A drum roller rents for $225 a day for a 48 in tandem and $600 to $760 a day for an 84 in single drum. A plate compactor is $75 to $79 a day. To buy, a one-ton tandem costs $20,299 to $21,500 new, an 84 in single drum soil compactor runs $199,900 to $325,000, and a large padfoot reaches $432,000.
| Grade / Item | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate compactor, daily | $75 | $79 | USD/day |
| Trench roller remote, daily | $225 | $550 | USD/day |
| 48 in tandem, daily | $225 | $225 | USD/day |
| 66 in single drum, daily | $400 | $400 | USD/day |
| 84 in single drum, daily | $600 | $760 | USD/day |
| 56 to 66 in padfoot, daily | $385 | $650 | USD/day |
| Pneumatic roller, daily | $870 | $870 | USD/day |
| New 1-ton tandem | $20,299 | $21,500 | USD new |
| New 84 in single drum | $199,900 | $325,000 | USD new |
| Used mid single drum | $49,000 | $79,000 | USD used |
| Country | Typical Range | Per Tonne | Cur. |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Baseline rates shown | n/a | USD |
| Canada | About 5 to 15% above US | n/a | CAD |
| United Kingdom | About 0.75 to 0.85x US in GBP | n/a | GBP |
| Germany / EU | Broadly comparable to US in EUR | n/a | EUR |
| Australia | About 20 to 40% above US | n/a | AUD |
| India | About 30 to 50% of US rates | n/a | INR |
| UAE / Dubai | About 60 to 80% of US rates | n/a | AED |
Rental rates by class
| Class | Daily | Weekly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate compactor | $75 to $79 | $199 | $499 |
| Walk-behind vibratory | Not commonly posted | $900 to $1,100 | $2,500 to $2,600 |
| Trench roller, remote control | $225 to $550 | $700 to $1,195 | $2,000 to $3,400 |
| 48 in tandem | $225 | $600 | $1,800 |
| 66 in single smooth drum | $400 | $1,100 | $3,300 |
| 84 in single smooth drum | $600 to $760 | $1,600 to $2,000 | $4,000 to $5,450 |
| 56 to 66 in padfoot | $385 to $650 | $1,150 to $2,000 | $3,450 to $5,500 |
| 84 in padfoot | Not commonly posted | $2,100 | $6,500 |
| Pneumatic roller | $870 | $2,830 | $7,925 |
One source conflict worth knowing. National-average marketplaces put large padfoot rental at roughly $1,039 to $1,276 a day, against dealer-posted rates of $600 to $760 for equivalent smooth drums. The marketplace figure is a high-side national average; the dealer posting is what most yards actually charge. Treat the gap as your negotiating room.
Smooth drum against padfoot
This is the decision that determines whether your compaction passes or fails inspection, and it comes down to soil type.
Smooth drum compacts by static weight and vibration. It works on granular material: sand, gravel, crushed stone, and asphalt. The flat drum leaves a finished surface, which is why every asphalt job ends with one.
Padfoot or sheepsfoot has protruding pads that punch into the soil. It works on cohesive material: clay and silt. The pads knead the soil and force air out from below, which a smooth drum cannot do on clay. It leaves a rough surface, so a padfoot pass is usually followed by a smooth drum finish pass.
Get this wrong and you either fail density testing on clay with a smooth drum, or you churn up a gravel base with a padfoot. Ask your geotechnical report or your inspector which one the spec calls for.
Pneumatic rollers
Rubber tires instead of a steel drum. The tires knead the surface and seal asphalt in a way steel cannot, and they follow ground contour better. At $870 a day they are the most expensive rental in this category, and they are usually a specification requirement rather than a choice.
Purchase prices
| Machine | Price |
|---|---|
| New 1-ton tandem, 35 in drum | $20,299 to $21,500 |
| Small tandem ride-on, 2 to 4 tonne | $45,000 to $90,000 |
| New 84 in single drum soil compactor | $199,900 to $325,000 |
| New padfoot, mid size | $125,000 to $163,000 |
| New padfoot, large | $432,000 |
| Used small tandem, 10 to 14k lb | $21,500 to $44,000 |
| Used mid single drum, 20 to 29k lb | $49,000 to $79,000 |
| Used padfoot | $35,000 to $215,500 |
Compaction is one of the few heavy categories with real posted new pricing at the small end. Above about 4 tonnes, expect dealer quotes and use low-hour listings as your reference.
Rent or buy
A one-ton tandem at roughly $1,800 a month against $21,000 new breaks even in about 12 months. That is short by heavy equipment standards, and it is why small paving and landscaping outfits often own one.
An 84 in single drum at $4,000 to $5,450 a month against $199,900 new needs 37 to 50 months. Rent unless you are running earthworks year round.
Used mid-size single drums at $49,000 to $79,000 against $3,300 a month break even in 15 to 24 months, which is the sweet spot for a contractor with steady site work.
What else you will pay
- Delivery: $100 to $350 each way for small units. Large single drums need a lowboy.
- Damage waiver: 10 to 15 percent of rental value.
- Water: asphalt rollers need a full water system to stop material sticking. Confirm the tank and spray bars work before you leave the yard.
- Fuel: returned empty costs a premium.
Sizing the machine
- Trench and confined work: remote-control trench roller. It fits where a ride-on cannot and keeps the operator out of the trench.
- Driveways, small lots, patch work: 48 in tandem.
- Parking lots and subdivision roads: 66 in single drum for base, tandem for asphalt finish.
- Highway subgrade and large earthworks: 84 in single drum, padfoot if the soil is cohesive.
- Asphalt seal and finish: pneumatic, usually because the spec says so.
Rates move with regional demand and fuel. Figures here are dated August 2026. Confirm locally before you book.