If you’ve just left urgent care with a boot, a set of crutches, and strict instructions to stay off your foot for the next few weeks, you’re probably already dreading the logistics. Crutches are exhausting, and most people only need real help getting around for 3-4 weeks, which is exactly why a knee scooter tends to come up next.
Before you commit to one, though, you’re likely wondering how much to rent a knee scooter, and whether renting actually beats just buying one outright.
The honest answer: how much is it to rent a knee scooter depends heavily on where you rent from, and the price gap between providers is bigger than most people expect.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Knee Scooter? A Quick Breakdown
There are really only three ways to get your hands on one: a local medical supply store, a national online rental company, or a local rental service built specifically for this, like Knee Scooter USA. Each prices very differently.
Local Medical Supply Stores
Typically charge around $25 a week, plus a $100 refundable deposit. For an average 4-6 week recovery, that puts you at roughly $200-250 before you’ve even used it much.
Local stores are the obvious first call after an injury, and for good reason: you can usually see the equipment in person. The catch is accessibility.
Most operate Monday-Friday, 9-5, so if your injury happens on a Friday night or you need a scooter for the weekend, you may be stuck waiting. If you live in a smaller community, you might not have a local option at all.
National Online Rental Companies
Land in a similar range: about $25 a week with a 4-week minimum. The cost itself looks comparable to local stores, but you’re also paying in time: 4-7 days of shipping before it even arrives, then the hassle of repackaging and returning it after.
National rental companies solve the “no local option” problem, but they trade it for a different one: time. Between order processing and shipping, you could be on crutches for the better part of a week before your scooter even shows up, which is exactly when you need it most.
Knee Scooter USA
Starts at $14.75 a week for a standard model or $19.75 a week for an all-terrain model, no deposit, no due dates, and it auto-renews weekly so you only pay for the time you actually need it.
PRO TIP: The highest hidden cost usually isn’t the weekly rate; it’s the deposit, the shipping wait, or the return hassle. Compare the total cost, not just the number on the price tag.
Knee Scooter USA was built to close that gap. Rentals start at $14.75/week (standard) or $19.75/week (all-terrain), with no deposit and no hidden fees. Locations are open 8am-8pm, 365 days a year, across 12 cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Texas.
Because it’s a local pickup model rather than a shipped one, most customers are on their scooter within about 5 minutes of booking online, no appointment required.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Knee Walker?
If you’ve been searching and seeing the term “knee walker” instead of “knee scooter,” don’t overthink it; they’re the same device.
“Knee walker” is just the more clinical name you’ll sometimes see used by medical supply companies and insurers.
So the cost is identical. The pricing, weekly rates, and rental terms don’t change based on which name a provider uses: you’re renting the exact same type of scooter either way.
If you’re not sure what actually distinguishes a knee scooter from a walker or crutches in the first place, our guide on what a knee scooter is breaks down how it works.
Why Buying Almost Never Saves You Money?
It’s tempting to just buy one on Amazon and be done with it, especially if you want it same-day. But run the actual numbers first.
A purchased scooter still takes 2-3 days to ship, and you’ll be assembling it yourself, while injured. We’ve broken down whether that trade-off is worth it in Should I Really Buy a Knee Scooter On Amazon?
Then there’s resale. Most people only need a knee scooter once or twice in their life, so reselling afterward is the only way to recoup any of that cost, and it rarely works out. Resale prices typically land under 50% of the original purchase price, and Facebook Marketplace, once a common place to list them, now prohibits medical equipment listings entirely. That “one-time purchase” quietly becomes a permanent loss sitting in your closet.
If you’re still weighing it out, our Rent vs Buy Knee Scooter Calculator does the math for your specific recovery timeline.
Does Insurance Cover the Cost to Rent a Knee Scooter?
Sometimes, partially. Medicare Part B and many private insurers classify knee scooters as durable medical equipment (DME), which can be reimbursed, but typically requires a written prescription and a face-to-face exam with your provider first.
Even with coverage, you’re usually still responsible for 20% coinsurance after your deductible.
Knee Scooter USA provides an itemized rental receipt with the correct billing code so you can submit it for reimbursement on your own.
Renting Still Wins: Here's How to Lock In the Lowest Rate
For the average 3-4 week recovery, renting beats buying almost every time once you factor in shipping delays, deposits, assembly, and resale loss.
The exception is if you already know you’ll need one again down the road, or you’d rather own equipment outright regardless of cost: that’s a reasonable call too, just not the one most people end up needing.
If renting is the right move for you, Knee Scooter USA keeps the knee scooter rental cost lower than local stores and national shippers, with no deposit and same-day pickup. Find your closest location and see exactly what pickup looks like near you.
