Compacting backfill from the excavator is quicker than doing it by hand, and it keeps people out of the trench. There are two main attachments for the job: a compaction wheel and a vibrating compaction plate. Which one you need depends mostly on the material you're compacting. This guide explains the difference, how to compact in layers and how to size each one. You can compare both in our compaction wheels and plates range.
Compaction Wheel or Plate at a Glance
| Compaction wheel | Compaction plate | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Sheepsfoot pads knead the soil as you roll and press the wheel | A hydraulically driven unbalanced weight vibrates the plate |
| Best for | Clay and cohesive soils | Hardcore, gravel, sand, aggregate and soil |
| Hydraulics | None, fully mechanical | Auxiliary circuit |
| Our sizes | 1 to 22 tonne excavators, 200mm to 510mm wheels | 12 to 14 tonne excavators, 1,053 x 650mm plate |
Compaction Wheels for Clay
A sheepsfoot compaction wheel uses the excavator's down-force and the pads on the wheel to knead cohesive soil such as clay, which a vibrating plate often struggles with. It needs no hydraulics, so it suits any excavator. Our wheels run from a 200mm wheel at 52kg for 1 to 2 tonne machines to a 510mm wheel at 613kg for 17 to 22 tonne machines.
Compaction Plates for Granular Material
A vibrating plate is usually the better choice for granular material such as hardcore, gravel and sand. Our 12–14 tonne excavator compaction plate has a 1,053 x 650mm plate, compacts up to 50m² an hour, and works at almost any angle, so it handles slopes and embankments as well as trenches. Four heavy-duty rubber mounts keep the vibration away from your machine, and it can also drive fence posts.
How to Compact Backfill
- Backfill in layers rather than filling the trench in one go, and compact each layer before adding the next.
- Work along the trench in steady, overlapping passes.
- Take care around pipes and ducts, and compact the bedding and surround as the job specification says before going over them with heavier passes.
- Check the finished compaction meets the specification for the job. If you're reinstating a trench in a road, the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways sets the standard.
Work Safely
- Compacting from the cab keeps people out of the trench. If anyone has to go in, the sides must be supported or battered back.
- Find buried services before you dig and backfill, following HSE guidance HSG47.
- Keep people clear of the working area while you compact.
Compaction FAQs
Does a compaction wheel need hydraulics?
No. It's fully mechanical and uses the excavator's down-force.
Can a compaction plate compact clay?
It can work on soil, but for clay and other cohesive soils a sheepsfoot compaction wheel kneads the soil and often does a better job.
Do you have a compaction plate for a smaller excavator?
Our standard plate suits 12 to 14 tonne excavators. Ask us about a plate for a 2 to 8 tonne machine.
Choose Your Compactor
Compare every size in our compaction wheels and plates range, or send us your machine details. Digging the trench? See our excavator trenchers and digging buckets, or browse all our excavator tools.
