# Best Concrete Mixers for DIY Slabs and Posts (2026) Six drum and paddle mixers ranked on published specs for bagged concrete, with bags per batch and batches per slab or post worked out from the calculators. Buying guide page: (published 2026-10-06, updated 2026-10-06). This Markdown version has the picks, how they were ranked, their published specs and the figures behind them; product links and the full article are on the page. ## Key takeaways - A mixer's drum size is not its batch size: IMER's 5 cu ft drums mix 2.5 cu ft at a time, which is 4 bags of 80 lb concrete. - QUIKRETE asks for at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity per 80 lb bag; the fewest bags allowed by that rule, the batch output and any weight limit is your batch. - The concrete calculator's 10 × 10 ft slab, 4 in thick, is 62 bags: 16 batches in a 2.5 cu ft mixer, 6 in IMER's 12 cu ft Multi-Mix 350. - A fence post set in mixed concrete takes 3 bags around a 4×4 in a 12 in hole 36 in deep: one batch per hole in any drum pick, or 3 holes per charge of DEWALT's cordless mixer. - Picks are ranked on the makers' published specs for this job, not on our own use of them. ## In this guide 1. [Quick picks](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#quick-picks) 2. [How we chose](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#methodology) 3. [The picks in detail](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#picks) 4. [Spec comparison](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#comparison) 5. [What to look for in a concrete mixer](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#what-to-look-for) 6. [Bags per batch: drum size vs batch output](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#bags-per-batch) 7. [Drum mixer, paddle mixer or ready-mix?](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#drum-or-paddle) 8. [Frequently asked questions](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/best/concrete-mixers/#faq) ## Quick picks **Quick picks, in rank order** | Rank | Pick | Best for | Batch size | Power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | IMER Wheelman II 1105421 Electric Multi-Mixer (Poly Drum) | Best overall for slabs, footings and posts | 2.5 cu ft batch output | 1/2 hp, 120 V, 6 A electric | | 2 | IMER Minuteman 1126632 Electric Mixer (Poly Drum) | Best stand-style mixer with a lift-out drum | 2.5 cu ft batch output | 1/2 HP, 120 V electric | | 3 | Stark USA 67001 Portable 5.0 Cu Ft Electric Cement Mixer | Best steel-drum mixer for a few bags per batch | 2.5 cu ft or 270 lb mixing capacity | 1/2 HP, 110 V electric | | 4 | IMER Multi-Mix 350 1105802 Electric Concrete Mixer | Best for big slabs on a 120 V outlet | 9.5 cu ft batch output | 2 HP, 120 V electric | | 5 | DEWALT DCD130T1 60V MAX Mixer/Drill Kit with E-Clutch System | Best cordless mixer for a few bags at a time | One bucket at a time (runtime counted in 4.5 gal buckets of concrete) | 60V MAX cordless, brushless motor | | 6 | Milwaukee 2810-20 M18 FUEL Mud Mixer with 180° Handle | Best for M18 battery owners | One bucket at a time (runtime counted in 5 gal buckets; material not stated) | M18 cordless, POWERSTATE brushless motor | ## How we chose Ranked on published manufacturer specs and features for mixing bagged concrete for DIY slabs, footings and fence posts; not hands-on tested. Every spec is quoted from the maker's product page or manual and was checked on 2026-10-06. No prices or ratings are shown; the order is a judgment on these criteria: 1. **Published batch size.** A drum's capacity is its empty volume, and it mixes less than that. A maker that publishes its batch output, or the bucket size behind a cordless runtime, lets you count 80 lb bags per batch and batches per job. 2. **Power from an outlet or a battery.** Every drum mixer here plugs into a standard household outlet, so no generator or 240 V circuit is needed. The cordless mixers need no cord at the post hole but mix a set number of buckets per charge. 3. **Moving and pouring.** Mixed concrete is heavy. Wheels, a wheelbarrow-style frame and the height the drum pours from decide whether a batch goes straight to the form or has to be shoveled out. 4. **Published machine weight.** You lift a mixer into a vehicle and roll it across the yard. A published weight tells you before it arrives whether one person can move it. 5. **Buckets per charge.