UK summers are short, glorious, and gloriously unpredictable. You might get six weeks of barbecues, beach days and garden parties — or six weekends of "we'll just see what the weather does."
Which is exactly why buying summer gear so often ends in regret. That £400 paddleboard used twice. The gazebo that lived in the loft after one party. The camping set bought for a festival you never repeated.
Renting flips the maths. You get the good stuff for the days you actually need it, then hand it back — no storage, no maintenance, no buyer's remorse. Here's everything worth renting in the UK this summer, and roughly what you'll save.
Garden parties and BBQs
The British garden party is a summer institution. The kit to host a great one is expensive to own and a pain to store — perfect for renting.
- Gazebos and marquees — keep the sun (or the inevitable drizzle) off your guests
- BBQs and pizza ovens — proper gas BBQs, charcoal drums, or a portable pizza oven for something special
- Garden furniture and seating — extra chairs, benches and tables for when 8 guests becomes 20
- Patio heaters and fire pits — for when the evening turns typically British
- Bluetooth PA speakers — proper sound for the garden, not a phone propped in a glass
Rough saving: a decent gazebo, BBQ and speaker setup costs £400–£700 to buy. Renting the lot for a weekend is typically £60–£120 — and nothing to store afterwards.
Camping and festivals
Festival season and summer staycations are back in full swing. Camping gear is the classic "buy once, regret forever" purchase — bulky to store, used once or twice a year.
- Tents — from 2-person backpacking tents to 6-person family palaces
- Sleeping bags and air beds — kit out the whole family without buying five of everything
- Camping stoves and cool boxes — proper gear beats a disposable BBQ
- Roof boxes and bike racks — fit all the gear (and the bikes) in the car
- Power banks and camping lights — keep phones alive off-grid
Rough saving: a full family camping setup costs £500–£1,000 new. A weekend rental is usually £80–£150 — ideal if you camp once or twice a year.
Water and outdoor adventure
When the sun's out, the UK's lakes, rivers and coast come alive. The gear is expensive and seasonal — exactly what renting is for.
- Paddleboards (SUPs) — easily the most-rented summer item; buying one to use a handful of times rarely makes sense
- Kayaks and canoes — explore canals, lakes and the coast
- Wetsuits — for the brave swimmers and surfers
- E-bikes and mountain bikes — try before you buy, or just enjoy a summer of rides
- Wild-swimming and snorkel gear — for spontaneous dips
Rough saving: a quality paddleboard is £300–£600 to buy. Renting one for the weekend is typically £15–£40. Use it three times a summer and renting wins easily.
Kids and family summer
Six weeks of school holidays is a long time to keep children entertained — and an expensive time to buy gear they'll outgrow by next year.
- Bouncy castles and soft play — the undisputed champion of children's parties
- Garden games — giant Jenga, connect four, croquet, table tennis
- Paddling pools and water slides — the larger inflatable kind
- Travel cots, high chairs and pushchairs — perfect for visiting grandparents or family holidays
- Kids' bikes and scooters — for the summer growth spurt they'll outpace by autumn
Rough saving: a bouncy castle costs £300–£800 to buy (and you can't legally store or insure one easily). Renting for a party is typically £60–£120, often delivered and collected.
Events, weddings and celebrations
Summer is peak season for weddings, christenings, milestone birthdays and garden celebrations. The kit to do it properly is far cheaper to rent than to buy.
- PA systems and DJ equipment — speakers, mixers, microphones for speeches
- Lighting — festoon lights, uplighters, disco lighting
- Projectors and screens — for outdoor cinema nights and slideshows
- Tables, chairs and linens — seat a crowd without buying for a one-off
- Photo booths and props — guaranteed crowd-pleaser
Rough saving: hiring event kit individually from traditional rental firms can cost a fortune. Peer-to-peer rental on Rentify is often 40–60% cheaper than commercial hire companies for the same gear.
Home and garden jobs
Summer is when most of us finally tackle the garden, the patio, the decking and the long-overdue DIY. Power tools for these jobs are the textbook case for renting.
- Pressure washers — patios, decking, driveways, fences
- Lawn scarifiers and aerators — get the lawn summer-ready
- Hedge trimmers and strimmers — tame the spring overgrowth
- Sanders and paint sprayers — for fences, sheds and garden furniture
- Wallpaper strippers and tile cutters — for indoor projects on rainy days
Rough saving: a good pressure washer is £100–£250 to buy and then lives in the shed 360 days a year. Renting one for the weekend is typically £15–£25 — and someone else maintains it.
Why renting beats buying for summer gear
It comes down to three things:
- You only pay for the days you use it. A paddleboard you use three times a year costs you a fortune per use if you buy it — and almost nothing if you rent it.
- Zero storage and maintenance. No gazebo in the loft, no deflating paddleboard in the garage, no servicing the pressure washer. You hand it back and you're done.
- You always get the good stuff. Renting lets you use a £600 paddleboard or a proper gas BBQ for the price of a takeaway — far better kit than you'd buy on a budget.
And there's a nice bonus: renting locally keeps money in your community and stops perfectly good gear going to waste in a landfill.
How renting works on Rentify
It takes a couple of minutes to book:
- Search for what you need on Rentify — try "gazebo", "paddleboard", "BBQ" or your town name.
- Pick your dates and send a booking request to the owner.
- Pay securely through the app — your payment is protected, and a refundable deposit covers you both.
- Collect or arrange drop-off, enjoy your summer, and return it. Leave a review to help the next person.
Everything is ID-verified, deposit-protected and paid securely through the platform — no cash, no risk, no awkward Facebook DMs.
Common questions
Is it cheaper to rent or buy summer gear?
For anything you'll use a handful of times a year — paddleboards, gazebos, camping gear, bouncy castles — renting is almost always cheaper once you factor in storage, maintenance and the fact that most summer gear sits unused 350+ days a year.
How far in advance should I book summer items?
For popular seasonal items (paddleboards, gazebos, bouncy castles, camping gear) book 1–2 weeks ahead in peak summer and around bank holidays. Demand spikes when the forecast turns sunny, so the early bookers get the best kit.
What if the weather ruins my plans?
Check each listing's cancellation terms before booking — many owners offer flexible cancellation, especially for weather-dependent gear. Message the owner if you're unsure; most are reasonable about a washout.
Is there a deposit?
Most listings have a refundable deposit set by the owner, held securely by Rentify and returned after the item comes back in good condition. It protects both sides.
Can I get items delivered?
Many owners offer collection and drop-off, particularly for bulky items like bouncy castles, gazebos and BBQs. Look for delivery options on the listing or just ask via the in-app messaging.
What's the most popular thing to rent in summer?
Paddleboards, gazebos, BBQs and bouncy castles are consistently the most-booked summer items on Rentify — so book those early.
Make the most of your summer
You don't need to own everything to have a brilliant UK summer. Rent the good stuff for the days the sun's out, skip the storage and the regret, and keep your money for the things that matter.
Find what you need for summer near you. Browse rentals on Rentify →
Got a garage full of summer gear that's gathering dust? You can list it and earn while someone else enjoys it — see our guide on making money renting out your stuff.
Ionut-Cosmin Lixandru — Burton upon Trent, UK Founder of Rentify. Building a marketplace to help people rent items locally, earn from unused things, and connect with local service providers more easily.