⏱ Read time: 8 min | 🌿 Difficulty: Beginner | ⏰ Time: a day for a typical 3m × 2m shed base [CONFIRM] | 👷 1–2 people
Quick answer. Hire a concrete or cement mixer from HSS DIY for patios, shed bases, footings and brickwork. A compact 110V electric or petrol tip-up mixer suits most DIY and small trade jobs, while a diesel bulk mixer handles high-volume site work. Get it delivered or collect from your local HSS DIY partner branch, and check live prices for your dates.
Key takeaways
- Tip-up mixers make up to 85 litres per batch; the diesel bulk mixer makes up to 110 litres.
- Got mains power? The 110V Hire Pack includes the transformer and extension lead you need.
- No power nearby? Choose the petrol tip-up mixer, but use it outdoors only.
- All three tip-up mixers fit in an estate car. The 390kg bulk mixer needs a truck or delivery.
- Return the drum clean to avoid a cleaning charge.
Table of contents
- Concrete and cement mixers to hire
- Which concrete mixer should I hire?
- Electric vs petrol concrete mixers
- What can you use a concrete mixer for?
- How much concrete can a cement mixer make?
- Is it worth hiring a cement mixer?
- Concrete mixer hire delivery and collection
- What else might I need?
- FAQs
Concrete and Cement Mixers to Hire
We have plenty of concrete mixers that you can hire for a range of DIY and trade jobs. Take a look at the options below.
*Prices correct as of 7th October 2026, inc. VAT, and subject to change. See the live concrete mixer hire pages for current pricing.
Which concrete mixer should I hire?
Concrete mixers are suited to different jobs, such as:
- Creating foundations for garages or sheds
- Bricklaying
- Floor screeding
- Landscaping projects such as laying a patio, building steps or even a pond
When choosing which one to hire, think about how much concrete you need to mix, whether you have power where you'll be working, and how you'll get the mixer there. All three tip-up mixers fit in an estate car, so they can be collected from one of our partner branches. The diesel bulk mixer will need a truck for collection or to be delivered to your home or site.
- Small DIY job with mains power (shed base, path, fence posts, short garden wall) → 110V Electric Hire Pack
- Trade job with 110V site power (you already have a transformer or site supply) → Tip-Up Electric 110V
- No power nearby (bottom of the garden, new-build plot, allotment, driveway) → Tip-Up Petrol
- Continuous mixing on site (footings, groundwork, a brickie gang needing steady mortar) → Bulk Diesel Mixer
Electric vs Petrol Concrete Mixers
Electric concrete mixers
Choose an electric concrete mixer if you can run a lead to your work area. The 110V tip-up mixer is quieter, produces no fumes and can be used in garages, outbuildings and extensions with adequate ventilation. It's the usual choice for home projects and refurbishment trades.
It runs on 110V, so it needs a transformer. The 110V hire pack includes one, plus an extension lead. Use an RCD outdoors or in damp conditions.
Petrol concrete mixers
Choose petrol when there's no convenient power supply around: new-build plots, long gardens, field boundaries or driveways away from the house. The petrol tip-up mixer has the same 85L batch as the electric model, with no cables to trail across site.
These mixers are for outdoor use only, as exhaust fumes are dangerous indoors. Fuel isn't supplied, but you can add an approved petrol can at checkout so you can safely fill up at your local petrol station.
What Can You Use a Concrete Mixer For?
Our cement mixers handle concrete, mortar and screed, saving hours of work by hand and giving a more consistent batch. They can be used for numerous projets. Typical jobs include:
- Shed and garage bases
- Patios and paving slab beds
- Garden paths and stepping stones
- Driveway sections
- Mortar for brick and block walls
- Footings and foundations
- Fence and gate posts
- Landscaping and retaining walls
- Floor slabs and repair work
For small jobs, such as concreting in a few fence posts, a paddle mixing drill or a bucket may be enough. For footings and floor slabs, check the volume first (see below).
How much concrete can a cement mixer make?
HSS DIY tip-up mixers make up to 85 litres of concrete or mortar per batch, in around six minutes. The bulk diesel mixer handles up to 110 litres per batch and is built to keep going all day.
Drum capacity is the total volume of the drum. Usable mixing capacity is lower, because the drum is tilted and the mix needs room to tumble. Overfilling spills concrete, strains the motor and gives an uneven mix, so load to the level in the operating instructions and work in consistent batches.
Quick guide: 1 cubic metre is 1,000 litres, which is at least 12 full batches in an 85L mixer. A 3m × 2m shed base at 100mm deep is 0.6m³, roughly 8–10 batches. Use our concrete mixer advice to plan quantities.
Mixing on site works well for small slabs, paths, posts and steady mortar for brickwork. For a single large pour, such as a full driveway or deep strip footings, ready-mixed or volumetric concrete is often quicker and gives a more consistent pour.
