Rollers play a crucial role in construction and roadwork, compacting surfaces to improve stability and load-bearing capacity. Whether you're working on a major infrastructure project or a small compaction job, choosing the right roller is essential for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
While compactors are designed for soil and soft material compaction, rollers handle a wider range of surfaces, from gravel to asphalt. In Australia, specialised companies like Conplant supply various roller types, catering to everything from general earthworks to high-precision applications, such as airport runways, where compaction must meet exacting standards.
This guide breaks down the average hire rates for five common roller types—padfoot rollers, smooth drum rollers, vibrating rollers, multi-tyred rollers, and three-point rollers—with price variations based on machine size, wet vs. dry hire, and location.
Discover rates for a wide range of machinery and equipment in our comprehensive machine hire rates guide.
What are typical padfoot roller hire rates?
| Padfoot Roller Size | Padfoot Roller Dry Hire Rate (Per Day) | Padfoot Roller Wet Hire Rate (Per Hour) |
| Small (1.5 - 5 tonne) | $160 - $350 per day + GST | $75 per hour + GST |
| Medium (6 - 10 tonne) | $350 per day + GST | $95 per hour + GST |
| Large (11 - 20 tonne) | $400 per day + GST | $105 per hour + GST |
Padfoot roller prices do fluctuate across Australia quite substantially as they aren't tremendously expensive machines to buy outright. However, hire costs are typically structured based on an hourly rate, making them a cost-effective solution for short-term and long-term projects. If a plant hire company has one in the yard, they usually prefer to get it out the door at any rate where they aren't going backward. They are a common machine, though, so they can be competitive out there, and operators are forced to meet the market.
Need to hire a pat foot roller? Get free competitive quotes through iseekplant!
What are typical smooth drum roller hire rates?
| Smooth Drum Roller Size | Smooth Drum Roller Dry Hire Rate (Per Day) | Smooth Drum Roller Wet Hire Rate (Per Hour) |
| Small (1.5 - 5 tonne) | $160 - $350 per day + GST | $75 per hour + GST |
| Medium (6 - 10 tonne) | $350 per day + GST | $95 per hour + GST |
| Large (11 - 20 tonne) | $400 per day + GST | $105 per hour + GST |
Small smooth drum rollers (sometimes called double-drum rollers) are pretty easy to find in most dry hire fleets. Different hire companies, like Coates and Kennards, stock them in plentiful supply. Some of the smaller rollers are called 'pedestrian rollers,' and you don't need a ticket to operate them! A smooth roller is often used for finishing asphalt surfaces and compacting granular materials. Larger smooth drum rollers are not necessarily difficult machines to operate, but they do require a ticketed operator.
What are typical vibrating roller hire rates?
| Vibrating Roller Size | Vibrating Roller Dry Hire Rate (Per Day) | Vibrating Roller Wet Hire Rate (Per Hour) |
| Small (1.5 - 5 tonne) | $230 - $420 per day + GST | $95 per hour + GST |
| Medium (6 - 10 tonne) | $420 - $450 per day + GST | $110 per hour + GST |
| Large (11 - 20 tonne) | $470 per day + GST | $135 per hour + GST |
Vibratory rollers, or vibrating rollers, are used to apply asphalt to certain densities. Two smooth steel drums vibrate with centrifugal force to consolidate the material. Hire costs vary depending on the size of the machine, duration of hire, and additional attachments required. You can hire specific vibrating rollers, or some smooth drum rollers have a sort of 'vibrating' attachment to add a little extra juice to the compacting action.
Some have sophisticated sensing technology that continuously measures the density and automatically adjusts the machine's intensity to make sure that the compaction of the asphalt isn't overcooked. Using GPS and some of the OEM's proprietary software some rollers can capture data from onboard computers about material density and relay that through centralised site tracking software. Vibrating rollers are also called compaction rollers.
Need to hire a vibratory roller? Get free competitive quotes through iseekplant!
What are typical multi-tyred roller hire rates?
| Multi-Tyred Roller Size | Multi-Tyred Roller Dry Hire Rate (Per Day) | Multi-Tyred Roller Wet Hire Rate (Per Hour) |
| Mini (Less than 2.5 tonnes) | $170 per day + GST | N/A |
| Small (2.5 - 5 tonnes) | $230 per day + GST | $65 per hour + GST |
| Medium (6 - 10 tonnes) | $325 per day + GST | $85 per hour + GST |
| Large (11 - 15 tonnes) | $400 per day + GST | $115 per hour + GST |
| Extra Large (16 - 20 tonnes) | $420 per day + GST | $145 per hour + GST |
Multi-tyred rollers have oscillating wheels (usually 4) that are best applied to the application of sub-grade soil, granular material, other materials, or cold mix to create additional density and find weak areas so they can be repaired before paving or applying asphalt. Most of the main compaction OEMs, like Caterpillar, Ammann, and Dynapac, make mult-tired rollers with compaction widths ranging from 1.5m to 2.5m.
What are pneumatic rollers?
"Pneumatic roller" is another word for "multi-tyred roller", which allows for easy access to compacting sub-grade soil and improving surface density in various construction applications.
Need to a hire a multi-tyred roller? Get free competitive quotes through iseekplant!
What are typical three point roller hire rates?
| Three Point Roller Size | Three Point Roller Dry Hire | Three Point Roller Wet Hire |
| 10 tonne | $375 per day + GST | $105 per hour + GST |
| 15 tonne | $450 per day + GST | $125 per hour + GST |
Three-point rollers, sometimes called static three-point rollers, usually come in a few sizes from 10 to 15 tonnes. They are predominantly used for proof rolling and thin granular/semi-cohesive soil compaction. These units are also well suited for compaction in built-up areas. They aren't super common and are usually only found in the fleets of compaction specialist plant hire companies.
Need to hire a three-point roller? Get free competitive quotes through iseekplant!
What is compaction?
Compaction refers to the intense exertion of force onto a surface so that it becomes more dense. In the construction industry, compaction typically refers to surfaces being compressed to increase soil density and remove air, usually through a machine. This process is intended to improve the strength and stiffness of the soil.
How to get the best roller hire rates
The right roller makes all the difference in achieving optimal compaction, efficiency, and cost savings on your project. Whether you need a padfoot roller for earthworks, a vibrating roller for asphalt compaction, or a multi-tyred roller for high-density applications, iseekplant connects you with trusted compaction roller suppliers across Australia, from Brisbane and Sydney to Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Darwin, and beyond.
✔ Compare hire rates instantly from top-rated suppliers
✔ Get tailored, obligation-free quotes in just a few clicks
✔ Secure the best machine for your job site—fast
Find the perfect roller for your project today! Contact iseekplant to compare quotes, discuss your requirements, and get expert advice on the best roller for your site. Subscribe to the Constructionsht Blog below to stay up to date with the current industry news and projects across Australia!