Don’t Get a Suit or Tux Rental Without Reading This Expert Advice
If you're a to-be-wed who doesn't want to splurge on wedding attire you won't wear again, a suit or tux rental could be your perfect solution. Matt Gierl, a men's fashion expert and the former CMO of The Black Tux, wants to improve the formal wear shopping experience: "Big life events like weddings are exciting, but they can also come with a lot of stress and pull focus from what matters. We want couples to be present and to enjoy their wedding without worrying," he says. But how do rent-a-suit-and-tuxedo companies achieve this?
While purchasing a tuxedo or suit is certainly an option, it isn't always the one that makes the most sense. Wedding tuxedos in particular are much more formal than suits, and you may find that you don't frequent black-tie events enough to justify the investment. Also, if you're a to-be-wed looking to outfit your wedding party in a head-to-toe matching look, you may not want to ask your squad to pay top dollar either. With those factors in mind, renting a tux or suit can be the best budget-friendly option.
So, before you buy a suit or tux for that wedding, take a peek at our expert-backed guide to suit and tux rentals. We've rounded up a list of the best places to rent in-store and online, along with tips as well as pros and cons to consider before you make your final decision.
At a Glance
- The average suit and tux rental cost generally falls between $100–$300, depending on the brand and any additional accessories.
- Some of the best tux rental services online are Men's Wearhouse, The Black Tux and Generation Tux.
- There are pros and cons to tuxedo and suit rentals for weddings, like cost effectiveness and sustainability, so thoroughly consider them before you rent.
In this article: Rental Quick Tips | Best Rental Brands | Is It Cheaper to Rent or Buy? | Pros & Cons | How Rentals Work
Wedding Tux Rental Tips
Confused about the dos and don'ts of tux rentals? Use this cheat sheet so you know exactly how to tackle the shopping process.
The Best Tuxedo and Suit Rental Brands for Weddings
Modern suit and tux rentals are a far cry from the boxy, ill-fitting options of the past, and the retailers below prove it. You'll find the latest tux and suit trends at each, all thoughtfully crafted with high-quality materials like Italian wool. Plus, it's easy to get a just-right fit thanks to expert fitting specialists, home try-on options and one-on-one styling sessions. Read on to learn more.
The Knot Editor's Pick for Suit and Tux Rentals
Wondering what rental company is our overall pick? Without a doubt, it's Men's Wearhouse. "They offer an unrivaled selection that'll fit any wedding aesthetic preference," says Sharmila Sudhakar, former general manager of the rental business at Tailored Brands. "Many styles and fits within brand partnerships are exclusive to them, and include established fashion houses such as Vera Wang, Calvin Klein and Joseph Abboud." On top of the extensive selection of brands, you'll also find an impressive size range that includes big-and-tall and children's sizes.
This retailer has over 600 locations nationwide, making it a great pick for those who want to approach the Men's Wearhouse rental process in person. Find a store near you, make an appointment to get measured and browse through the selection of suit and tux styles. If you prefer to shop from your couch, you can use the company's Fit Evaluator to get measured from home in just a few minutes. Once you find your size and place your order, you'll be able to pick up your rental in store or receive it by mail three to four days before your event. Shipping and returns are free, and all orders are packed in special packaging so your 'fit is in "ready-to-wear condition." But if your garment is wrinkled, you can bring it to any Men's Wearhouse or Jos. A. Bank location to have it steamed for free.
Need a specific number of pieces for your wedding look? Check out these suit and tux rentals that we've categorized just for you.
Base price: $138
Rental details: Free shipping and in-store pickup
Where to rent: Online or in store
Best Package Deal: The Black Tux
Launched as a virtual-first brand, The Black Tux makes the online rental process as seamless as possible. But if you prefer an in-person experience, you're in luck—the retailer now has a whopping 42 showroom locations across the US. "The showroom and customer care teams are stylists and experts in the space, so whether you're visiting in person or just need a little help as you plan from home, they're happy to provide advice and guidance," says Gierl. The Black Tux suit rental and tuxedo rental can also be a prestyled look, which can include a shirt, accessories and shoes of your choosing, to match the vibe or theme of the wedding.
If you choose to go the virtual route for your The Black Tux rental experience, you can use the company's fit survey and free home try-on service to ensure a top-notch look come time for your event. Wondering how the home try on works? Once you find your fit, pick out the suit or tux you're interested in. The brand will then send your outfit complete with a preselected vest, shirt and tie so you can give it a test drive. After you nail down a decision, you'll receive your tux 10 days before the event. In many The Black Tux reviews, customers appreciated that they got a free exchange rush shipped to them if their rental didn't fit during the 10-day window.
