Rent the Runway is a clothing rental service, not a prom dress store

Rent the Runway is a subscription service that lets you rent designer and brand-name clothing for a set monthly fee instead of buying it. You pick items online, wear them, return them by mail, and rent new ones. The service does carry formal dresses including prom styles, but you are renting from their inventory for a specific time period — usually four or eight days depending on your subscription tier — not purchasing anything.

The service works best if you want to wear different high-end pieces without owning them, and if you have a mailing address where packages can arrive and be returned. It is not the same as buying a dress online; you will need to return what you rent, and there are fees if items come back damaged or stained.

Key Takeaways

  • Rent the Runway charges a monthly subscription fee (typically $89 to $139 per month depending on tier) and lets you rent a set number of items at a time, with four or eight-day rental periods.
  • You order items online, they arrive by mail, you wear them, and you mail them back in a prepaid envelope — shipping is included in the subscription cost.
  • Damage, stains, and missing items result in additional charges beyond your monthly fee, so condition matters when you return pieces.
  • Prom dresses are available but inventory varies by size and style, and you cannot reserve a specific item months in advance — you order when you are ready to wear it.
  • The service requires a credit card and a mailing address; you cannot pick up items in person at a physical location.

How the rental period and subscription tiers work

Rent the Runway offers different subscription levels. The most common tiers let you keep items for either four days or eight days, and you can have a certain number of items out at the same time. A lower-tier subscription might let you rent two items at once for four days; a higher tier might let you rent four items at once for eight days. Once you return items, you can when ready order new ones.

The rental period starts when the package arrives at your address, not when you order it. If a dress arrives on a Thursday and you have a four-day rental, you need to mail it back by Monday. The eight-day rental gives you more time and is better for events like prom where you might want the dress for a weekend plus a few extra days for photos or events.

Shipping to you is included in your subscription cost. You return items in a prepaid envelope that comes with your package, so return shipping is also free. However, if you lose an item or return it late, additional fees explore.

What happens if a dress is damaged or stained

Rent the Runway inspects every returned item. Small wear is expected and normal — the service accounts for that. However, stains, tears, broken zippers, and other damage result in charges. The company calls these damage fees, and they vary depending on the item and the severity of the damage.

A small stain on a prom dress might cost $25 to $75 in damage fees; a large stain or tear could cost more. If damage is severe enough that the item cannot be rented again, you may be charged the full retail price of the dress. This is why it matters to try on the dress carefully, wear it in a way that protects it, and return it in the condition you received it.

If you spill something on the dress during prom, you have options: you can attempt to clean it yourself before returning it (though this carries risk), or you can return it stained and pay the damage fee. Many people choose to pay the fee rather than risk making the stain worse. Check the company's website for their current damage fee schedule, as amounts change.

Sizing, fit, and returns for prom dresses

Prom dresses come in a range of sizes, but not every size is always in stock. You order online by browsing available inventory, filtering by size, color, and style. Unlike a store, you cannot try on a dress before it arrives. This means you need to know your measurements and read the dress description carefully, including any notes about fit (whether it runs small, large, or true to size).

If a dress does not fit when it arrives, you can return it and order a different size or style, but this uses time from your rental period. If you order a dress with four days to wear it and it does not fit, you may only have one or two days left after exchanging it. This is why ordering early — even a week or two before prom — matters.

The service does not offer alterations. If a dress needs hemming or taking in, you would need to pay a tailor out of pocket, and you would need to return the dress in its original condition (meaning you would need to have alterations undone before returning it, or pay the damage fee).

Cost comparison: subscription fee plus potential damage charges

Your total cost depends on which subscription tier you choose and whether the dress comes back undamaged. A mid-tier subscription might cost $99 per month. If you rent a prom dress for eight days and return it in perfect condition, your cost is $99. If the dress has a stain, you might pay an additional $40 to $100 in damage fees, bringing your total to $139 to $199.

Compare this to buying a prom dress outright, which typically costs $150 to $400 or more depending on the brand and style. Renting makes sense if you want a designer dress you would wear once, or if you want to try several styles without committing to one purchase. It makes less sense if you plan to keep the dress for future events, or if you are worried about damage fees.

Keep in mind that Rent the Runway charges a monthly subscription whether you rent items that month or not. If you only need a dress for one event, you are paying for a full month of access even if you use it for one week.

How to order a prom dress and what to expect

Start by creating an account on the Rent the Runway website and choosing a subscription tier. Browse prom dresses by filtering for your size, color preference, and style. Read the description carefully, including the designer, material, and any fit notes. Add a dress to your cart and check out.

The company will ship the dress to your address. Delivery typically takes three to five business days, though this varies by location and current volume. Once it arrives, try it on when ready. If it fits and you like it, you are set. If it does not fit, contact customer service to arrange an exchange — but remember this eats into your rental time.

Wear the dress to prom. When you are done, place it in the prepaid return envelope that came with your package and drop it at any mail location (post office, UPS store, etc.). The company will receive it, inspect it, and either approve the return or charge you for damage. You will receive an email confirming the return was processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep a dress longer than my rental period?

No. If you do not return a dress by the important date, late fees explore — typically $10 to $15 per day. After a certain number of days, the company may charge you the full retail price of the dress instead of a daily fee. Return your dress on time to avoid these charges.

What if the dress I want is not in my size?

Inventory changes constantly. You can check back frequently to see if your size becomes available, or you can browse similar styles in available sizes. If you find a dress you love but it is out of stock in your size, there is no way to reserve it — you would need to check back later or choose a different dress.

Do I need to dry clean the dress before returning it?

No. Rent the Runway handles cleaning after each rental. However, you should not send back a visibly dirty or stained dress. If the dress has a small amount of dust or wrinkles, that is fine. If it has food stains, makeup, or other marks, those will result in damage fees.

What if the dress arrives damaged?

Contact Rent the Runway customer service when ready with photos. If the damage was there when you received it, the company will not charge you for it and will send a replacement or let you choose a different dress. This is why it is important to inspect the dress as soon as it arrives.

Can I buy a dress I rented?

Rent the Runway does not offer a purchase option for rented items. If you fall in love with a dress, you would need to buy it separately through the designer or a retailer — the rental service does not facilitate this.