Equipment rental without operator, technician, or support staff – production provides their own personnel to operate rented gear, typically at lower cost than wet hire but requiring in-house expertise for setup and operation.
What is Dry Hire?
Dry Hire means the rental of equipment without accompanying personnel. The production only receives the gear and is responsible for its operation, setup, and return.
Dry Hire vs. Wet Hire
| Aspect | Dry Hire | Wet Hire |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | None | Operator/Technician |
| Cost | Cheaper | More Expensive |
| Expertise | Own required | Included |
| Responsibility | Production | Shared |
Typical Dry Hire Categories
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Camera | Bodies, Lenses |
| Lighting | HMI, LED, Tungsten |
| Grip | Dollies, Cranes |
| Sound | Recorders, Microphones |
| Specialty | Drones, Steadicam |
Advantages
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Cost Savings | No operator fees |
| Flexibility | Own team |
| Control | Full responsibility |
| Familiarity | Known team |
Disadvantages
| Disadvantage | Risk |
|---|---|
| Expertise Required | Incorrect operation |
| No Support | Problem-solving alone |
| Damage | Full liability |
| Setup Time | Own familiarization |
When to Choose Dry Hire?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Experienced Team | Yes |
| Standard Equipment | Yes |
| Limited Budget | Yes |
| Specialty Equipment | Rather Wet Hire |
| Complex Systems | Rather Wet Hire |
Contractual Aspects
| Element | Important |
|---|---|
| Insurance | Mandatory |
| Deposit | Often required |
| Liability | Clearly define |
| Return Condition | Document |
Insurance
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Production Insurance | Check coverage |
| Equipment Floater | Specific |
| Deductible | Excess |
| Deposit | Alternative |
Pickup and Return
| Phase | Practice |
|---|---|
| Pickup | Document condition |
| Check | Verify completeness |
| Return | Clean, complete |
| Protocol | Sign |
Typical Dry Hire Prices (Examples)
| Equipment | Daily Rate (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Camera Body | 200–600 € |
| Lens Set | 150–500 € |
| HMI 1.2k | 50–100 € |
| LED Panel | 30–80 € |
| Dolly | 100–300 € |
Rental Houses (Germany)
| Provider | Specialization |
|---|---|
| ARRI Rental | Premium |
| Pille Filmgeräte | Full range |
| Camera Rental Service | Camera |
| Maier Bros. | Grip |
| MBF | Lighting |
Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| Book early | Availability |
| Test beforehand | No surprises |
| Documentation | Protection upon return |
| Backup | Have a Plan B |
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| No insurance | Full liability |
| Missing checks | Overlooking pre-existing damage |
| Incorrect booking | Wrong equipment |
| No time | Stress during return |
When Wet Hire is Better
| Situation | Reason |
|---|---|
| Unfamiliar equipment | Expertise |
| Techhead systems | Complexity |
| Remote location | On-site support |
| Time pressure | Fast setup |
Transport
| Aspect | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Transport | Often Production |
| Packaging | Original cases |
| Insurance | During transport |
| Handling | Careful |
Today
Dry Hire remains standard for experienced productions with competent teams. The cost savings are significant but require appropriate expertise and careful planning – especially regarding insurance aspects.
More in the lexikon