Concrete Vibrator

Concrete Vibrator Australia: Petrol, Electric, Cordless and Backpack

A concrete vibrator consolidates freshly poured concrete, driving out the trapped air pockets so the mix settles dense, strong and smooth around the reinforcement. Choosing the right one anywhere in Australia comes down to matching the vibrator type (petrol, electric, cordless or backpack) and the poker head size to your pour, whether that's a backyard slab or a commercial footing.

This guide walks through the types, head sizes, the buy-vs-hire decision, and how to use a concrete vibrator properly so you get full compaction without over-doing it.

Concrete vibrators by type

The first choice is the drive type:

• Electric (240V): the everyday workhorse for slabs, footings and general site work where power is on hand.
• Cordless (18V / 40V): battery freedom for smaller and mid-size pours and tidy, cable-free work.
• Petrol (e.g. Honda-powered flex-shaft): go-anywhere power for remote pours with no mains supply.
• Pneumatic / air-powered: for industrial settings running off a compressor.
• Backpack drive units: a portable power head that carries the weight on your back and drives a flexible shaft.

Only need a light, easily-carried unit for smaller jobs? See our portable concrete vibrators range.

Shop by brand

We stock trusted concreting and power-tool brands including Flextool and Masterfinish. Browse the live concrete vibrator range to filter by brand, type and size and see what's in stock.

Choosing the right poker / needle size

Head (poker) diameter should match the pour so the vibration reaches through the mix without segregating it:

• 25-38 mm: footings, piers and narrow, congested reo.
• 38-50 mm: walls and columns.
• 50-75 mm: slabs and larger commercial pours.

Shaft length matters too, a longer shaft reaches deeper sections and further across a pour.

Buy vs hire, which makes sense for your pour

If you pour regularly, owning a vibrator quickly pays for itself and it's always on hand. For a one-off slab, hiring can make sense. "Concrete vibrator hire" is a common search for a reason.

Weigh how often you'll use it against a hire day rate; if you're pouring more than a handful of times a year, buying is usually the call. Our team can help you decide and, if you buy, match you to the right unit.

DIY vs professional and trade use

The same category serves very different buyers. A homeowner pouring a shed slab is well served by a compact electric or cordless unit; a concreter running multiple pours a week needs the durability of a petrol flex-shaft or a high-frequency commercial vibrator. Tell us the work you do and we'll steer you to the right tier.

How to use a concrete vibrator

Insert the poker vertically into the wet concrete at regular spacings, let it sink under its own weight, and hold just long enough for the surface to level and the large bubbles to stop rising, then withdraw it slowly so the hole closes behind it. The key mistake to avoid is over-vibration, which drives the heavier aggregate down and floats the cement paste up (segregation), weakening the finish. A little discipline here is the difference between a dense, durable slab and a patchy one.

Spare parts and accessories

Keep a vibrator working with the right consumables, flexible shafts, replacement heads and tips, and guards. Ask our team to match parts to your model.

Delivery, stock and click-and-collect

Order online for delivery Australia-wide, or collect from our Epping showroom in Melbourne. If you're not sure what's in stock or which unit suits your next pour, call us before you buy.

About Australian Slate-Crete Supplies

Buying equipment you'll depend on is easier when the supplier uses it too. Concreting tools have been part of what we do since 1994, and across more than 200,000 orders we've learned which units and poker sizes genuinely suit which pours. Drop into the Epping counter or give us a ring and you'll get that read on your job rather than a spec sheet, from an Australian, family-owned business that's been going for three decades.

Find the right concrete vibrator

The quickest way to the right vibrator is a quick chat: tell us your pour and we'll match the type, poker size and shaft length. Call the team on 03 9408 7722, or shop the concrete vibrator range and have it shipped nationwide or ready to collect in Epping. Mostly doing smaller pours? Start with the portable vibrators.