Compaction & Paving Equipment

Maximize productivity on your construction site, roadway or infrastructure project with our large selection of compaction and paving equipment. Efficiently compact soil, dirt, clay, gravel, asphalt and more with our lineup of powerful compaction and paving tools. Get these exclusive online rates by renting through our website or app.

For our full list of compaction and paving equipment, view the items below. For more information about compaction and paving equipment, visit our resource section.

Resources

How To Choose the Right Compaction & Paving Equipment

Material Type & Project Size

  • Different materials such as soil, asphalt, aggregate and job sizes call for different compactor rental machine classes and compaction methods
  • Sizing your soil compactor or asphalt compactor to the scope of work keeps you productive; too small increases passes and time, too large can be hard to maneuver
  • Ensure the compactor's capabilities, from nimble jumping jack rammers for tight areas to large drum rollers for extensive roadbeds, align with your project's scale and material. Verify it's rated for your specific material and compaction density, including any specialized attachments like padfoot shells, to ensure efficiency and prevent damage
material type

Compaction Force & Depth

  • Determine the required compaction depth and soil or asphalt conditions so you can select the right impact force and equipment type
  • If specifications call for density targets, choose machines that can achieve them with fewer passes and consistent results
  • Understand how different equipment delivers compaction based on depth: for shallow, localized areas or granular materials, plate compactors and rammers are effective, while heavy vibratory rollers provide the necessary impact force for deeper lifts and widespread compaction across diverse soil types
compaction

Site Access & Terrain

  • Think through how you’ll get your compactor or paving equipment rental to the work area; gate widths, doorways, overhead clearance, turning radius, and delivery placement
  • Access and maneuvering limits often determine whether you need compact footprints, specific roller or wheel options, or modular configurations for width adjustments or material-specific compaction
  • Understand how different equipment delivers compaction based on depth: for shallow, localized areas or granular materials, plate compactors and rammers are effective, while heavy vibratory rollers provide the necessary impact force for deeper lifts and widespread compaction across diverse soil types
Site access
Resources

FAQs About Compaction & Paving Equipment

United Rentals carries an efficient fleet of compaction and paving equipment ideal for tamping and compressing materials in paving, roadwork and site preparation projects. Each piece of equipment is routinely serviced and maintained to ensure optimal performance. Whether you’re looking for an air tamper or a ride-on drum roller, we offer a variety of compaction equipment rentals suited for a range of projects, from small-scale tasks to heavy-duty operations. This vibratory rammer, also known as a jumping jack rammer, is designed for jobs like backfilling trenches or foundations. We also offer various types of ride-on rollers for rent including single-drum rollers, commonly used to compact soil and level ground, as well as double-drum rollers, better suited for asphalt compaction. United Rentals carries inventory from leading manufacturers like Multiquip and Bomag.

Learn more about compaction and paving equipment in our FAQ section below.

What types of equipment are most commonly used for compaction?

The three most commonly used pieces of compaction equipment are rammers, plates and rollers. Due to their compact size and maneuverability, rammers are ideal for use in trenches and ditches. Plate compactors are better suited for compressing materials like clay and sand for medium-duty tasks such as road repair. Rollers, like this ride-on vibratory roller, are larger compaction vehicles used to compact materials like soil, gravel, concrete or asphalt during the construction of roads and foundations.

What machines are best for compacting soil?

Depending on the type of soil, vibratory rammers and plate compactors are best suited for soil compaction. Vibratory rammers are ideal for lighter-duty compaction of cohesive soils, especially over smaller areas. Plate compactors are best suited for reducing air voids in the soil to increase density and stability, preventing settling. Need more help? Contact one of our equipment experts for further guidance.

What are the methods for compacting soil or asphalt?

There are several methods of compaction, including static, impact and vibratory. Static compaction utilizes the weight of the machine to apply downward force to the soil. Impact compaction involves using a drop weight to tamp down and densify soil, backfilling materials through repeated surface pressure. Vibratory compaction uses the weight and vibration of a steel plate to push down and compress materials.