Equipment financing calculators
Compare leasing versus buying construction equipment after tax. Each calculator is pre-filled with real market pricing for that machine class — adjust the numbers to match your quote.
Skid steer financing calculator
Lease vs. buy for skid steer loaders. Pre-filled with mid-size market pricing.
Mini excavator financing calculator
Lease vs. buy for compact excavators. Pre-filled with 4-ton class market pricing.
Heavy equipment financing calculator
Lease vs. buy for large construction equipment. Pre-filled with mid-size excavator pricing.
Lease vs. buy: what the calculator actually compares
Adding up the total payments for each option misses the point. Buying and leasing spread costs across different years, get different tax treatment (Section 179 or bonus depreciation for buying; lease deductions for leasing), and leave you with different assets at the end. The calculators here discount every cash flow to today's dollars so the comparison is fair.
When does leasing make sense?
Leasing tends to win when: you replace equipment on a short cycle (every 3–5 years), you can fully deduct lease payments against business income, or your cash flow is tight and you need to preserve capital. A fair-market-value (FMV) lease keeps the equipment off your balance sheet; a $1-buyout lease is effectively a financed purchase.
When does buying win?
Buying tends to win when: you plan to keep the equipment for its full useful life, you can use Section 179 or 100% bonus depreciation to write off most of the cost in year one, and you want an asset with residual value at the end. Equipment that holds its value well (mini excavators, certain attachments) is often better to own.
About the pre-filled prices
Each calculator uses typical new-equipment prices for that machine class as of 2026, based on published dealer ranges and manufacturer fleet programs. Actual prices vary by configuration, dealer, and region — always replace the defaults with the numbers from your quote before using the results to make a decision.