5 Ways to Save on Your Fence Rental Bill

Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in 2019. It has been updated with additional detail for 2022.

Whether you’re organizing an event or planning a construction project, temporary fence rental is just one line item on your budget. With budgets only getting tighter nowadays, you’re likely looking for ways to reduce expenses. Thankfully, there are some simple ways that you can save money on your fence rental.

Finding a supplier that offers affordable fence rentals is certainly a good start, but your temporary fence installation plans can also impact your overall fence rental costs.

You may not realize it, but there are a lot of charges that factor into the typical temporary fence rental bill. Understanding all of the possible fees is the first step in knowing where to cut costs. (We recommend starting with “How Much Does it Cost to Rent Construction Fence?“.) You could find the cheapest temporary fence rental supplier and still wind up paying an arm and a leg due to additional fees and charges.

The good news is that, once you understand the basics, it’s easy to see where you can save money on your rental fencing. To help you out, here are five easy ways to save on your next fence rental – plus one bonus “pro tip”!

Schedule Your Install and Removal During Business Hours

A simple schedule shift can instantly reduce your fence rental quote. Most temporary fence rental companies will add a surcharge for deliveries made outside of regular business hours – like evenings, weekends or holidays. This is especially common in the special event industry, where vendors are often required to be on site during the weekend.

If your timing is flexible, arranging delivery and pickup during regular business hours will help reduce your overall bill. If you’re organizing an event taking place over the weekend, consider having the fencing installed on Friday and removed on Monday.

Install the Temporary Fences Yourself

If you love to “do it yourself”, then you’re in luck! Installing and dismantling the temporary fence yourself is a great way to avoid labour costs. Labour related to fence installation and removal can make up a big chunk of your bill, so installing your own temporary fencing is a sure-fire way to save on your fence rental.

That being said, not all sites are created equal when it comes to installation. For instance, projects requiring only a simple rectangular perimeter are good candidates for a DIY install. On the other hand, sites with complex safety and security requirements usually need a professional touch. Consult our post ” DIY or Call a Fence Guy? ” to help you decide if a self-install is the best route for you.

If you’ve decided to install your own fence, check out our YouTube channel for helpful how-to videos like this one:

Pick Up Your Own Temporary Fence

The most affordable fence rental is the one that doesn’t require the supplier to dispatch a crew at all. If you’ve decided to handle the fence installation yourself, you can achieve additional cost savings by picking up the fence panels instead of having them delivered. This allows you to avoid delivery charges, and is an especially good way to save on your fence rental bill if you only need a small quantity of fence. That’s because many temporary fence suppliers impose minimum delivery fees on smaller orders.

Don’t fret if you don’t have access to a flat deck trailer! At Modu-Loc, we offer several fencing options including smaller barriers that are relatively easy to transport. These include options like our black VIP fence and pedestrian barricade.

Our pickup panels are also a great option for anyone looking for a cheap fence rental option. They fit in the back of most passenger vehicles, allowing just about anybody to pick up their own temporary fencing. As an added bonus, the panels only weigh about 25 pounds each – making installation even easier.

Make Use of Your Surroundings

Because your rental bill will be determined by a price per linear foot of fence, reducing the amount of fence you need will reduce your costs. One way to limit the number of temporary fence panels you need is to make use of your surroundings.

Take a look around your site and assess whether there are any permanent structures you can use to your advantage. Is there an existing permanent fence or wall? If so, can it incorporate into your temporary fence system to serve as part of your perimeter?

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have a permanent barrier on site, you can reduce your rental fence requirements in other ways. For instance, you could use an existing lamp post or even a tree to reinforce your temporary fence line. At Modu-Loc, our best practice is to use extra fence panels to brace the fence line every 50′ or so. That’s because long, straight lines of fence tend to be unstable and prone to blowing over in high winds. Tying the fence panels to an existing permanent structure eliminates the need for v-bracing, reducing the amount of fence you’ll need to rent.

Buy Your Fence Instead of Renting

Okay, it might seem sneaky to talk about buying fence in a post about saving on your rental bill – but hear us out. If you rent fence frequently – especially in small quantities – you might consider investing in your own temporary fencing solution. Small orders are typically subject to minimum charges on the delivery and even the rental, so if you regularly rent fence then the costs can add up quickly.

Similarly, if your construction project will require temporary fencing for a long time, it might make more financial sense to buy. There is a point at which your total rental costs would exceed the cost to purchase the fence outright – often at around 18 to 24 months. So if you’re considering a rental term of 2 years, the best way to save on your fence rental might actually be to buy the fence.

Of course, there are other factors to consider when deciding whether to buy or rent temporary fences. For instance, do you have the space to store your fence when it’s not being used on site? If you’re not sure whether buying fence is right for you, check out “Should You Rent or Buy Your Fence?”.

Bonus Tip: Negotiate Your Missing/Damaged Charges

If you read our primer on how much it costs to rent fence , you’ll know that just about every temporary fence rental company will charge for product that goes missing or is damaged while on site. These charges will vary by supplier, and may not be clearly indicated up front – so it’s always a good idea to ask what the rate is for missing and damaged fence panels.

While you’re having the conversation, try asking for a reduced rate on missing and damaged product. You would likely attempt to negotiate your rental rate, so why not do the same for other charges? Delivery and set-up fees are usually less flexible. That’s because they have to cover the supplier’s costs to send a crew to site. But since missing or damaged product isn’t exactly inevitable, your supplier may be more open to negotiation on related charges.

Just make sure to lock those rates in during the quoting phase. Your supplier is a lot more likely to be flexible during negotiations than when they’re collecting damaged rental fence from your site. Counter to the popular saying, in this case it’s easier to ask for permission than forgiveness!

We’re Here to Help

Every job is different, and some of these tips may not apply to your unique situation. The good news is that we have options, and can help you find the best solution for your requirements and budget. If you’re ready for a quote or just need some more information, contact us to speak with a representative.