How Much Does a Portable Classroom Rental Cost?
Portable classroom rental cost ranges involve several factors, including whether the building is new or used, its size, and any customizations you’ve included.
Portable classrooms are a cost-effective option for space shortages and enrollment fluctuations for any type of school. They provide all the benefits and accommodations of traditional school buildings.
Rental costs can vary depending on several factors. The easiest way to get clear, hard quotes is to connect with the Nadler Modular team.
However, these are the price ranges you can generally expect.
The Basic Range: How Much It Costs to Rent a Portable Classroom
Multiple factors go into your portable classroom’s rental costs. The typical range for a single-classroom building starts between $600–$1,000, with variables including:
- Classroom size
- Building age
- Location
- Lease length
- Customizations
- Add-on services and furniture rentals
Let’s take a look at each of these factors.
Renting vs. Purchasing
Finding a portable classroom for lease can be more cost-effective if you need a relatively short-term temporary space—for example, if your main campus building is undergoing renovations or construction through the course of a school year.
On the other hand, if you need a long-term or permanent expansion for your campus, it may be better to buy a portable classroom and use it as an addition. Doing so can be more cost-effective, especially if you have growing enrollment numbers you’ll need to accommodate over several years. Typically, this costs a flat rate of at least $10,000 for new classroom buildings.
Lease Length Factors
Just like with permanent real estate, price volatility is very much a factor in mobile classroom rental costs. Having a lease with a fixed length and rental terms can help offset price volatility, especially if your school is in a high-demand area.
Longer-term leases also come with more opportunities for customization and multipurpose use, should you need a flexible administrative, meeting, or other organizational space.
Classroom Size
Explain the different size options for classrooms and how they cost more when they’re larger. Use bullet points.
Arguably, the biggest factor affecting your portable classroom’s cost is the size. Larger classrooms are going to be more expensive than smaller ones, both for the lease itself and in terms of operating costs. There are multiple size options available through Nadler Modular, including:
Although they’re more expensive, larger portable classrooms have more functional space than their smaller counterparts, as they can be used to create a combined classroom with a computer lab, administrative office, and more.
Setup Cost Considerations
Delivery
Most mobile classroom companies charge by the mile for delivery, with $15 per mile being the minimal rate for delivering these oversized loads. As a rule of thumb, the further your school site is from where they house their fleet, the higher you can expect your delivery costs to be.
Some providers also charge more for deliveries in certain parts of the East Coast or bigger cities. This is due to the challenges associated with navigating heavy traffic and urban streets.
Installation
Installation costs typically start at $1,000, but they can quickly increase if you have a larger classroom you need to install or a more complex situation.
For example, the costs for a standard block, level, and tie-down installation can increase if you’re installing a multi-classroom complex compared to a single temporary classroom. If you already have a suitable concrete pad on your campus, you may not have to pay for additional leveling.
You may also have to pay fees to obtain the necessary permits to prepare and construct the new site.
The cost of installing utility hookups can also vary depending on local regulations. These are the utilities your portable classroom will need at a minimum:
- Electricity
- Plumbing
- HVAC
- Internet
If you need to move your building to other locations in your district, all of these costs will come into play once again.
Accessibility & Customizations
To keep your school accessible for all students, you’ll need to include ADA- and OSHA-compliant ramps or steps. However, working with a third-party vendor can make these rentals unnecessarily expensive and add yet another set of invoices you need to regularly track.
NadlerPlus™ makes that process easier and more affordable by consolidating any ramps, canopies, WiFi services, or security features into your leasing agreements for one easy invoice.
Other Price Factors to Know
New vs. Used
Like with cars, new portable classrooms tend to be more expensive than those that have been previously used. The age of the building and any wear or tear it’s sustained throughout its use can also affect the price, with older buildings generally costing less per month than newer ones.
All of Nadler Modular’s classroom buildings are in good working condition—even if some have been used more than others. If you’re trying to get more value on a limited budget, a used school building gives your students the space they need.
Get an Exact Estimate for Your Classroom
Nadler Modular has more than 45 years of experience in supplying schools with the classrooms they need, from preschool to college. We offer transparent monthly billing on the first of the month, rather than the 28-day cycle some companies use.
You’ll also work with a single point of contact throughout your lease, from the initial sales process to delivery and installation.
Ready to get the most accurate estimate possible for your portable classroom? Request a quote today to discuss what you need and get started with us.