A vibratory plate compactor hires for roughly $60 to $100 a day and around $200 to $300 for the week, which makes it one of the cheapest machines on the counter. The harder question is which plate you want, because a forward plate for paver bedding and a reversible plate for a trench backfill are different machines at different prices.
Forward, reversible or rammer
A forward plate travels one way and suits bedding sand, pavers and thin lifts of granular fill. A reversible plate walks backwards under its own vibration, hits far harder and is what you want on deeper granular lifts. A rammer, the jumping jack, is for cohesive soil and narrow trenches where the plate cannot reach the sides.
What moves the price
Plate size sets the rate. Small forward plates of 3,000 to 5,000 lbf of centrifugal force sit at the bottom of the range, reversibles run higher, and a large reversible with a paving pad can approach a small roller's rate. Fuel is usually your responsibility, and a plate burns very little of it.
Passes matter more than machine choice
Compaction comes from lift depth and pass count, not from renting a bigger plate. Keep granular lifts to four to six inches, run three to four passes in overlapping lines, and wet dry material lightly first. Doubling the lift depth and hoping the plate reaches the bottom is the most common reason a patio settles a season later.
Collecting it against having it delivered
Small plates fit in a pickup bed with two people and a ramp, and most yards will load it for you. Weights run from about 150 lb to over 400 lb, so check the number before you plan on lifting it alone. Delivery is charged each way and often costs more than an extra day on the machine.
Questions people ask about vibratory plate compactor rental
What size plate compactor do I need for a patio?
A forward plate in the 3,000 to 5,000 lbf range is the usual choice for bedding sand and setting pavers. Fit a paving pad or a protective mat so the plate does not chip or mark the surface of the units.
Can I use a plate compactor on clay?
Poorly. Clay and other cohesive soils compact under impact rather than vibration, which is what a rammer delivers. If the trench spoil is heavy and sticky, hire the jumping jack instead and keep the lifts shallow.
Is fuel included in the rental?
Almost never. Machines go out full and are expected back full, and a yard that refuels for you charges a premium per gallon. A plate compactor uses so little gasoline that this is a small line, but it is still a line.