United Rentals
- Company typePublic
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersStamford, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What United Rentals does
United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI) is the world's largest equipment rental company, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. The company provides a broad portfolio of construction and industrial equipment — including aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, material handling, power generation, and specialty solutions such as Power & HVAC, Trench Safety, Fluid Solutions, and Climate Solutions — across more than 1,600 branches in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It serves construction and industrial contractors as its primary customer base, alongside energy and utility, data center, government, oil and gas, events, and restoration customers.
The business operates a platform-plus-services model. The core rental business is usage-based, with daily, weekly, and monthly (28-day) rates quoted by ZIP code through the website, mobile app, and field sales. Underlying this is a digital platform stack: the Total Control customer dashboard for fleet, invoice, and account management; the Wedge IoT remote-monitoring solution; telematics integrated into Procore's Resource Management; and the AI-powered Equipment Agent, which provides conversational equipment recommendations and is deployed across the website, AWS Bedrock, and ChatGPT. Specialty solutions, training through United Academy, used equipment sales, and an AI Predictive Maintenance Platform complete the offering.
United Rentals makes money primarily through equipment rental revenue, supplemented by used equipment sales (e.g., $850M in Q4 2024), specialty solutions, training, and professional services. The company grew materially through M&A, most recently acquiring H&E Equipment Services for $4.8 billion in January 2025 and Yak Access for $1.1 billion in 2024. Q1 2026 revenue of $3.985 billion (up 7% YoY) and FY2026 revenue guidance of $16.9-$17.4 billion position the company as a profitable, asset-heavy industrial with a market capitalization of approximately $62 billion and a Q1 2026 adjusted EBITDA margin of 44.1%.
United Rentals firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- United Rentals
- Legal name
- United Rentals, Inc.
- Website
- https://unitedrentals.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
United Rentals industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Equipment Rental Services
- NAICS
- Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241), Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412), Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (5324), Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53249), Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321)
- SIC
- Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF), Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Site Services & Temporary Infrastructure Rental/Leasing (Portable Toilets, Fencing, Storage Containers) (TLABAFAH), Surface Preparation & Compaction Equipment Rental/Leasing (Compactors, Rollers, Grinders) (TLABAFAJ), Industrial Cleaning & Environmental Equipment Rental/Leasing (Vacuum Trucks, Dust Control, Dehumidifiers) (TLABAFAK), Roadbuilding & Paving Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAB)
Keywords
Where United Rentals is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stamford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
United Rentals business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental Revenue: Core rental business providing construction and industrial equipment on daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Rental revenue represents the dominant revenue stream with rates varying by equipment type, duration, and location. Fleet productivity metrics track utilization rates and pricing optimization.
- Used Equipment Sales: Sale of used rental equipment through the company's sales platform. United Rentals generates record used equipment sales, including $850 million in Q4 2024. Provides secondary revenue stream from fleet rotation and equipment disposition.
- Professional Services (United Academy): Training and certification services through United Academy, including equipment operator training, safety certifications, and professional development courses for construction and industrial applications.
- Specialty Solutions Services: Specialty rental and service offerings including Power & HVAC, Fluid Solutions, Trench Safety, Climate Solutions, Flooring & Facility Solutions, and Emergency Response services for specialized project needs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Variable rental rates based on equipment type and duration |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
United Rentals product offering
Product offeringCore offering
United Rentals rents construction and industrial equipment including aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, forklifts and material handling gear, power generation, and specialty solutions (Power & HVAC, Trench Safety, Fluid Solutions, Reliable Onsite Services, Climate Solutions, Flooring & Facility Solutions, Emergency Response) on daily, weekly, and monthly terms through 1,600+ owned locations. The offering is supplemented by used equipment sales, digital fleet management (Total Control platform and mobile app), AI-powered equipment selection (Equipment Agent), IoT remote monitoring (Wedge), and professional operator training (United Academy).
