The 5 Best Concrete Vibrators [Ranked]
Concrete vibrators are designed to eliminate air bubbles by shaking your recently poured concrete (Source).
After a pour, the concrete could have thousands of debilitating air-bubbles inside of it- concrete vibrators are designed to eliminate them (Source).
Research indicates that up to 10 to 30% of poured concrete is made of irregularly distributed & entrapped air (Source).
Watch Concrete Get Vibrated
A quality concrete vibrator is particularly imperative for large load-bearing projects.
The amount of time it takes to settle the concrete will depend on the particular cement mix, but generally it won't take more than 30 seconds to settle it before you can move onto the next section (Source).
Our Top Pick: The DeWalt Cordless Pencil Vibrator
This 1-1/8-Inch diameter concrete vibrator has a 4' flexible shaft. It provides 14,000 Vibrations Per Minute (VPM) under load.
Video: DeWalt Pencil Vibrator Overview
One masonry contractor we spoke to told us he used this cordless, pencil vibrators to help consolidate grout.
He told us that while it eats up battery fast, it's a particularly light and compact option that is an ideal option for block cores. Below we've compiled a list of the 5 best-selling options on the market.
Contents
| Concrete Vibrators | Our Rating | Price ($) | VPM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Electric Pneumatic Concrete Vibrator | 2.8 | $$ | 4,000 | |
 | The DeWalt Cement Vibrator | 4.5 | $$ | 14,000 |
 | The Makita Concrete Vibrator | 4.6 | $$ | 12,500 |
| The USA Pro Concrete Vibrator | 2.5 | $ | 12,000 | |
 | The Lightweight Chicago Pneumatic Concrete Vibrator | 2.9 | $ | 13,000 |
Concrete Vibration Tips
You will require some training before using a concrete vibrator- it's advised that its head should be slowly lowered into the concrete pour and only pulled out gradually to avoid forming an air pocket.
Also never drag the tool through a pour because it, obviously, will leave an evident groove in its wake.
In general, the goal of a concrete vibrator is to construct a durable material matrix that will stand up to years of use. When wielded correctly, you'll see see large bubbles float up to the surface of your concrete pour.
Also, a layer of mortar will appear on the surface- this indicates that your concrete mix is evenly combined, without any disruptive honeycombing or air pockets.
Best Concrete Vibrators For 2023
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This concrete vibrator offered by Chicago Electric is practical, heavy, and an excellent choice for construction, patching, and repair jobs. Users love the design, but some do note that it’s expensive.
This corded concrete vibrator measures 1-7/16” in width, and it features a weight of 43 lbs, a vibration head with a length of 16 inches, an RMP of 4000, compact design to decrease hand fatigue, and a protective metal cage. To use the Chicago concrete vibrator, you should immerse the head into the wet concrete to release air bubbles and excess water.
In general, users have a mixed opinion regarding the Chicago Electric concrete vibrator, and they agree that there is room for improvements.
A happy buyer comments that he is very satisfied with the performance of this corded concrete vibrator and that it’s perfect for setting cement. Another satisfied customer mentions that this concrete vibrating tool is easy to use and that it’s handy and well-made. But an unhappy reviewer states that the Chicago Electric vibrator only lasted for four minutes and that he is very disappointed with the achieved results.
Another customer adds that this concrete tool is poorly built and that he doesn’t think it would last for very long. He doesn’t recommend it at all.
Video Overview
Pros
- Powerful
- Compact design
- A protective metal cage
- Convenient
- Useful
Cons
- Quality complaints
- Poorly built
- Expensive
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
If you in need of a reliable concrete vibrator, you might consider this cordless pencil vibrator offered by Dewalt. Users love the high-quality construction, but some do note that the batteries don’t last very long.
The Dewalt concrete vibrator measures 8” x 46.5” x 3.8”, and it features a 1-1/8 inch head, 14000 vibrations per minute for maximum consolidation efficiency, a flexible, four feet long shaft, an isolated motor, and a weight of 8 pounds. The pencil vibrator is suitable for industrial and residential contractors, but be aware that the batteries and the charger are sold separately.
As a whole, buyers are extremely satisfied with the functionality, performance, and efficiency of the Dewalt cordless concrete vibrator. A customer shares that this is the best concrete vibrator for small scale jobs and that it’s easy to move it around.
Another happy user comments that it’s ideal for getting concrete in tight places, but he advises that you keep several batteries charged and ready. A reviewer adds that as a masonry contractor he finds this concrete vibrator very useful for consolidating grout and that it’s light and compact. He highly recommends it to anyone in need of the best cordless pencil vibrator.
However, some customers have complained that the Dewalt vibrator is not as powerful as they expected and that it’s not suitable for big jobs.
Video Overview
Pros
- Light
- Powerful
- Flexible
- Four feet long shaft
- An isolate motor
- Reliable
- Efficient
- Cordless
Cons
- Batteries sold separately
- Suitable for light jobs
- Batteries quickly deplete
- Expensive
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This concrete vibrator offered by Makita is well-built, innovative, well-balanced, and a product of high-quality. Users love that the vibrator is cordless, but some do note that it’s expensive.
The Makita concrete vibrator measures 39” x 24” x 6”, and it features 12500 maximum vibrations per minute, a dual-direction switch, compact and ergonomic design, up to 25 minutes run time, and a weight of 11.4 lbs. The Makita tool also has star protection computer controls for improved performance and battery life. You can power it with Makita 18-volt LXT and lithium-ion batteries with the star symbol.
