For most events, hiring equipment makes more financial sense than buying. No storage, no depreciation, and a range that covers furniture, catering and AV.
For most events, hiring equipment makes more financial sense than buying. No storage, no depreciation, and a range that covers furniture, catering and AV.
For most events, hiring equipment beats buying it outright. No storage, no depreciation and access to a range of furniture, catering gear and specialist items that would be difficult to justify purchasing for occasional use. Here's a breakdown of how the two options compare across the most common event equipment categories.
Commercial catering equipment is expensive. A quality commercial fridge, a gas range or a set of bain maries represents significant capital expenditure, and after the event, it all needs cleaning, servicing and storing.
Hiring catering equipment removes all of that. You get well-maintained, commercial-grade kit for the duration of the event, collected afterwards. For one-off or annual events, the hire cost is a fraction of the purchase price. For recurring events, a long-term hire relationship with a single supplier is often still cheaper than buying, when storage and maintenance are factored in.
The range available for hire also exceeds what most buyers could justify owning. From BBQ hire for outdoor events to street food equipment for market-style formats, you can match the equipment precisely to the occasion.
Buying furniture for events means committing to a specific style and storing it between uses. The furniture you buy for one event may not suit the next. Hiring gives you access to a much wider range of styles: from Chiavari chairs for weddings to poseur tables for networking events, Chesterfield sofas for hospitality areas and outdoor furniture for garden parties.
Storage is the practical argument that often tips the decision. A set of 150 chairs takes significant space. Hiring means the furniture exists for the event and then disappears: delivery, setup and collection all included.
Hiring a gazebo or marquee lets you create a defined event space almost anywhere, without the capital cost of owning a structure. Marquees and gazebos are available in various sizes and configurations, with professional setup and takedown included. This flexibility is particularly useful for events at private properties or outdoor venues that lack permanent covered spaces.
The ability to change location, scale and format from event to event is a significant advantage over owning a fixed structure.
The right seating configuration changes with every event. A conference requires rows of chairs; a gala dinner needs round tables with banqueting seating; a cocktail reception needs poseur tables and bar stools. Owning a single style limits your options. Hiring lets you match the furniture to the format.
Expo Hire carries chairs, tables, sofas and tub chairs across multiple styles, so the furniture can suit whatever the occasion demands, without a storage unit full of equipment sitting idle between events.
Good lighting can define the atmosphere of an event, but buying the full range of fixtures needed for every possible occasion is impractical. Ambient uplighters, spotlights, string lights and LED colour effects each suit different settings and formats. Hiring gives you access to the right lighting for each event rather than making do with what you own.
Hire companies can advise on the best options for your venue and event type, and handle installation and collection, saving time and reducing the technical complexity of setup.
AV equipment dates quickly. A PA system or projector bought for a conference two years ago may already be a generation behind current standards. Hiring AV equipment gives you access to current technology without the depreciation that comes with ownership.
Professional hire companies provide setup and on-site support, so the technical side of AV doesn't fall to the event organiser. This is particularly valuable for large or complex events where AV failure would have a significant impact.
There are cases where buying is justified. If you run regular, large-scale events with consistent equipment requirements, the economics can shift. Regular use of specific items, a particular style of chair or a specific type of table, may eventually make purchasing more cost-effective than repeated hire. For most event organisers running occasional or varied events, however, hire remains the better financial and practical choice.
Can I hire catering equipment for small events?
Yes. Catering equipment hire is available for events of any size, from small private gatherings to large corporate functions.
Do I need to arrange setup and removal of hired furniture?
No. Delivery, setup and collection are included with furniture hire.
Can I hire lighting to match my event theme?
Yes. A range of lighting options is available, with advice on what suits your specific venue and event type.
Can I hire AV equipment for a one-off event?
Yes. Hiring AV equipment for a single event avoids the cost and depreciation of purchasing, with professional setup included.
Is there outdoor event equipment available for hire?
Yes. Outdoor equipment hire includes gazebos, patio heaters, outdoor furniture and outdoor catering equipment, all suited to variable weather conditions in England and Wales.
Choose from our vast range of catering hire, furniture hire and exhibition hire products. Select from the categories listed below or use our great search function above.
