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Best Concrete Mixer Brands Ranked: Which Concrete Mixer Is Right for You?

Best Concrete Mixer Brands Ranked: Which Concrete Mixer Is Right for You?

Compare Multiquip, Crown, Kushlan, Marshalltown, YARDMAX, and Toro mixers before you rent your next batch.

Pouring a slab, setting fence posts, or building a retaining wall usually means mixing more concrete than a bag or two can handle. Buying a mixer for a one-time job rarely makes sense when a $1,500 machine sits in the garage after the project wraps. Renting gives you access to the same equipment contractors use, priced by the day or week, without the storage headache or maintenance cost. This guide ranks the best concrete mixer brands you'll find at local rental yards, breaks down towable versus portable options, and helps you match capacity to your project so you're not paying for more mixer than you need.

Concrete Mixer Rental: Common Questions

What's the best concrete mixer brand to rent for a DIY project?
For small jobs like fence posts, mailbox footings, or a garden wall, a Kushlan mixer or Crown mixer in the 3.5 to 6 cubic foot range is usually plenty. Both brands are known for durable drums and simple controls that don't require contractor-level experience. If you're mixing more than a few yards, step up to a towable Marshalltown mixer or YARDMAX mixer instead.
How much does it cost to rent a concrete mixer per day?
Daily rates typically run $35 to $100 depending on capacity and power source. Small electric mixers (3 to 4 cubic feet) rent toward the lower end, while towable gas mixers in the 6 to 9 cubic foot range rent closer to $75-$100 per day. Weekly rates usually offer a discount over renting day by day, which is worth asking about if your pour is spread over several days.
Should I rent a towable concrete mixer or a portable one?
A towable concrete mixer makes sense if you have a vehicle with a hitch and need to move the mixer between locations on a larger property or job site. A portable concrete mixer (wheeled but not highway-towable) is easier to maneuver in tight spaces like a backyard or narrow driveway. Check out our drum mixer vs towable concrete mixer comparison for a closer look at which setup fits your access and hauling situation.
Can I get a concrete mixer delivered, or do I need to pick it up?
Both options are typically available. Smaller electric and portable mixers are easy to pick up in a truck bed or trailer, while larger towable units are often delivered by the rental provider, especially if you don't have a tow vehicle rated for the weight. Delivery fees vary by distance and mixer size, so confirm pricing when you book.
Is a deposit required to rent a concrete mixer?
Most providers require a deposit or a card hold, especially for gas-powered and towable units. The amount usually scales with the equipment's value, so a small electric mixer may only need a modest hold while a larger towable Multiquip mixer could require a higher deposit. You'll get the deposit back once the mixer is returned clean and undamaged.
How long can I rent a concrete mixer for?
Rental durations range from a few hours to a full week or longer for bigger jobs. Most residential pours wrap up in a single day, but if you're pouring footings, letting concrete cure between sections, or working weekends only, a multi-day or weekly rental often costs less per day than repeated single-day rentals.
Which mixer is best for a large pour like a driveway or slab?
For driveways, patios, or slab foundations, a towable mixer in the 6 to 9 cubic foot range (Marshalltown, YARDMAX, or Multiquip) will move through material much faster than a small portable unit. If you're also moving mixed concrete across a larger site, pairing a mixer with a Toro concrete buggy speeds up placement significantly.

The Top Concrete Mixer Brands Worth Renting

Not all concrete mixer brands are built the same, and the differences show up fast once you're loading aggregate and running a full drum cycle. Here's how the most common brands compare on rental lots.

Multiquip mixer: Multiquip built its reputation on contractor-grade equipment, and its mixers are no exception. These units are typically found in the 6 to 9 cubic foot range, with heavy-gauge steel drums that hold up to repeated batches without warping. If you're renting for multiple days of pours, a 9 cu. ft. towable gasoline concrete mixer gives you enough capacity to keep a small crew supplied without constant reloading.

