Every electric concrete mixer gets a score from 0 to 100% built from five factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Mixers are grouped by drum size, under 4 cu ft and 4 cu ft and up; value, build and warranty use the same scales in both groups, and drum size and motor use a scale for each group.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per cubic foot of drum | 30% |
| Drum | drum volume | 15% |
| Motor | motor horsepower | 15% |
| Build | direct or sealed gear drive and air-filled tires | 15% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 25% |
Where the numbers come from
Drum size, motor, drive, drum speed, tires, weight and warranty come from the maker’s product page, spec sheet or manual, or the maker’s own listing copy at a retailer. Prices are checked at Amazon, the maker’s own store and other retailers, and the lowest is used.
The factors
Value is the current price divided by the drum size, on a log scale, so halving the price per cubic foot always counts the same. $200 per cu ft scores zero and $40 full marks.
Drum is the drum volume the maker states. Under 4 cu ft, 1.25 cu ft scores zero and 3.5 cu ft full marks; at 4 cu ft and up, 4 cu ft scores zero and 7 cu ft full marks.
Motor is the motor’s horsepower, on a log scale. Under 4 cu ft, 0.25 hp scores zero and 0.75 hp full marks; at 4 cu ft and up, 0.5 hp scores zero and 1.5 hp full marks. When a maker gives only watts, horsepower is watts divided by 746.
Build is 60% for a direct drive or sealed gearbox turning the drum, rather than a belt or an open ring gear, and 40% for air-filled tires.
Warranty is the maker’s warranty: 1 year scores zero and 3 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Batch capacity, drum material, drum speed, motor watts, voltage and weight are listed but not scored.
Missing data
If a figure isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Build is neutral only when both the drive and the tires are unpublished; if one is published, the other counts as missing from the score. The exception is warranty: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets no warranty counted, so that factor scores zero, the same as the shortest warranty on the scale, and is marked estimated.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.