How to Rent a CPAP Machine: Cost, Process, and Best Options
Last updated August 2026
Quick Answer
Most people rent a CPAP machine one of two ways: through insurance via a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier on a rental-to-own plan (roughly $50 to $150 a month for 10 to 13 months), or direct-pay from an online CPAP rental company for a flat weekly or monthly fee, no prescription required for short-term use. Insurance rental-to-own is cheapest if you will use the machine long-term; direct-pay rental wins for travel, surgery recovery, or trying therapy before you buy.
Why Rent Instead of Buy
A new CPAP machine runs $500 to $1,000 or more, and most insurance plans will not simply hand you one. Renting solves a handful of very different problems, and the right path depends on which one you actually have:
- You were just diagnosed and need a machine while your insurance authorization and prescription paperwork catch up with your sleep study results.
- You are traveling and do not want to check your primary machine, or you are staying somewhere for weeks at a time.
- You are recovering from surgery and a doctor wants you on positive airway pressure temporarily, not for life.
- Your own machine broke and you need a loaner while it is repaired or replaced under warranty.
- You want to try therapy before committing to a purchase, especially if you are unsure whether CPAP, APAP, or BiPAP is the right fit. Our CPAP vs APAP vs BiPAP comparison is worth reading before you decide what to rent.
Ways to Rent a CPAP Machine
| Option | Typical Cost | Prescription Needed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance rental-to-own (DME supplier) | $50-$150/month, 10-13 months, then you own it | Yes | Long-term, newly diagnosed users |
| Direct-pay online rental company | $30-$70/week or $90-$200/month | Usually no for short rentals | Travel, trial runs, short-term need |
| Hospital or sleep lab loaner | Often free or a small deposit | Yes | Bridging the gap after a sleep study |
| Local DME showroom rental | $40-$100/month | Yes | Face-to-face fitting and mask trials |
How to Rent a CPAP Machine: Step by Step
- Get a prescription. Every insurance-based rental requires a valid CPAP prescription tied to a diagnostic or home sleep study. Direct-pay rental companies are more flexible and some will rent short-term without one, but always confirm before you order.
- Decide insurance or direct-pay. Call your insurance company or check your benefits portal for durable medical equipment coverage. If you have a deductible you have not met, or you only need a machine for a few weeks, direct-pay is often faster and cheaper.
- Choose a supplier. For insurance rentals, your sleep clinic will typically hand you a list of in-network DME suppliers, or you can search your insurer’s provider directory. For direct-pay, look at established CPAP rental companies that specialize in short-term and travel rentals; read reviews and confirm what happens if the unit breaks in transit.
- Pick your equipment. You will usually choose between a standard CPAP, an auto-adjusting APAP, or a BiPAP, plus a mask style. If you are new to this, start with our beginner CPAP buying guide to understand the differences before you commit to a rental tier.
- Confirm what is included. A rental should include the machine, a heated humidifier chamber, one mask, tubing, and a filter set. Ask specifically whether replacement filters and mask cushions are included or billed separately during the rental period.
- Set a return or conversion date. Insurance rentals typically convert to ownership automatically once you hit the required number of paid months, as long as your compliance data shows regular use. Direct-pay rentals need to be shipped back by a specific date or you get billed for an extension.
Where People Actually Rent CPAP Machines
Through insurance, via a DME supplier. This is the most common path for anyone newly diagnosed with sleep apnea. Your sleep clinic or doctor issues a prescription, an in-network DME supplier bills your insurance monthly, and after roughly 10 to 13 months of continuous, compliant use, you own the machine outright. The catch: your usage data is transmitted to the supplier and your insurer during that period, and missing too many nights can reset or extend the rental clock.
Direct-pay online rental companies. Several national CPAP suppliers offer weekly or monthly rentals with no long-term commitment, shipped directly to your home or a hotel. This is the practical option for a two-week trip, a post-surgical recovery window, or simply trying CPAP therapy before buying a machine you might not tolerate. Expect a refundable deposit or a credit card hold in addition to the rental fee.
Hospital or sleep lab loaner programs. Some sleep labs keep a small stock of loaner machines to bridge the gap between your diagnostic study and your insurance paperwork clearing. Availability varies widely by clinic, and these are meant to be short-term, not a long-term substitute.
Local DME storefronts. If you would rather try on masks in person before renting, a brick-and-mortar durable medical equipment store can fit you for a mask and hand you a rental unit the same day, though selection is usually narrower than online.
How Much Does Renting a CPAP Machine Cost
For an insurance rental-to-own plan, expect your monthly payment to land somewhere between $50 and $150, depending on your plan’s coinsurance and whether you have met your deductible. Multiply that by the required rental period, typically 10 to 13 months, and you will often land close to the retail price of the machine anyway, the tradeoff being that the cost is spread out and partly insurance-subsidized.