Is it worth hiring a cement mixer?
Usually, yes. If you won't use a mixer often enough to justify buying, storing and maintaining one, hire it. Hiring also lets you match the machine to the job, from an 85L tip-up to a diesel site mixer.
The main things to consider are how much you need to mix, how long the project will take and how often you'll need a mixer again. If you're mixing every week and have the storage for it, buying the kit makes more sense. For a single large pour, ready-mixed concrete is often better value than either.
Concrete mixer hire delivery and collection
- Choose your mixer and dates. Enter your postcode and hire dates on the product page to see the live price and availability.
- Delivery or click & collect. Orders before 4:30pm (Mon–Fri) are delivered in 24–48 hours, subject to availability. Or collect from your local HSS DIY partner branch in as little as 1 hour.
- Mix and clean. Wash the drum out after each session. Mixers must be returned clean to avoid a cleaning charge.
- Off-hire. End your hire in Order History or through Live Chat. Collection is usually the next working day.
Tip-up mixers fit in an estate car or larger and must travel upright when collected, never on their side. The 390kg bulk diesel mixer needs a truck to be collected, so most customers have it delivered instead. Don't forget to bring your photo ID and order number when picking up your kit.
What else might I need when hiring a concrete mixer?
You might need a few more pieces of equipment and kit when hiring a concrete mixer, especially if this is your first DIY project or you’re starting out in the trade. You might need:
- Transformers: run the 110V mixer from a domestic socket
- Wheelbarrows: tip each batch straight in and move it to the pour
- Compaction equipment: wacker plates and rammers to prepare the sub-base; pokers to vibrate the pour
- Concreting tools: power trowels and finishing equipment for slabs and floors
- Concrete breakers: break out old paths and slabs before you relay
- Concrete cutting: floor saws and cut-off saws for joints and trimming
- PPE: goggles (EN 166.B), gauntlets or PVC gloves, hearing protection and safety boots
- Generators: power for electric tools on sites with no supply
Safety tip: Wet cement can cause serious skin burns, so keep your skin covered while you work and never put hands or tools in a turning drum.
Concrete mixer hire checklist
To make sure you don’t forget anything when hiring your concrete mixer, we’ve put together this checklist for you. Screenshot or print it off & tick as you go.
- ☐ Work out how much concrete or mortar you need, and how many batches
- ☐ Check whether you have mains power at the work area
- ☐ Choose electric (with transformer) or petrol, or bulk diesel for site work
- ☐ Plan transport: estate car for tip-up mixers, delivery for the bulk mixer
- ☐ Add PPE, a wheelbarrow and an approved fuel can if needed
- ☐ Bring photo ID and your order number to collect
- ☐ Wash the drum out after every session
Concrete mixer FAQs
How much does a concrete mixer cost to hire?
It depends on the mixer, hire length and whether you choose delivery or collection. Each HSS DIY mixer shows a current "hire from" price, and you'll get an exact quote once you enter your postcode and dates.
Is it worth hiring a cement mixer?
For most one-off projects that need several batches, such as a patio, shed base or garden wall, hiring is more practical than buying. If you'll mix regularly, buying may suit you better.
What size concrete mixer do I need?
An 85L tip-up mixer suits most DIY and small trade jobs, including patios, paths, posts and brickwork. Choose the 110L diesel bulk mixer for continuous mixing on construction or groundwork sites.
How much concrete can a mixer mix at once?
Tip-up mixers mix up to 85 litres per batch in around six minutes, and the diesel bulk mixer up to 110 litres. Don't overload the drum. One cubic metre takes at least 12 full batches in an 85L mixer.
Should I hire an electric or petrol cement mixer?
Hire electric if you have power nearby or are working indoors with ventilation. The 110V hire pack includes the transformer you need. Hire petrol for outdoor sites without a convenient supply.
Can I get a concrete mixer delivered?
Of course! We deliver within 24–48 hours on orders placed before 4:30pm Monday to Friday, subject to availability. You can also click and collect from a local branch in as little as an hour.
Hire a concrete mixer for your next project with HSS DIY
And just like that, job done! With every batch mixed evenly and poured where you need it, your shed base, patio or footings will set solid and stay level for years to come.
Hiring a concrete mixer from HSS DIY couldn’t be simpler. From a shed base at the bottom of the garden to all-day mixing on site, we’ve got a mixer to suit the job. Choose from 85L electric and petrol tip-up mixers, or a 110L diesel bulk mixer for site work. Enter your postcode to check prices and availability near you, then collect from your local HSS DIY partner branch or get it delivered to yuor home or site.
Not sure which mixer you need? Our live chat team can help you choose the right machine for your job.
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