Base price: $149
Rental details: Free home try on
Where to rent: Online or in store
Best Online Experience: Generation Tux
Whether you want to rent a tuxedo or a suit, Generation Tux offers everything you could possibly need to find a perfect fit from home. With a user-friendly fit algorithm, free fabric swatches and free home try-on service, choosing a premium merino-wool tux rental from the comfort of your couch is a no-brainer. The collection is small with around 30 options available, but this makes the rental process even more efficient. Each outfit is beautifully designed with comfort and style in mind, so all you have to do is figure out the vibe you're looking for.
Generation Tux now has 10 showrooms across the US, so you can easily merge their virtual fit tools with a one-on-one personal styling experience. Numerous Generation Tux reviews liked how they received their orders 14 days before their event with free shipping, delivery and replacements, if anything changed.
Base price: $139
Rental details: Free swatches; free home try-on; couples rent their outfits for free with five or more paid rentals
Where to rent: Online or in store
Best Value: Menguin
One of the best value brands for wedding suit rentals is Menguin. With its virtual business model, the retailer's innovative fit process can help you find the perfect tux or suit size right from home. Menguin has a fit guarantee and will factor in just about everything to find it, including asking for measurements from clothing you already own and love, to create a "final fit" that's just right.
Once you answer a few questions and create your profile, you'll have the option to test swatches and try on styles at home free of charge. From there, make your final decision and expect to have your online suit rental about 14 days before your event. Should you somehow end up with a not-so-great fit, Menguin will ship out free replacements right away.
Base price: $119
Rental details: Free swatches; free home try-on; couples rent one outfit for free with five or more paid rentals
Where to rent: Online
Best Virtual Styling: Friar Tux
Friar Tux (the parent company of Stitch & Tie) offers a truly unique online rental experience, since it includes a pro stylist. Once you request a Virtual Style Session, you can browse through the brand's style gallery for ideas and inspiration to show your stylist. You'll then connect via Google Meet and talk for an hour about everything from suit dos and don'ts to tuxedo styles and terms to find the look that's right for you. If you prefer an in-person interaction, you can also make an in-store appointment at one of their California and Nevada locations. Once you've created the perfect look with the help of your stylist, you'll find your measurements via the Fit Calculator tool. Bonus: The Friar Tux rental cost includes a free try on with their AI tool, which allows you to preview suits and tuxedos using a photo of your choosing.
Customers typically receive their order about 10 days before their event, leaving enough time to test out the fit and ensure it feels right. If it doesn't, Friar Tux will take care of replacing your tux rental as soon as possible or reimburse you up to $15 to cover the cost of temporary alterations.
Base price: $150
Rental details: Free swatches; free home try-on; virtual styling sessions with a trained stylist; AI try-on tool
Where to rent: Online or in store
Other Suit and Tux Rental Retailers on Our Radar
If you've been constantly typing "how to rent a tux near me" into Google and aren't finding what you need, check out The Knot Vendor Marketplace. All you have to do is use the "Fashion Services" filter and narrow down your search to "Rentals" to see the best place to get a tuxedo or suit rental locally. But if you're looking for more online-friendly options, here are two more places to rent top-notch suits and affordable wedding tuxedos.
- Jos. A. Bank: Getting a Jos. A. Bank tuxedo rental is easy. Browse through a large selection of suits and tuxedos, and personalize your rental package by choosing the best vest style, pattern and color for your event. Once you've done that, you can visit one of the over 800 Jos. A. Bank or Men's Wearhouse locations to get measured, receive expert advice from a Wardrobe Consultant and place your order. You can even use the online Group Manager tool to add wedding party members to your online profile so they can add their looks to your account—plus, you can pay for them online, if you choose. Your outfit will be shipped four days before your event and rental prices start at $138.
- National Tuxedo Rentals: Despite the online retailer's name, you can rent suits and tuxedos from them. Choose from over 50 styles to find the best look for your event, with prices starting at $209. The next step is inputting your measurements, which you can do at checkout by filling out a quick sizing form. You'll receive your wedding rental attire in 10–14 days, so you'll have enough time to test the fit and get any (free) replacements, if needed. We also noticed some National Tuxedo Rentals reviews mention free swatches and the ability for to-be-weds to get a free rental if they rent four or more outfits.
Is It Cheaper to Rent a Tux or Suit or Buy One?
