A light tower rents for $75 to $200 a day for a towable diesel unit and $150 to $300 a day for solar. Monthly rates run $800 to $2,500 diesel and $1,200 to $3,000 solar. To buy, a new towable diesel or LED unit costs $8,000 to $25,000, solar runs $21,000 to $29,000, and used towables sell at auction for as little as $500.
That last figure is the important one. Light towers are the clearest case in construction where buying used beats renting.
| Grade / Item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Towable diesel or gas, daily | $75 | $200 | USD/day |
| LED towable, daily | $100 | $250 | USD/day |
| Balloon light, daily | $100 | $300 | USD/day |
| Compact pedestal, daily | $50 | $125 | USD/day |
| Solar, daily | $150 | $300 | USD/day |
| Towable, monthly | $800 | $2,500 | USD/month |
| Solar, monthly | $1,200 | $3,000 | USD/month |
| New towable diesel or LED | $8,000 | $25,000 | USD new |
| New solar | $21,000 | $29,000 | USD new |
| New solar hybrid | $34,250 | $55,000 | USD new |
| Used at auction | $500 | $4,000 | USD used |
| Country | Typical Range | Per Tonne | Cur. |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Baseline rates shown | n/a | USD |
| Canada | About 5 to 15% above US | n/a | CAD |
| United Kingdom | About 0.75 to 0.85x US in GBP | n/a | GBP |
| Germany / EU | Broadly comparable to US in EUR | n/a | EUR |
| Australia | About 20 to 40% above US | n/a | AUD |
| India | About 30 to 50% of US rates | n/a | INR |
| UAE / Dubai | About 60 to 80% of US rates | n/a | AED |
Rental rates by type
| Type | Daily | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Towable diesel or gas | $75 to $200 | $800 to $2,500 |
| LED towable | $100 to $250 | Not well published |
| Balloon light | $100 to $300 | Not well published |
| Compact pedestal | $50 to $125 | Not well published |
| Solar | $150 to $300 | $1,200 to $3,000 |
Weekly rates are a genuine gap in the published data for this category. Solar units are the exception, with one regional supplier quoting $500 to $1,000 a week. For diesel towables, ask the yard directly rather than assuming a weekly equals three dailies.
Delivery and pickup adds $75 to $200. On a $75 day rate, that is more than the machine.
The four types and what each is for
Towable diesel or gas
The workhorse. Four metal halide or LED heads on a hydraulic mast, a diesel generator, and a trailer. Runs 50 to 100 hours on a tank. Loud, and it needs fuel and servicing, but it works anywhere and nobody worries about weather.
LED towable
Same trailer, LED heads instead of metal halide. Draws far less power, so the generator is smaller and fuel burn drops sharply. Instant restrike matters if the unit cycles. Costs slightly more to rent, less to run.
Solar and hybrid
Panels, a battery bank and LED heads. No fuel, no noise, no emissions, and no refuelling visits. That last point is why they win on long jobs in remote or noise-sensitive locations. The catch is weather and season. A solar tower in a northern winter with short days and snow on the panels will run down.
Hybrid units add a small propane or diesel generator that starts only when the batteries drop. They cost the most to buy, at $34,250 to $55,000, but they remove the weather risk.
Balloon lights
An inflated diffuser that emits soft, glare-free light in all directions. Used for road work, film sets and anywhere directional glare is a hazard. Rental runs $100 to $300 a day. No reliable public US purchase price exists for these; suppliers quote direct.
Purchase prices
| Machine | Price |
|---|---|
| New towable diesel or LED, general band | $8,000 to $25,000 |
| New 6 kW LED towable, specific model | $12,555 to $14,062 |
| New solar, entry | $21,000 |
| New solar, mid | $25,500 to $27,200 |
| New solar, large | $29,000 to $33,000 |
| New hybrid, solar and propane | $47,000 |
| New hybrid, solar and diesel | $55,000 |
| Used towable at auction | $500 to $4,000 |
| Used, newer model | $2,500 to $4,000 |
| Used, inoperable | $550 to $700 |
Why buying used usually wins here
Run the arithmetic. A towable diesel light tower rents for $800 to $2,500 a month. A working used unit at auction costs $2,500 to $4,000. That is between one and five months of rental.
Compare that to a telehandler, where used purchase is 24 months of rental, or a boom lift at 15 months. Nothing else in the equipment world pays back that fast.
The reason is mechanical simplicity. A light tower is a generator, a mast, four lamps and a trailer. There is no hydraulic boom to fail, no load chart to exceed, no complex drivetrain. Even the inoperable units at $550 to $700 are often a generator repair away from working.
Rent a light tower for a two week job. Buy one if you will use it for more than about three months across a year.
What to check before buying used
- Generator hours and condition. This is the expensive part. Ask for a load test.
- Mast operation. Raise and lower it fully. Hydraulic masts leak; manual winch masts seize.
- Lamp type. Metal halide bulbs cost money and take minutes to restrike. LED conversions exist and are worth paying for.
- Trailer and tires. A tower you cannot legally tow is not a bargain.
- Fuel tank integrity. Old tanks rust from the inside.
Sizing the job
- A standard four-head tower lights roughly 5 to 7 acres at usable working levels, less if you need detail work.
- Mast height matters more than lamp wattage for coverage area. A 30 ft mast spreads light much further than a 20 ft one.
- Check local noise ordinances before choosing diesel for overnight work in a residential area. This is what pushes crews to solar.
- For roadwork, ask about glare compliance. Some jurisdictions require balloon or shielded lighting.
Rates move with fuel and regional demand. Figures here are dated August 2026. Confirm before you book or bid.