How much does ski hire cost
Ski hire is one of the smaller lines on a trip and one of the easiest to overpay. In the Alps a standard adult set of skis, boots and poles costs roughly $20 to $40 a day, or about $100 to $250 for a week. In North America expect roughly $40 to $70 a day. Book online in advance and you typically save 10 to 40 percent over the resort counter.
The short answer: budget around $100 to $250 per adult per week for standard gear in the Alps, less for children, more for premium and demo skis or for North America. The single biggest saving is to pre book online rather than rent at the resort window. Last reviewed May 2026.
What you are actually renting
A standard ski hire package is three things: skis with bindings, boots, and poles. Shops price it in tiers, and the tier matters more than the resort.
Standard or sport. Forgiving all mountain skis that suit beginners and most intermediates. This is the right and cheapest choice for the majority of holiday skiers, at roughly $20 to $40 a day in the Alps.
Premium or performance. Newer, higher specification skis for confident intermediates and experts who want more out of good snow. Expect roughly $40 to $60 a day in the Alps, and meaningfully more in North America.
Demo and freeride. Top end and specialist skis, including wide powder skis, for strong skiers and powder weeks. These sit at the top of the range and are worth it only if your ability and the conditions justify them.
Boots are included in a package but can also be hired alone, which is useful if you own skis. Helmets are usually a small extra of a few dollars a day and are strongly recommended for everyone. Snowboard hire costs broadly the same as a ski package, tier for tier. You can pre book any of these through our ski hire partner.
Day and week prices, Europe and North America
Here is a realistic picture for 2026 in US dollars. Treat these as planning ranges, not quotes, since prices vary by resort and season.
| Package | The Alps, per day | The Alps, per week | North America, per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard adult | Around $20 to $40 | Around $100 to $250 | Around $40 to $70 |
| Premium adult | Around $40 to $60 | Around $230 to $350 | Around $60 to $100 |
| Child | Around $10 to $20 | Under $100 | Around $25 to $40 |
| Boots only | Around $10 to $18 | Around $60 to $110 | Around $20 to $35 |
Two patterns hold everywhere. A week is always cheaper per day than separate single days, and North America runs higher than the Alps for the same gear, mirroring the gap you see in lift pass prices. For a family, children's hire is the place the bill stays small.
How to pay less without skiing worse
Book online in advance. This is the big one. Pre booking through a hire partner is routinely 10 to 40 percent cheaper than the resort window, locks in your sizes and skips the first morning queue. Reserve before you travel.
Match the tier to your ability. Most holiday skiers ski better on forgiving standard skis than on stiff performance ones. Do not pay for demo skis you cannot push. Save the premium tier for strong intermediates and experts.
Use family and group rates. Many shops discount the third or fourth set, give free hire to very young children, or bundle a family at a flat rate. Always ask before booking each person separately.
Rent in resort, not at the airport. Airport and city hire adds cost and the faff of carrying gear. Collect in the resort, ideally the afternoon you arrive so you are ready for first lifts.
Bring your own boots if you ski often. Boots are the one item where fit transforms your skiing, and they pack easily. If you ski more than a week or two a year, owning boots and renting only skis is the smart split.
Rent or buy? A quick rule
Add up the days you ski in a typical year. If it is under about two to three weeks total, keep renting: buying a ski, boot and binding setup costs from several hundred to well over a thousand dollars, plus servicing and the hassle of travelling with skis. If you ski more than that, buy boots first for the fit, then skis once you know your style. Ski hire is a modest part of the overall trip, so put your planning energy into the bigger lines first. See our breakdown of what a ski holiday costs in 2026, our budget ski holiday guide, the first ski holiday guide and the ski holiday packing list so nothing is forgotten. For the cheapest destinations overall, see our best value resorts in Europe.
If you would rather have specialists handle hire alongside lodging, transfers and lessons as one booking, tell us your dates and budget and we will route your brief to the right operators.
Plan My Ski Trip
Tell us your dates, your group and your target budget and we will route your brief to operators who will price the hire, lodging and transfers as one trip.
Questions worth asking
How much does ski hire cost per day?
In the Alps, a standard adult package of skis, boots and poles runs roughly $20 to $40 a day, with premium and demo skis at $40 to $60. In North America, expect roughly $40 to $70 a day for a standard package and more for performance gear. A week is always cheaper per day than separate single days.
How much is ski hire for a week?
A week of standard adult equipment in the Alps usually lands around $100 to $250, depending on the resort and the tier of ski. Premium and demo packages cost more, and children's sets are far cheaper, often half the adult price or less. Booking online in advance typically saves 10 to 40 percent over the resort counter.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy ski equipment?
Renting wins until you ski more than roughly two to three weeks total. A decent ski, boot and binding setup costs several hundred to over a thousand dollars to buy, plus servicing and travel hassle, so renting is the sensible choice for occasional skiers. Buy boots first if you ski regularly, since fit matters most and they travel easily.
Should I rent skis in advance or at the resort?
Book in advance online. Pre booking through a hire partner is usually 10 to 40 percent cheaper than walking up to the counter, locks in your size and avoids queues on the first morning. The resort window is the most expensive way to rent.
How much does children's ski hire cost?
Children's packages are much cheaper than adult ones, commonly around $10 to $20 a day or under $100 for a week in the Alps. Many shops offer free or discounted hire for very young children, and family bundles can cut the total further. Always ask about a family rate before booking individually.
Does ski hire include a helmet?
Not always. A standard package is skis, boots and poles, with a helmet usually a small add on of a few dollars a day. Helmets are strongly recommended for everyone and required for children at many ski schools, so factor this into the price.