LiDAR scanning has become an essential tool across construction, architecture, engineering, insurance, and renovation. The question most first-time buyers ask is straightforward: should I rent the scanner and do it myself, or hire a professional scanning company to handle everything?
The honest answer is that it depends entirely on your project — what you need to capture, what you plan to do with the data, how much scanning experience you have, and whether your budget is better spent on equipment or expertise. This article breaks down both options so you can make the right call for your specific situation.
The scanner is only half the equation. What you do with the data determines which option is right for you.
What Each Option Actually Means
Renting a LiDAR Scanner
When you rent a scanner, you're taking on the field capture yourself. You operate the equipment on site, collect the raw scan data, and then process it — or hand off the raw files to someone who will. At SmartScanz, a rental includes the Leica BLK360 Gen2, tripod, iPad with Cyclone Field 360 (5-day licence), carry case, onboarding, and phone support throughout your rental. You pick it up for free in Kitchener-Waterloo or pay $150 for delivery.
Hiring a Full-Service Scanning Company
When you hire SmartScanz for full-service scanning, our team arrives on site, sets up the scanner, captures all scan positions, registers the point cloud, and delivers finished outputs — floor plans, elevations, sections, Revit models, or whatever your project needs. You don't touch the equipment. You receive production-ready files.
The Real Cost Comparison
Cost is usually the first thing people compare, but the numbers are only meaningful when you factor in what you're actually getting.
| Factor | Rental | Full-Service |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rate | From $450/day CAD | Quote-based |
| Equipment included | ✓ Full kit | ✓ We bring everything |
| Field capture | You do it | We do it |
| Point cloud processing | ✗ Not included | ✓ Included |
| Finished deliverables | ✗ Not included | ✓ Floor plans, BIM, etc. |
| Scanning experience needed | ~ Some learning curve | ✓ None required |
| Best for | In-house teams, recurring use | One-time projects, deliverables needed |
The key insight: rental is cheaper per day, but only if you have the internal capability to use the data. If you rent the scanner and then need to hire someone to process the point cloud and produce drawings anyway, the total cost often exceeds what full-service would have cost from the start.
When Renting Makes Sense
Renting is the right call when you have the in-house expertise to use what the scanner produces. Specifically, rental works well when:
- ✓ You have staff who are comfortable with Cyclone Field 360 or similar point cloud software
- ✓ You need to scan multiple sites over several days and volume makes rental more cost-effective
- ✓ You're a contractor, engineer, or architect who processes your own point cloud data
- ✓ You need the raw point cloud for your own modelling or BIM workflow
- ✓ You want to capture existing conditions for your own reference without needing a polished deliverable
- ✓ You're evaluating whether LiDAR scanning fits your workflow before committing to full-service
SmartScanz Advantage
Unlike US-based rental companies, SmartScanz is local to Kitchener-Waterloo. Free pickup, same-day availability, and a real scanning professional available by phone if you have questions on site. No shipping waits, no customs, no exchange rate surprises.
When Full-Service Makes Sense
Full-service scanning is the right call when you need finished outputs — not raw data. It's also the better option when time, accuracy, and professional responsibility matter more than keeping costs at a minimum. Hire a scanning company when:
- ✓ You need deliverables — floor plans, Revit models, elevations, sections — not just raw point cloud files
- ✓ You don't have staff trained in point cloud capture or processing
- ✓ The project has tight accuracy requirements or complex geometry that needs experienced field judgement
- ✓ You're documenting damage, an insurance loss, or a legal matter where professional documentation is required
- ✓ You're working on a permit application, heritage documentation, or Scan-to-BIM project with defined deliverables
- ✓ Site access is limited to one window and you can't risk an incomplete capture
The Hidden Costs of DIY Scanning
Renting a scanner is straightforward. Processing the data is not. Here's what first-time renters often don't account for:
Software Licences
The Cyclone Field 360 app included in a SmartScanz rental handles on-site capture and basic viewing. For full point cloud registration, processing, and export — especially for large or multi-floor sites — you'll typically need Leica Cyclone REGISTER 360 or a comparable platform. These licences are not cheap. If you don't already have them, the cost needs to go into your rental calculation.
Processing Time
Registering a multi-position point cloud, cleaning noise, aligning floors, and exporting to usable formats takes time — sometimes as much as the field capture itself. If your team is billing hours for this, the cost adds up.
The Learning Curve
The BLK360 Gen2 is designed to be user-friendly, and our onboarding gets most people scanning confidently within 30 minutes. But there's still a gap between capturing scans and capturing good scans — optimal positioning, adequate overlap, handling reflective surfaces, managing scan density. On a first rental, expect to spend some time figuring out what works.
Which Option Is Right for Your Project?
✓ Rent the Scanner If...
- You have in-house point cloud expertise
- You need raw data for your own BIM or CAD workflow
- You're scanning multiple sites over several days
- You want to evaluate LiDAR before committing to full-service
- You're a contractor capturing as-built reference for your own use
✓ Hire Full-Service If...
- You need finished deliverables — drawings, models, reports
- You don't have staff trained in scanning or point cloud processing
- The project has tight accuracy or professional documentation requirements
- You're dealing with insurance, permits, or legal documentation
- One site visit is all you have — you can't afford an incomplete capture
SmartScanz Offers Both
Most scanning companies force you to choose — they either rent equipment or provide full-service, not both. SmartScanz does both, from one team, based in Kitchener-Waterloo.
If you want to rent, we have the Leica BLK360 Gen2 available from $450/day CAD with full kit, free local pickup, and a real LiDAR professional on the phone if you need help on site. If you want full-service, we handle everything from field capture to finished deliverables — whatever format your project needs.
Not sure which option fits? Contact us and describe your project. We'll give you an honest recommendation — even if it means pointing you toward the lower-cost option.