WEN 56012
A wide plate for homeowners and small crews doing driveways and large patios on a budget. Expect the force to be lower than the box says.
Amazon $749.99$749.99
A plate compactor shakes a flat steel plate against the ground to pack gravel, sand and soil before pavers, a patio slab or a shed pad go down. A jumping jack rammer hops on a small shoe and hits harder in one spot, which suits trenches, footings and clay. These rankings compare what the makers publish on the same terms: how much force you get for the money, how much force the machine can back up with its own weight, how much ground the plate covers, what engine and extras it comes with, and how long it’s covered.
Type is the first choice. A plate compactor is the tool for granular material such as gravel and sand, and for setting pavers. A rammer is the tool for clay, trench backfill and tight spots a plate can’t reach.
Force is the second. Makers quote centrifugal force for plates and impact force for rammers. Budget makers often quote more force per pound of machine than pro brands do, so these rankings cap the force they credit by the machine’s weight. A few makers give force in “lbs per square foot”, which is not a force unit; it is read as pounds of force and noted on the product page.
Engine and extras are the third. A Honda or Briggs & Stratton engine is easy to get parts and service for. A wheel kit saves lifting a 130 to 240 lb machine, and a water tank keeps hot asphalt from sticking to the plate.
Top Picks
VEVOR CNCJ-80K-1 Rammer
A low-cost rammer for one-off trench and footing work. Little beyond force and engine size is published.
Amazon $949.90$949.90
Shop by Type
Plate compactors
19 rankedForward vibratory plates for gravel bases, pavers and sand, where a wide plate covers ground fast.
Top rated: WEN 56012 $749.99
Jumping jack rammers
10 rankedTamping rammers for trenches, footings and clay, where a narrow shoe hits hard and deep.
Top rated: VEVOR CNCJ-80K-1 Rammer $949.90
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Prices were last checked November 3, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Best Plate Compactors
- WEN 56012#1 of 19Full review
A wide plate for homeowners and small crews doing driveways and large patios on a budget. Expect the force to be lower than the box says.
Amazon $749.99$749.994,496 lbf17.7 x 21.3 in205 lb - YARDMAX YC1390#2 of 19Full review
A solid mid-price plate for homeowners who want a name-brand engine. It is slower than most, but its force claim is believable.
Amazon $696.90$696.903,000 lbf21 x 16.5 in185 lb - Stark 61006 6.5HP Plate Compactor#3 of 19Full review
A big, cheap plate with a water tank for driveways and asphalt patches. Plan for a ramp, since it has no wheels.
Amazon $609.95$609.954,000 lbf18 x 25 in218 lb - Tomahawk TPC90H#4 of 19Full review
A pro plate for asphalt and paver crews who want a long warranty. Homeowners will get more for the money from a budget plate.
Amazon $2,499.99$2,499.993,372 lbf20 x 22 in240 lb - SuperHandy GUO090 7HP#5 of 19Full review
A low-cost plate with a water tank for small asphalt patches as well as gravel. Buy it knowing the warranty terms are not stated.
Amazon $749.99$749.994,200 lbf15 x 20 in-
Best Jumping Jack Rammers
- VEVOR CNCJ-80K-1 Rammer#1 of 10Full review
A low-cost rammer for one-off trench and footing work. Little beyond force and engine size is published.
Amazon $949.90$949.903,600 lbf-171.5 lb - Tomahawk TR68H#2 of 10Full review
A pro Honda rammer for utility and foundation crews. Its force claim is in an odd unit, so compare it with care.
Amazon $3,399.99$3,399.993,550 lbf11 x 13 in150 lb - SuperHandy GUO117 Rammer#3 of 10Full review
A budget rammer for homeowners backfilling a trench or setting footings. The force figure is optimistic for its weight.
Amazon $900.79$900.793,500 lbf-137 lb - MechMaxx TR75H#4 of 10Full review
A full-size Honda rammer for contractors at a lower price than rental brands. The warranty is only one year.
Amazon $2,599$2,5993,150 lbf11.2 x 13.6 in164 lb - Multiquip MTX60HD#5 of 10Full review
A rental-yard rammer for crews who use it every week. It costs the most but has the longest warranty of the rammers.
Amazon $3,489.08$3,489.083,064 lbf10.4 x 13.4 in141 lb
How We Rank
Each machine is ranked against others of the same type, and scored on its price per 1,000 lb of credited force, its credited force, its plate or shoe size, its engine and extras, and its warranty.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | price per 1,000 lb of credited force | 30% |
| Force | compaction force, capped by machine weight | 25% |
| Plate | plate or shoe area | 10% |
| Build | name-brand engine, wheel kit and water tank | 15% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 20% |
How we rank explains each factor in full.