Direct-pay short-term rentals run differently: figure $30 to $70 per week, or $90 to $200 for a full month, depending on the machine model and whether a heated humidifier is included. Auto-adjusting APAP and BiPAP units generally rent for more than a basic fixed-pressure CPAP. Add shipping both directions if you are renting for travel, and factor in a security deposit that gets refunded once the unit is returned undamaged.
One frequently missed cost: replacement supplies. Rentals rarely include unlimited mask cushions or filters, so budget separately if your rental runs longer than a few weeks.
Renting for Travel or Short-Term Use
If you only need a machine for a trip, a rental almost always beats buying a dedicated travel CPAP outright. Look specifically for suppliers that offer compact, lightweight units built for portability, confirm the machine is dual-voltage if you are flying internationally, and ask whether a travel case and a car power adapter are included. Airlines classify CPAP machines as medical equipment, so they do not count against your carry-on limit, but you should still call ahead if you plan to use it in-flight with battery power.
For recovery from surgery, ask your surgeon or sleep specialist how long they expect you to need positive airway pressure. Many post-operative rentals run four to eight weeks, which almost always makes direct-pay rental cheaper than starting an insurance rental-to-own clock you will cancel early.
Renting vs Buying: Which Makes More Sense
Renting makes sense when your need is temporary, you are still deciding whether CPAP therapy is right for you, or your insurance authorization has not cleared yet. Buying outright makes more sense once you know you will be on therapy indefinitely and you have a supplier relationship you trust, since a rental-to-own plan can end up costing more in the long run than paying cash for a well-reviewed unit like the ResMed AirSense 11.
Ready to stop renting and buy your own? The ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet is the machine most sleep clinics rent out first, and it is widely considered the most reliable auto-adjusting CPAP on the market today.
If you decide to buy rather than continue renting, our CPAP buying guide walks through pressure settings, humidifier options, and mask compatibility in more depth.
What a CPAP Rental Should Include
A fair rental agreement should specify, in writing, exactly what you are getting:
- The machine itself, with a stated model name, not just “a CPAP machine”
- A heated humidifier chamber, since dry-air therapy is uncomfortable for most people
- One mask, fitted to your face shape and how you breathe (nasal, nasal pillow, or full face)
- Standard tubing, and whether heated tubing is an upgrade
- A starter filter, plus clarity on whether replacements are included
If any of these is missing from the quote, ask before you sign. A rental that skips the humidifier or ships a mask that does not fit your face is a common source of early dropout from therapy.
Common Rental Problems to Avoid
- Assuming rental-to-own is automatically the cheapest path. Run the math: monthly payment times required months can exceed the machine’s retail price. If you have the cash and no deductible pressure, buying outright and skipping the rental clock can save money.
- Not tracking your compliance data. Insurance rental-to-own plans usually require a minimum number of hours of nightly use to keep the plan active. Falling short can reset your rental period or trigger a compliance letter from your insurer.
- Skipping the fine print on damage and loss. Direct-pay rentals often hold a deposit against damage; ask exactly what counts as normal wear versus billable damage before you travel with a rented unit.
- Renting the wrong pressure type. If your sleep study calls for BiPAP and you rent a standard CPAP because it is cheaper, therapy will not work as intended. Confirm your prescription matches what you are renting.
- Forgetting to clean it. A rented machine needs the same maintenance as one you own. See our guide on how to clean a CPAP machine so you return it, or eventually own it, in good condition.
Whichever path you rent through, keep a spare mask cushion and hose on hand; a CPAP hose or a full face mask kit is inexpensive insurance against a single failed part derailing a trip or a recovery window. A basic CPAP cleaning kit also makes it far easier to return a rental in the condition suppliers expect.
If sleep apnea itself is new territory for you, our overview of understanding sleep apnea is a good starting point before you decide how long you actually need a rental for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you rent a CPAP machine without insurance?
Yes. Direct-pay online CPAP rental companies do not require insurance, though many still ask for a valid prescription for anything beyond a very short trial period. Expect to pay a weekly or monthly fee plus a refundable deposit.
How long can you rent a CPAP machine for?
It depends on the path. Insurance rental-to-own plans typically run 10 to 13 months before you own the machine outright. Direct-pay rentals are far more flexible, ranging from a few days for a trip to several months for extended travel or recovery.
Does insurance always cover CPAP rental?
Most major insurance plans and Medicare cover CPAP rental-to-own with a valid prescription and documented sleep study, but coverage details, required compliance hours, and your monthly cost share vary by plan. Always confirm the specifics with your insurer before committing.
What happens if a rented CPAP machine breaks?
Reputable suppliers will replace a malfunctioning rental at no extra cost, since the equipment remains their property until any rental-to-own period ends. Contact your supplier immediately rather than attempting repairs yourself, and keep any packaging in case a replacement needs to be shipped.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy a CPAP machine?
For short-term needs under a few months, renting is almost always cheaper than buying. For ongoing, indefinite use, running the total cost of a rental-to-own plan against the retail price of a machine like the Philips DreamStation 2 often shows that buying outright, if you can afford it up front, saves money over a year or more of rental payments.