Product overview
United Rentals operates as the world's largest equipment rental company offering a platform-plus-services model. The core rental business is supported by digital platforms including Total Control (fleet management dashboard), the United Rentals Mobile App, and AI-powered tools (Equipment Agent, Manual Assist AI, Wedge monitoring). Specialty Solutions include Power & HVAC, Trench Safety, Fluid Solutions, Reliable Onsite Services, and Emergency Response, while industry-specific solutions target Data Centers, Energy & Utility, Civil Infrastructure, and other sectors. The company also provides training through United Academy and integrates with construction management platforms like Procore. The portfolio spans over 30 equipment categories from aerial work platforms and earthmoving equipment to power generation and material handling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Total Control: Digital platform and mobile app for managing equipment rentals, invoices, and payments
- United Academy
- Equipment Agent
- Wedge
- United Guard
- Worksite Performance Solutions
Products and services
- Construction Equipment Rental Rental of construction and industrial equipment including aerial work platforms (scissor lifts, boom lifts), earthmoving equipment (excavators, skid steers), forklifts and telehandlers, power generation, lighting, trucks, and trailers on daily, weekly, and monthly terms. Customers include general construction contractors, specialty trade contractors, and industrial maintenance firms.
- Used Equipment Sales Sale of used rental equipment including forklifts, scissor lifts, boom lifts, mini excavators, and compressors through the company's sales platform. Customers include contractors and equipment buyers seeking used machines.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% improvement in customers finding the right equipment through AI-powered Equipment Agent
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use United Rentals
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
United Rentals technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
United Rentals partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.
- WPP Enterprise SolutionsnotableWPP Enterprise Solutions signed a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to operationalize agentic AI for enterprise brands. United Rentals serves as a proof point, having deployed Equipment Agent—an AI-powered equipment recommendation solution—with WPP Enterprise Solutions on AWS resulting in approximately 70% improvement in helping customers find the right equipment.
- ChatGPT (OpenAI)coreUnited Rentals expanded its AI-powered Equipment Agent tool to the ChatGPT platform, making it the first-ever equipment rental recommendation engine available on the platform. The tool guides operators on project requirements and equipment recommendations through a chat interface.
- SnowflakecoreUnited Rentals is an enterprise customer actively using Snowflake Intelligence and Cortex Code AI tools across more than 1,600 branches for real-time decision support. The company is deploying natural-language BI agents across operations, with over 9,100 customers using Snowflake AI products weekly.
- Richard Childress RacingnotableUnited Rentals sponsors select NASCAR Cup Series races featuring Richard Childress Racing's driver Austin Hill in 2026. This marks United Rentals' fifth year of collaboration with RCR and ninth year with Hill, providing brand visibility through motorsports sponsorship.
- Procore TechnologiescoreStrategic partnership integrating United Rentals' telematics data directly into Procore's Resource Management solution, enabling construction customers to view owned and rented equipment together in a single platform. The integration provides unified visibility across jobsites and is designed to strengthen customer relationships while differentiating United Rentals from competitors.
- JCB (J.C. Bamford Excavators)notableJCB expanded its partnership with United Rentals for fleet deployment, with United Rentals being one of the key rental partners alongside Sunbelt Rentals. JCB launched its $500 million San Antonio, Texas manufacturing facility in early 2025 targeting North American market leadership.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
United Rentals competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Caterpillar (CAT Rental Store network): Caterpillar operates a global dealer-led rental network (CAT Rental Store) for its own heavy construction and earthmoving equipment, alongside manufacturing. While broader as a global OEM, it overlaps with URI on rental of excavators, loaders, and similar heavy machinery through independent dealer locations.
- John Deere (Deere & Company): John Deere is a major OEM with construction and forestry equipment rental exposure through its dealer network. Comparable as a heavy equipment source and indirect rental competitor, though Deere's primary business is manufacturing rather than fleet rental at scale like URI.