Renting a suit or tux tends to be less expensive than buying one. Suit and tuxedo rentals cost around $100–$300, while the price to buy a tuxedo ranges from about $700 to $1,000 or more, depending on alterations, customizations and the designer. A brand new three-piece suit, a less-formal alternative to a tux, can cost anywhere between $300 to $800. Prices tend to fall on the higher end of the spectrum for made-to-measure and bespoke suits.Some wedding suit rental companies offer packages based on your needs. You may be able to rent just the jacket and pants for a lower cost, or you can opt for a full package that includes additional suiting accessories like cuff links, a pocket square, a bow tie or a traditional tie and suspenders.
If you fall in love with your rental, you're not totally out of luck: Some of the best places to buy suits and tuxedos have buy-back programs so you can keep the outfit. (For example, The Black Tux has a Rent-to-Keep program for some eligible items.) As you begin the wedding-tuxedo-rental process, ask your stylist about purchasing options if you think you might change your mind. Just ensure you account for the updated costs to keep your spending on track, which The Knot Budget Advisor can help with.
Wedding Suit and Tux Rental Pros and Cons
There are plenty of reasons you should rent a suit or tuxedo. However, the rental process isn't without its downsides. Ultimately, your decision should come down to whether the pros to tuxedos and suits for rent outweigh those cons.
Suit and Tux Rental Benefits
- YOWO (You Only Wear Once): It'd be nice for everyone prone to suiting up to have at least one solid tux or suit in their closet for formal occasions, but it isn't necessarily realistic. The truth is: Not everyone actually needs to own a tuxedo—this is where rentals come in. For one-wear users, tux and suit rentals are an affordable and practical move.
- Cost effectiveness: Tuxedos can be expensive, even at an entry-level price. Renting a tuxedo is a great way to save a few bucks, which is especially crucial while planning a wedding.
- Sustainable: The sustainability of wedding attire rentals goes hand in hand with their limited wearability. If you're a person who isn't going to be wearing a tuxedo or suit often, a rental service is a great way to look fly without contributing to waste and excess production. All of the services we recommend offer thorough garment laundering between rentals, making it an easy call to wear one of their outfits, then send it back for the next stylish customer to rock.
- Great for the wedding party: It's one thing to drop a hefty chunk of change on your own wedding attire, but it's a little harder to ask the tux-wearing members of your wedding party to do the same. Rental companies are great for finding groom and groomsmen matching suits and tuxedos, since they offer package deals that can save you and your VIPs some cash. Also, brands often cater specifically to group orders, which ensures uniformity throughout the wedding party.
Suit and Tux Rental Drawbacks
- Fit: It can be difficult to get a perfect tuxedo or suit fit when renting. It's less of an issue if your measurements are attuned to an off-the-rack size, but if you're between sizes, you may end up with a suit or tux that fits larger or smaller than you'd like. Most services offer some sort of alteration, adjustment or replacement policy, but it's a wrinkle in a process that, by nature, is supposed to make things easier for you.
- Lower long-term cost per wear: Even if you only wear a tuxedo once every other year or so, buying a quality one can work out as an investment in the long run. Overall, spending $150 to wear something once versus paying $700 for something you'll get multiple uses out of eventually lowers the cost per wear.
How Suit and Tux Rentals Work
When you're ready to pursue a wedding suit or tux rental, it's important to begin the process as soon as possible. "Clients should reserve their looks as soon as they know their wedding date, colors and theme," says Gierl.
Thanks to modern technology, at-home rentals have evolved to be easier and more convenient than ever. Instead of booking in-store appointments, you can choose to complete the rental process from home. Some retailers offer virtual try-on services, which involves uploading a photo of yourself to see how the styles look on you, while others use sizing quizzes to get you on the right track.
Some companies offer free home try ons, or they'll send sample swatches to help you find the perfect outfit. With so many added benefits, completing an online tux rental is as convenient as can be. And for those who feel more comfortable shopping for a wedding attire rental in store, you have that option as well. "Booking an in-store appointment offers the most complete consultation because you can see and feel the options in real life," adds Sudhakar.
Once you've completed your wedding tuxedo or suit rental, you'll receive your outfit a few days or weeks before your event to ensure the size is just right. This is why renting earlier is better, because it gives you more time to make adjustments if necessary. Return policies differ among companies, but shoppers typically have a few days after the event to send the suit back. Read the fine print of your suit or tux rental agreement so you return your attire in a timely fashion.
Additional reporting by Kate Boswell.