You have a wedding in three weeks and a gala in six. Your closet holds three cocktail dresses you’ve worn to death. Buying two new gowns at $200 each feels wasteful. You’ve heard about dress rental services but don’t know which one actually delivers.
Rent the Runway and Nuuly are the two biggest players here. They work differently, cost different amounts, and serve different wardrobes. This guide breaks down exactly what each offers, where they fail, and which one you should pick for your next event.
How the Pricing Stacks Up: Monthly Plans vs. One-Time Rentals
The first thing that hits your wallet is the subscription model. Both services push monthly plans, but they structure them differently.
| Feature | Rent the Runway | Nuuly |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $94 (4 items) to $235 (10 items) | $98 (6 items) |
| One-time rental | $30–$200 per dress | Not available (subscription only) |
| Shipping included | Yes, both ways | Yes, both ways |
| Cleaning fee | Included | Included |
| Swap frequency | Unlimited (ship back anytime) | Monthly (one box per month) |
Rent the Runway lets you swap items as fast as you return them. Ship a dress back Monday, get a new one Wednesday. That flexibility costs more if you want more than 4 items at once. Their one-time rentals work for a single event — you pay per dress and keep it for 4 or 8 days.
Nuuly is simpler. One price, six items, one month. You cannot rent a single dress without a subscription. If you only need one dress for one event, Nuuly makes you pay $98 for five extra items you might not want.
Verdict: For a single event, Rent the Runway’s one-time rental wins. For someone who wants a rotating wardrobe every month, Nuuly’s flat $98 is cheaper than Rent the Runway’s $94 for only 4 items.
Inventory Reality: What You Can Actually Rent
Here’s where the two services diverge hard.
Rent the Runway carries designer labels — Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Sachin & Babi, The Vampire’s Wife. You’ll find red-carpet gowns, sequin-covered minis, and silk slip dresses. Their inventory leans formal and occasion-heavy. About 60% of their dresses are suitable for weddings, galas, or black-tie events. They also stock everyday brands like Frame and AGOLDE for jeans and cashmere, but the core is event wear.
Nuuly is owned by Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People. Their inventory is their own brands plus a curated selection of third-party labels like Reformation, Farm Rio, and Staud. The vibe is boho, playful, and less formal. You’ll find printed maxi dresses, linen sets, and trendy pieces — not many floor-length gowns. For a beach wedding or a summer party, Nuuly works. For a black-tie gala, you’ll struggle.
Common mistake: People assume both services have equal formalwear. Nuuly has maybe 15% of its inventory in true formal dresses. Rent the Runway has over 50%.
Verdict: Formal event? Rent the Runway. Casual or semi-formal? Nuuly has fresher, trendier options.
Sizing and Fit: Where Both Services Drop the Ball
Renting a dress means you cannot try it on before committing. That’s the tradeoff.
Rent the Runway offers two sizes per rental — you can order a dress in your size and one size up or down at no extra cost. That’s a real advantage. Their customer reviews include detailed fit notes from previous renters: “Runs small in the bust, size up if you’re a C cup.” They also have a Virtual Fit Assistant that suggests sizes based on your height, weight, and bra size. It’s not perfect, but it helps.
Nuuly gives you one size per item. If it doesn’t fit, you’re stuck with it for the month. They do not offer a backup size. Their fit reviews are less detailed — mostly star ratings without body measurements. For a wedding where you need the dress to fit perfectly, this is a gamble.
When NOT to rent: If you are between standard sizes (e.g., between a 6 and 8, or a 10 and 12), or if you have a non-standard body shape (very tall, very petite, large bust), renting is riskier. In those cases, buying from a store with free returns might be smarter.
Verdict: Rent the Runway wins for fit confidence. Nuuly is fine if you know your exact size in Anthropologie or Free People already.
Hidden Costs and Failure Modes
Both services advertise all-inclusive pricing. But things go wrong.
- Late returns: Rent the Runway charges $25 per day for late items. Nuuly charges $15 per day. Both cap at the retail price of the item.
- Damage fees: Rent the Runway charges up to the full retail value for stains, tears, or lost items. Nuuly does the same. Read the fine print — normal wear is covered, but a wine spill that doesn’t come out can cost you $150+.
- Sold-out inventory: Popular dresses book weeks in advance. For Rent the Runway, reserve at least 3 weeks before your event. Nuuly’s inventory is smaller, so popular items sell out even faster.
- Shipping delays: Both services use standard ground shipping. If your dress arrives a day late, you have no recourse except a credit. For a Friday wedding, order by the previous Monday at the latest.
Real scenario: You order a Rent the Runway dress for a Saturday wedding. It arrives Thursday — but it’s the wrong color. Customer service can overnight a replacement, but only if the correct size is in stock. If not, you’re stuck.
Verdict: Always have a backup plan. Rent two dresses. Or keep a simple black dress in your closet as insurance.
The Final Pick: Which Service for Which Situation
No universal winner exists. Here’s the compressed verdict.
Pick Rent the Runway if:
- You need a formal gown for a wedding, gala, or black-tie event.
- You want designer labels and a wider size range.
- You want the safety of ordering two sizes.
- You need a one-time rental without a subscription.
Pick Nuuly if:
- You want trendy, boho, or casual pieces for everyday wear or semi-formal events.
- You prefer a flat $98/month for six items.
- You already wear Anthropologie or Free People and know your size.
- You want a rotating monthly wardrobe rather than a single-event rental.
For the wedding guest who needs one perfect gown: Rent the Runway’s one-time rental at $70–$120 for a designer dress, with a backup size included, is the better bet. Use their Virtual Fit Assistant and read the three most recent fit reviews for your size.
For the person who wants six new pieces every month: Nuuly at $98/month gives you more items for less money than Rent the Runway’s $94 for only four items. Just accept the formalwear limitation.
Both services work. The mistake is picking the wrong one for the wrong occasion. Match the service to the dress code, and you’ll save money and stress.