Scissor Lifts 
Forklifts / Telehandlers 
Compact Equipment 
Heavy Earthmoving 
Others
A single drum roller is generally the better choice for compacting soil, gravel, crushed stone and road base. A double drum roller, also called a tandem roller, is usually the better choice for compacting asphalt and creating a smooth, consistent paved surface.
The main difference is how the machines are built:
| Project | Recommended Roller to Evaluate |
| Soil preparation | Single drum |
| Gravel road base | Single drum |
| Clay or cohesive soil | Padfoot single drum |
| Asphalt driveway | Double drum |
| Parking lot paving | Double drum |
| Road resurfacing | Double drum |
| Large earthwork project | Single drum |
| Small patio or walkway | Plate compactor may be more suitable |
| Narrow trench backfill | Rammer or specialized trench compactor |
Quick recommendation: Choose the roller based on the material being compacted, the thickness of each layer, the required density and the finished surface.
For a project involving both gravel base preparation and asphalt paving, two different compaction machines may be necessary.
A drum roller is a construction machine that uses the weight of one or more cylindrical drums to compact materials.
Many models also use vibration to increase compaction.
Drum rollers are commonly used for:
Compaction reduces air voids and increases the density of soil, aggregate or asphalt.
Proper compaction helps create a stable surface capable of supporting the intended loads.
Insufficient compaction can contribute to:
However, simply making more roller passes does not guarantee proper compaction.
The material, moisture content, layer thickness, roller settings and project specifications all affect the result.
A single drum roller is a compaction machine with one large steel drum, typically at the front, and rubber tires at the rear.
The steel drum applies static weight and, on vibratory models, additional compaction energy.
The rear tires provide traction and mobility over suitable construction surfaces.
Single drum rollers are commonly used for:
Suitable for soil and aggregate: Single drum soil compactors are designed for unbound construction materials.
Traction on construction surfaces: Rear tires can help the machine move over suitable loose or uneven ground.
Multiple drum configurations: Smooth and padfoot drums are available for different material types.
Useful for larger projects: Heavy single drum rollers are commonly used for extensive earthwork.
Single drum rollers may not be the ideal choice for:
Best choice: Rent a single drum roller when the primary task is compacting soil or aggregate before construction or paving.
Not all single drum rollers are designed for the same soil.
The drum surface matters.
| Drum Type | Best Material to Evaluate | How It Works |
| Smooth drum | Granular soils, gravel, crushed aggregate | Applies weight and vibration across a smooth surface |
| Padfoot or sheepsfoot | Suitable cohesive soils, including clay | Uses projecting feet to compact and knead the material |
A smooth drum roller is commonly used for granular materials that respond well to vibration.
Typical applications include:
A padfoot roller has raised projections on the drum.
These help compact cohesive materials that may not respond effectively to smooth-drum vibration alone.
Typical applications include:
Important: A smooth drum roller is not automatically suitable for every soil, and a padfoot roller is not intended to produce a smooth asphalt finish.
Confirm the soil classification and required compaction method before renting.
A double drum roller, also known as a tandem roller, has two steel drums.
One drum is positioned at the front and the other at the rear.
Depending on the model, one or both drums may provide vibration.
Double drum rollers are commonly used for:
Smooth surface finish: The two steel drums are well suited to rolling asphalt surfaces.
Consistent coverage: Tandem rollers are designed to compact paved areas across their working width.
Compact options: Smaller tandem rollers can be useful for driveways and confined paving projects.
Vibration control: Selected machines allow operators to adjust vibration settings for the application.
Double drum rollers may be less suitable for:
Best choice: Rent a double drum roller when the primary task is asphalt compaction or finishing a paved surface.
| Feature | Single Drum Roller | Double Drum Roller |
| Drum arrangement | One steel drum, usually with rear tires | Two steel drums |
| Primary application | Soil and aggregate | Asphalt and surface finishing |
| Common materials | Soil, gravel, crushed stone | Hot-mix asphalt and suitable surface layers |
| Drum surface | Smooth or padfoot | Usually smooth |
| Ground traction | Rear tires support travel on suitable earthwork surfaces | Steel drums suited to prepared surfaces |
| Deep soil compaction | Common application | Not usually the first choice |
| Asphalt finishing | Not the typical choice | Common application |
| Tight-space options | Compact models available | Compact tandem models available |
| Vibration | Model-dependent | Model-dependent |
| Best rental decision | Earthwork and base preparation | Paving and finishing |
The key difference is the compaction task, not simply the number of drums.
A double drum roller is not automatically twice as powerful as a single drum roller.
Machine weight, vibration settings, drum width, material type and operating technique determine performance.
A single drum roller is generally the first machine to evaluate for larger soil compaction projects.
However, soil type matters.
Materials such as suitable sand and gravel often respond well to vibratory smooth drum compaction.
