, especially for one-off or infrequent events.

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As an event planner, your goal is to plan a stunning event without exceeding your client’s budget, and it’s often the small details that add up. Thus, we’re sure you’ve debated linen rental vs buying when budgeting for weddings, galas, or parties.

For most, the final decision comes down to cost and effort. The best option saves you the most time and money in the long run.

So, should you rent table linens for each event, or invest upfront to buy table linens and reuse them?

We’ve created this guide to break down and directly compare the costs of buying vs table linen rental. We’ll compare dollar values and effort for a hypothetical event of about 100 guests. In our comparison, we’ll focus on standard polyester round tablecloths. Ultimately, we hope to illustrate which option truly saves more money and hassle.

Cost Comparison for a 100-Guest Event (10 Tables)

First, let’s break down the expected expenses if you rent table linens versus if you buy linens outright for 10 standard event tables.

Cost of Buying Linens

Buying linens for 10 tables costs about $100 initially, at $10 per tablecloth on average. However, professional laundering can run about $10 to $12 per tablecloth. That easily adds another $100 or more to your costs. As a result, when you factor in professional cleaning after the event, the cost comes out to $200 or more.

Even if you clean the linens at home, consider the time and supplies required. At a minimum, you’ll need detergent, water, and electricity to wash and iron 10 large tablecloths. That’s a hidden cost in labor that adds up quickly.

If you can reuse the same linens dozens of times, the cost per use drops. However, that is only the case if you consistently use them and invest time in upkeep. For most event planners, these ongoing responsibilities outweigh the small savings of buying. Furthermore, reuse isn’t always practical if each event has a different theme or color scheme.

Cost of Renting Linens

At about $12 per tablecloth, renting 10 round tablecloths might cost around $120 in total for the event. The cost you pay is the total cost. That can significantly simplify budgeting.

Why is renting linens generally less expensive? The rental fee already includes shipping both ways and professional laundering. You simply receive the linens and use them.

When the event is over, you can send them back in a prepaid package without extra fees. Not only does that save money, but it also saves you time.

Upfront vs. Ongoing Costs

When you buy table linen outright, the upfront cost isn’t your only expense. Owning linens means you’re also responsible for maintenance and storage after every event. Here are some commonly overlooked ongoing costs of buying linens.

Storage and Inventory Management

After cleaning, you must store the linens until the next event. This means finding space in a closet or warehouse for bulky stacks of tablecloths.

During long-term storage, linens need to stay dry, folded, and accessible, which can be challenging and takes up valuable space. If you only host events occasionally, you’re essentially tying up storage space on items you rarely use. If you pay for that storage space, it’s costing you money, too.

Wear, Tear, and Replacement

At events, wine stains and candle wax drips are the norm. Over time, the linens you own will likely become stained and worn. You’ll need to spot-treat or replace linens periodically, adding to the ownership cost.

In comparison, rental companies are responsible for quality control. They’ll provide you with crisp, clean linens each time. It’s the rental company, not the planner, who is responsible for retiring any linens that are past their prime.

Convenience and Time Savings with Rentals

Renting linens drastically simplifies your workload before and after an event. All you need to do is select your sizes and colors. From there, the linens arrive clean, pressed, and ready two to three days before your event.

After the event, you toss the linens into a shipping box as-is and send them back. There is no washing required. Return shipping and laundry are included in the rental, so you literally pack it up and you’re done.

This full-service approach lets planners focus on the event itself rather than post-party cleanup. You’ll be free to deliver a higher-quality customer service experience, which is what your clients truly remember.

In contrast, if you own linens, your job isn’t over when the guests go home. You or your staff will be hauling piles of tablecloths to a laundromat or running multiple loads in your washer. Once clean, there’s still drying, ironing, and folding each one for storage. This can consume hours of additional work for a large event.

By renting table linens, you eliminate these time sinks. The rental company handles the ironing, folding, and cleaning. All in all, you will save hours of work for each event. Planners also get peace of mind knowing that the linens will be high quality and professionally laundered.

Other Benefits of Renting vs. Buying

• Flexibility of Style. Renting allows you to choose linens that perfectly match each event’s theme or color palette without long-term commitments.
• All-Inclusive Service. The fee you pay covers a full-service experience from drop-off to pickup.
• Scalability and Risk. If you miscalculate and need a few extra tablecloths last-minute, a rental company can often accommodate.
• No Long-Term Commitment. The rental provider handles cleaning, replacement, and sustainable reuse of the textiles across many events.

Save Money and Headaches with Table Linen Rental

Unless you have a frequent need for the exact same linens, renting offers far better value for occasional events. It saves you money and lets you redirect your energy toward creating a memorable event. Most planners prefer rental to a non-stop cycle of managing laundry!

Ready to save both budget and hassle on your next celebration? Partner with us and check out our selection of tablecloth rentals for your next event!