- Cleveland-Cliffs: While primarily a steel producer, Cleveland-Cliffs is included as a broader industrials incumbent that competes for industrial customer spend and capital allocation — relevant for benchmarking capital intensity and end-market exposure within URI's industrial customer base.
Others
- Procore Technologies: Procore is a strategic technology partner rather than a direct competitor — its construction management platform integrates URI's telematics data to give customers unified visibility across owned and rented equipment. Included as an enabling technology partner whose adoption can amplify URI's digital differentiation.
Regional players
- Algeco (Modulaire Group): Algeco is Europe's largest modular space and portable building rental provider. While geographically focused on Europe (where URI has limited footprint), it overlaps with URI's Storage Containers & Mobile Offices and Reliable Onsite Services offerings in the temporary site infrastructure category.
Direct peers
- Sunbelt Rentals (Ashtead Group): Sunbelt Rentals is the #2 equipment rental company in North America and the largest direct competitor to United Rentals. Operated by UK-listed Ashtead Group, Sunbelt offers a similar broad-based construction and industrial equipment rental fleet across thousands of locations and is explicitly cited in URI's competitive landscape.
- Herc Holdings: Herc Rentals is a North American full-line equipment rental company competing directly with URI across aerial, earthmoving, material handling, and industrial fleet categories. It serves the same construction, industrial, and infrastructure customer base with comparable fleet and digital capabilities.
- Aggreko: Aggreko is a global leader in temporary power generation, HVAC, and industrial rental solutions — directly comparable to URI's Power & HVAC and Climate Solutions specialty businesses. Serves the same data center, energy, and large-project customers with turnkey temporary utility offerings.
- BrandSafway: BrandSafway is a specialty rental and services provider for scaffolding, shoring, and industrial access — directly comparable to URI's Trench Safety and specialty solutions. Serves similar non-residential construction and industrial maintenance customers with project-based equipment and services.
- WillScot: WillScot is the North American leader in mobile office and modular space rentals, adjacent to URI's Storage Containers & Mobile Offices and Reliable Onsite Services offerings. Both serve construction, commercial, and industrial customers with temporary site infrastructure solutions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
United Rentals social profiles
Digital presenceUnited Rentals financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
United Rentals leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
United Rentals subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
United Rentals funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
United Rentals M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A19 records
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about United Rentals
What does United Rentals do?
United Rentals rents construction and industrial equipment including aerial work platforms, earthmoving equipment, forklifts and material handling gear, power generation, and specialty solutions (Power & HVAC, Trench Safety, Fluid Solutions, Reliable Onsite Services, Climate Solutions, Flooring & Facility Solutions, Emergency Response) on daily, weekly, and monthly terms through 1,600+ owned locations. The offering is supplemented by used equipment sales, digital fleet management (Total Control platform and mobile app), AI-powered equipment selection (Equipment Agent), IoT remote monitoring (Wedge), and professional operator training (United Academy).
Is United Rentals a public or private company?
United Rentals is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was United Rentals founded?
United Rentals was founded in 1997. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is United Rentals based?
United Rentals is headquartered in Stamford, United States, in the North America region.
How does United Rentals make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental Revenue is the primary driver. The others are used Equipment Sales, professional Services (United Academy) and specialty Solutions Services.
Who are United Rentals's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Caterpillar (CAT Rental Store network), John Deere (Deere & Company) and Cleveland-Cliffs. Procore Technologies is listed as an others. Algeco (Modulaire Group) is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Sunbelt Rentals (Ashtead Group), Herc Holdings, Aggreko, BrandSafway and WillScot.
Does United Rentals have an API?
No public API is recorded for United Rentals.
What industry is United Rentals in?
United Rentals's product category is Construction Equipment Rental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLABAFAA, Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing, with a secondary code of TLABAFAF, Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks). Its NAICS code is 53241 and its SIC code is 7359.