Clay-rich or other cohesive soils may require a padfoot roller or another compaction method appropriate to their moisture and plasticity.
Mixed fill requires assessment of material characteristics, moisture and the project specification.
Excessively wet soil may not achieve the required density even after additional roller passes.
In some situations, moisture conditioning, drainage or material replacement may be necessary.
Rental tip: Before choosing a soil roller, ask whether the project specifies a smooth drum, padfoot drum or a particular compaction standard.
A double drum vibratory roller is commonly used for asphalt paving and finishing.
The Asphalt Institute’s paving handbook identifies double drum vibratory rollers as a standard configuration for asphalt compaction.
However, successful asphalt rolling depends on more than the machine.
Important factors include:
Asphalt becomes more difficult to compact as it cools.
The appropriate rolling sequence must be coordinated with paving operations and the mixture’s compaction window.
Many asphalt rollers use water spray systems to reduce asphalt sticking to the steel drums.
Confirm that the rental machine’s water system is working and suitable for the intended paving application.
No.
Vibration settings depend on the mixture, layer thickness, support conditions and nearby infrastructure.
Certain situations may require static rolling, lower vibration settings or a different compaction method.
For technical guidance, see the Asphalt Institute’s Asphalt Paving Handbook.
The answer depends on whether you are preparing the driveway base or paving the finished surface.
A suitable single drum roller may be useful for larger gravel driveway construction.
For a smaller residential driveway, a reversible plate compactor or compact roller may be more practical.
A compact double drum roller is commonly the better choice for asphalt compaction and finishing.
You may need two stages:
Practical example: A contractor building a new asphalt driveway in Toronto should not assume the same roller is optimal for both the gravel base and the asphalt surface.
The base and finished pavement may require different compaction methods.
Roller operating weight and drum width vary considerably by manufacturer and model.
The following table provides broad equipment-selection categories.
| Roller Category | Illustrative Weight Range | Common Application |
| Small walk-behind roller | 0.2–1 ton | Small repairs and confined areas |
| Compact tandem roller | 1–3 tons | Driveways, paths and small asphalt jobs |
| Medium tandem roller | 3–8 tons | Parking lots and road paving |
| Large tandem roller | 8–15+ tons | Larger paving operations |
| Medium single drum soil roller | 7–12 tons | Road base and site preparation |
| Heavy single drum soil roller | 12–20+ tons | Large earthwork and embankments |
These are illustrative categories, not standardized weight classes or confirmed NAM Rentals models. Some manufacturers offer machines outside these ranges.
Consider:
A larger roller may cover more area per pass but may be unsuitable for restricted sites or thin layers.
Choose the smallest machine that can achieve the required compaction safely and efficiently, not simply the lowest-weight roller available.
A vibratory roller uses a mechanism inside the drum to create additional compaction energy.
A static roller relies on its weight and contact pressure without vibration.
| Feature | Vibratory Roller | Static Roller |
| Compaction method | Weight plus vibration | Weight and contact pressure |
| Common use | Soil, aggregate and asphalt, depending on model | Selected asphalt and finishing applications |
| Adjustable settings | Frequency and amplitude on applicable models | No vibration settings |
| Nearby structure considerations | Vibration must be assessed | Avoids vibration generated by the drum |
| Selection | Depends on material and layer | Depends on compaction stage and specification |
Many vibratory rollers can operate with vibration switched off.
However, a static pass and a vibratory pass do not provide the same compaction effect.
Improper or excessive vibration may affect sensitive structures, utilities or adjacent work.
Projects near older foundations, buried infrastructure or other sensitive assets may require vibration limits and monitoring.
Do not select vibration settings based on guesswork.
| Project | Recommended Equipment to Evaluate | Why |
| Gravel driveway construction | Single drum or compact compactor | Granular base compaction |
| Asphalt driveway | Compact double drum | Asphalt compaction and finish |
| Commercial parking lot | Double drum | Asphalt paving |
| Road subgrade | Single drum | Soil compaction |
| Road base preparation | Smooth single drum | Suitable granular materials |
| Clay embankment | Padfoot single drum | Cohesive soil compaction |
| Asphalt resurfacing | Double drum | Surface compaction |
| Small patio base | Plate compactor | Restricted working area |
| Narrow trench backfill | Rammer or trench roller | Access and lift compaction |
| Large commercial site | Single drum | Higher-volume earthwork |
These recommendations are starting points.
The final equipment choice should follow the material specifications, project requirements and site conditions.
Roller rental costs depend on machine size, weight, drum configuration, rental duration, transportation and availability.
A small tandem roller and a heavy single drum soil compactor are not directly comparable rental products.
NAM Rentals’ currently verified public information does not establish a confirmed model-specific rental price for both roller categories.