In general, users are pleased with the performance and usefulness of the Makita concrete vibrator, but they agree that it’s suitable only for light-duty jobs.
A buyer comments that the concrete vibrator is easy to handle and maneuver and that he highly recommends it for small scale jobs. Another satisfied user states that the batteries last for hours, but he notes that the cordless concrete vibrator doesn’t hit hard enough to be useful for heavy-duty work. Nevertheless, it’s well-made and very handy.
A reviewer adds that the Makita 8-feet concrete vibrator is not as powerful as other similar vibrators, but it’s compact and easy to move around thanks to its size.
Pros
- Powerful
- A dual-direction switch
- Compact design
- Relatively light
- Cordless
- Star protection controls
Cons
- Suitable for light duty only
- Expensive
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
The electric concrete vibrator offered by USA Pro is handy and practical, but it’s not suitable for heavy-duty jobs. Users love the price, but some do note that it’s not as powerful as they anticipated.
The USA Pro 1.5 HP corded high-speed vibrator features a 60” x 35”shaft needle, a 1-3/8” breadth head, a trigger lock for comfort, a 6.5 ft power cord length, an 110-v three-prong plug, and an RMP of 12000. This high-speed vibrator is suitable if you want to set cement rapidly and eliminate all air bubbles.
As a whole, users have a negative opinion regarding the USA Pro corded high-speed concrete vibrator, and they agree that there’s room for improvement in the design.
A reviewer states that the concrete vibrator doesn’t have 1.5 of horsepower and that he is very disappointed with the weak motor and the achieved results. He adds that he doesn’t recommend it to anyone that needs a powerful and efficient cement vibrating tool. A happy buyer, on the other hand, comments that he is pleased with the performance of the concrete vibrator and that it’s ideal for small jobs.
He recommends it to anyone looking for an affordable electric concrete vibrating machine.
Pros
- Affordable
- 1.5 of horsepower
- Long cord
- A three-prong plug
- Handy
- Affordable
Cons
- Suitable for light duty
- Weak motor
- Quality complaints
Effectiveness
Price
Ease of Use
This concrete vibrating tool offered by Chicago Pneumatic is reliable, efficient, compact, and affordable. Users love the price, but some do note that it’s slightly heavy.
The Chicago concrete vibrator measures 28” x 4” x 8”, and it features a weight of 16 pounds, a diameter of 1-3/8 inches, a maximum speed of 13,000 VMP, a vibration head with a length of 15-1/8 inches, and compact and lightweight design for comfort. The vibrator also has a lock-on button for extended use, and it’s suitable for construction, patching, and repair jobs.
As a whole, buyers have a mixed opinion regarding the Chicago Pneumatic corded concrete vibrator. A buyer comments that he is pleased with the performance of the concrete vibrating tool, but he notes that it’s difficult to move it around. Another happy user mentions that the vibrating tool does its job perfectly and that he was amazed by the results after using it on a 24”x 24” post.
He highly recommends it as the best cheap concrete vibrator. A reviewer adds that works well, but he doesn’t recommend it for regular use. An unhappy customer also states that the concrete vibrator doesn’t work as expected and that it’s poorly built. A buyer says that the trigger switch broke on the first day and that the quality of the vibrator is questionable.
Pros
- Reliable
- Compact
- Inexpensive
- Powerful VMP
- A lock-on button
- Practical
Cons
- Heavy
- Switch issues
- Difficult to move
- Quality complaints
What Are Buyers Saying?
The Chicago Electric
The first concrete vibrator we examined is manufactured by Chicago Electric. It has a 16-inch vibrating head providing 4,000 RPM. It is advertised as useful for patching, construction and various sorts of repair work- it's able to level concrete and remove air bubbles.
The way it works, you have to immerse its head into wet concrete, this will help to release excess water and trapped air enabling your concrete to set solidly.
- One reviewer said that it was effective for settling in concrete and thick castings however one buyer thought that it was complete junk- not up to the task.
The DeWalt
The second concrete vibrator we looked at is the DeWalt cordless pencil vibrator- it has a 4-foot long shaft that is pretty flexible and delivers 14,000 VPM.
It is marketed towards residential and business con tractors-a useful for industrial applications and designed to provide maximum consolidation efficiency. As well, DeWalt says that the pencil vibrator is useful for smaller jobs like street repairs to larger tasks like filling in insulated concrete forms.
- One reviewer praises its ability to help get concrete into all of the tight spaces in a retaining wall- saying that it is easy to handle and the battery has a relatively long life.
The Makita
The third concrete vibrator we examined is manufactured by Makita- it delivers 12,500 VPM designed to boost the robustness of concrete and weighs only 11.4 pounds. It's marketed towards residential and business applications- useful for strengthening concrete.
Because of how lightweight it is, users we interviewed told us they preferred it for smaller jobs that did not require industrial-strength solutions.
The USA Pro
The last hand-held concrete vibrator we examined is manufactured by USA Pro- it is designed to vibrate air bubbles out of cement and concrete. The manufacturers advertise it as providing 12,000 RPM- enough power to vibrate out and uproot stubborn air pockets.
- Reviewers had mixed feedback for this particular option, with some saying that it didn't work at all, and with others claiming that it lacked the power to perform the job adequately.