Crown mixer: Crown mixers are a common sight at rental yards because they strike a good balance between price and durability. Mid-size Crown units (4 to 6 cubic feet) work well for homeowners tackling patios, footings, or small retaining walls, and the simple gear-driven design means fewer things can go wrong mid-project.

Kushlan mixer: Kushlan built its name on affordable, easy-to-use electric mixers. A portable concrete mud mixer in this category is a solid pick for mortar, small footings, or mixing material for a garden project where you don't need a towable rig.

Marshalltown mixer: Marshalltown is better known for hand tools, but its towable mixers show up frequently in the 6 to 9 cubic foot range and hold up well on rough job sites. These are a good match for driveway pours or foundation work where you're mixing large volumes over a full day.

YARDMAX mixer: YARDMAX mixers are typically towable, gas-powered units in the 5 to 7 cubic foot range designed for highway towing between sites. They're a common choice for contractors who need to move a mixer from job to job during the week rather than leaving it parked in one spot.

Toro concrete mixer: Toro is more widely associated with mixer-buggy combo equipment used for both mixing and hauling concrete across a site. A Toro 2500-T concrete buggy with a 16 cubic foot straight dump is built for larger commercial pours where you need to move mixed material efficiently rather than mix small batches in place.

Towable, Portable, or Electric: Matching Mixer Type to Your Project

Brand matters less than matching the mixer type to your job site. Three main categories show up in rental listings.

Towable concrete mixer: These units mount on a small trailer frame with a hitch, letting you tow them behind a truck or SUV. They're the right call for driveway pours, foundation work, or any project where you need 6 cubic feet or more per batch. A 6 cubic foot towable gas mixer is a common size for residential slab work, while larger 7 to 9 cubic foot units suit bigger commercial pours.

Portable concrete mixer: Smaller and wheel-mounted but not built for highway towing, portable mixers are easier to maneuver into backyards, tight side yards, or job sites without trailer access. A 7 cu. ft. towable gas mixer still offers solid capacity while remaining manageable to reposition around a site.

Electric mixer: For smaller batches, indoor-adjacent work, or noise-sensitive neighborhoods, an electric concrete mixer skips the gas engine entirely. These run quieter and don't require fuel management, making them a good fit for mortar work, small footings, or projects near an outlet.

Not sure how much capacity you actually need? Our guide on what size concrete mixer you need breaks down cubic footage against typical project types, from fence posts to full slabs. And if you're still weighing whether renting a mixer beats mixing bags by hand, concrete mixer vs mixing by hand walks through the labor and time tradeoffs. If your project also involves breaking out old concrete before the pour, pairing your mixer rental with a look at jackhammer vs concrete saw rental can help you plan the demo phase too.

Concrete Mixer Comparison by Brand

Here's a quick side-by-side look at how the best concrete mixer brands typically stack up on rental yards, based on capacity, power source, and daily rates.
BrandCommon CapacityPower SourceTypical Daily RateBest For
6-9 cu. ft.
Gas or electric
$45-$75/day
Contractors mixing multiple batches on job sites
3.5-6 cu. ft.
Electric or gas
$40-$65/day
Homeowners and small crews needing reliable mid-size mixers
3.5-6 cu. ft.
Electric
$35-$55/day
DIYers working on patios, footings, and small slabs
6-9 cu. ft.
Gas, towable
$55-$85/day
Driveway and foundation pours needing towable capacity
5-7 cu. ft.
Gas, towable
$50-$80/day
Mid-size projects requiring highway-towable convenience
Buggy/mixer combo units
Gas or electric
$60-$100/day
Sites needing mixing plus material transport

Ready to Rent a Concrete Mixer Near You?

Skip the buy-it-and-store-it route. Browse available Multiquip, Crown, Kushlan, Marshalltown, YARDMAX, and Toro mixers from local providers, compare daily and weekly rates, and book pickup or delivery for your next pour.

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