Therefore, this guide does not assign unverified NAM Rentals daily, weekly or monthly rates.
| Cost Component | What to Confirm |
| Base rental | Exact machine and daily, weekly or monthly rate |
| Operating weight | Suitable for the project |
| Drum width | Working coverage |
| Drum type | Smooth or padfoot |
| Vibration | Available settings |
| Water system | Required for asphalt work |
| Delivery and pickup | Transportation cost |
| Operating hours | Included usage |
| Fuel | Return requirements |
| Damage protection | Applicable rental terms |
| HST | Ontario’s 13% tax |
Daily rental: Suitable for short, well-prepared projects.
Weekly rental: Worth comparing when compaction is spread over several working days.
Monthly rental: May be appropriate for larger construction projects.
The best rental value depends on the total cost of completing the compaction work, not just the machine’s advertised daily rate.
This is the most important question.
Soil and gravel generally point toward soil compaction equipment.
Asphalt generally points toward a tandem roller.
A roller suitable for a thin asphalt layer may not be appropriate for thick soil lifts.
Confirm the permitted loose lift thickness and required compaction method.
Large, open sites may justify heavier rollers.
Restricted residential projects may need compact machines.
Some construction projects require field density testing or other acceptance criteria.
The number of roller passes alone does not prove that the required compaction has been achieved.
Include delivery, pickup, operating hours, fuel and other applicable charges.
Rental recommendation: Send the equipment supplier the material type, working area, lift thickness and project specifications before requesting a machine recommendation.
What Is a Trencher? Types, Uses & Rental Guide
A tandem asphalt roller may not be the correct machine for a soil subgrade.
What to do: Select equipment designed for the material and required compaction depth.
Cohesive soils may require a padfoot roller or another method.
What to do: Confirm soil conditions and compaction specifications.
A large roller may be unsuitable for a small driveway, weak surface or restricted site.
What to do: Match operating weight and dimensions to the project.
Soil that is too wet or too dry may be difficult to compact effectively.
What to do: Follow the project’s moisture and density requirements.
Incorrect settings can damage material or affect nearby infrastructure.
What to do: Follow manufacturer instructions and project requirements.
Transportation can materially affect the total rental cost.
What to do: Request a complete itemized quote.
Additional passes may provide diminishing benefits or cause problems with certain materials.
What to do: Use the specified rolling pattern and verify the required result.
Roller operation introduces hazards involving machine stability, slopes, reversing, vibration and workers on foot.
For Ontario construction projects, the applicable requirements include the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Ontario Regulation 213/91.
Official reference: Ontario Regulation 213/91 — Construction Projects.
Use this checklist before booking.
NAM Rentals supplies construction equipment for site preparation, excavation, material handling and other construction work across Toronto and Ontario.
For a compaction project, contact NAM Rentals to confirm whether the required single drum roller, double drum roller or suitable alternative equipment is available.
Explore:
Specific single drum and double drum roller inventory and pricing are not confirmed in this article.
When requesting a quote, provide:
Call NAM Rentals: +1 647-525-7368
Choose a single drum roller for soil, gravel, crushed stone and other suitable unbound materials. Choose a double drum roller for asphalt paving and surface finishing.
For clay-rich soil, a padfoot single drum roller may be appropriate.
For small driveways, patios or restricted areas, a plate compactor or compact roller may be more practical than a large ride-on machine.
And for projects involving both road base construction and asphalt paving, different machines may be needed at different stages.
The right roller is the one that achieves the required compaction for your material and project, not simply the one with the most weight or drums.
Confirm machine specifications, availability and total rental costs before booking.
A single drum soil roller typically has one steel drum and rear rubber tires. A double drum roller has steel drums at both ends and is commonly used for asphalt compaction.
A single drum soil compactor is generally a good starting point. Smooth drums suit many granular materials, while padfoot drums are commonly used for suitable cohesive soils.
A double drum tandem roller is commonly used for asphalt paving and finishing. The correct weight and vibration settings depend on the asphalt mixture and project specifications.
Yes, certain double drum rollers can compact suitable granular materials. However, a single drum soil compactor may be more appropriate for larger or deeper aggregate base work.
Not universally. Double drum rollers are generally better suited to asphalt finishing, while single drum soil compactors are designed for many soil and aggregate applications.
For an asphalt driveway, consider a compact double drum roller. For gravel base preparation, evaluate a suitable single drum roller or plate compactor.
A padfoot roller is commonly used to compact cohesive soils, such as suitable clay-rich fill, through pressure and kneading action.
Rental costs vary by machine, operating weight, duration and delivery requirements. Request a model-specific quote rather than relying on an unverified general rate.
Yes, for some small projects such as patio bases, walkways and confined areas. Larger sites or deeper compaction requirements may need different equipment.
Contact NAM Rentals to confirm whether a suitable roller or alternative compaction machine is available for your project. Provide the material type, jobsite size and required rental dates.
Your trusted partner in construction equipment solutions, offering premium machinery from industry-leading manufacturers with 24/7 on-site support.
Sign up to receive exclusive offers & updates.