** For a cordless mixer the battery sets the size of the job. We favor a maker that says how many buckets one charge mixes, and of what. ## The picks in detail ### 1. Best overall for slabs, footings and posts: IMER Wheelman II 1105421 **IMER Wheelman II 1105421 Electric Multi-Mixer (Poly Drum).** A 5 cu ft poly drum on a wheelbarrow frame with 14 in pneumatic tires: you mix, wheel the batch to the form or post hole and dump it, with no shoveling into a wheelbarrow. IMER publishes a 2.5 cu ft batch output, which is 4 bags of 80 lb mix per batch, or 16 batches for a 10 × 10 ft slab. It runs on a 1/2 hp, 120 V motor. Ranked on: published batch size, moving and pouring, power from an outlet or a battery. - Batch size: 2.5 cu ft batch output - Power: 1/2 hp, 120 V, 6 A electric - Type: Wheelbarrow-style drum mixer: mix, wheel and dump - Drum: 5 cu ft polyethylene, 24 in diameter - Pour height: 8 in (21 in on the optional stand) - Wheels: 14 in pneumatic Specs from [IMER Wheelman Multi-Mixer product page](https://imerusa.com/equipment/mixers/multi-mixers/wheelman/) (checked 2026-10-06). ### 2. Best stand-style mixer with a lift-out drum: IMER Minuteman 1126632 **IMER Minuteman 1126632 Electric Mixer (Poly Drum).** The same 5 cu ft poly drum, 2.5 cu ft batch output and 1/2 HP, 120 V motor as the Wheelman II, so also 4 bags per batch, on a stand that pours from 21 in. IMER says one person can lift the drum out and load it into a small vehicle, and publishes the mixer's weight: 110 lb. Ranked on: published batch size, moving and pouring, published machine weight, power from an outlet or a battery. - Batch size: 2.5 cu ft batch output - Power: 1/2 HP, 120 V electric - Type: Portable drum mixer with a removable drum - Drum: 5 cu ft polyethylene, 24 in diameter - Pour height: 21 in - Wheels: 10 in - Weight: 110 lb Specs from [IMER Minuteman mixer product page](https://imerusa.com/equipment/mixers/multi-mixers/minuteman/) (checked 2026-10-06). ### 3. Best steel-drum mixer for a few bags per batch: Stark USA 67001 **Stark USA 67001 Portable 5.0 Cu Ft Electric Cement Mixer.** A 5 cu ft steel drum on a 1/2 HP, 110 V motor that pours from 23 in. Stark gives its mixing capacity as 2.5 cu ft or 270 lb, and an 80 lb bag with its mixing water weighs up to 89.4 lb, so 3 bags (268.2 lb) is the most per batch: 21 batches for the 10 × 10 ft slab. Ranked on: published batch size, power from an outlet or a battery, moving and pouring. - Batch size: 2.5 cu ft or 270 lb mixing capacity - Power: 1/2 HP, 110 V electric - Type: Portable drum mixer with a tilting drum - Drum: 5 cu ft steel - Pour height: 23 in - Speed: 23 RPM drum - Wheels: Two rubber wheels Specs from [Stark USA Portable 5.0 Cu Ft Electric Cement Mixer (67001) product page](https://xtremepowerusa.com/products/5cuft-portable-electric-concrete-cement-mixer-barrow-machine-1-2hp-mixing-mortar) (checked 2026-10-06). ### 4. Best for big slabs on a 120 V outlet: IMER Multi-Mix 350 1105802 **IMER Multi-Mix 350 1105802 Electric Concrete Mixer.** A 12 cu ft steel drum with a 9.5 cu ft batch output on a 2 HP, 120 V motor. QUIKRETE's rule of at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity per bag caps it at 12 bags of 80 lb mix per batch, so the 10 × 10 ft slab takes 6 batches instead of 16. At 385 lb on 15 in wheels it is a mixer you roll into place, not one you lift. Ranked on: published batch size, power from an outlet or a battery, published machine weight. - Batch size: 9.5 cu ft batch output - Power: 2 HP, 120 V electric - Type: Portable barrel mixer, not towable - Drum: 12 cu ft steel - Wheels: 15 in - Weight: 385 lb Specs from [IMER Multi-Mix 350 mixer product page](https://imerusa.com/equipment/mixers/multi-mixers/multi-mix-350/) (checked 2026-10-06). ### 5. Best cordless mixer for a few bags at a time: DEWALT DCD130T1 **DEWALT DCD130T1 60V MAX Mixer/Drill Kit with E-Clutch System.** A cordless mixer/drill (0–600 RPM, 1/2 in keyed chuck) sold as a kit with its 6.0Ah battery and charger. DEWALT says one charge mixes up to 9 buckets of concrete of 4.5 gal each: 5.41 cu ft, the concrete from 9 bags of 80 lb mix, or 3 fence-post holes per charge. No mixing paddle is listed in the box. Ranked on: buckets per charge, power from an outlet or a battery, published batch size. - Batch size: One bucket at a time (runtime counted in 4.5 gal buckets of concrete) - Power: 60V MAX cordless, brushless motor - Type: Cordless mixer/drill with E-Clutch anti-rotation - Runtime: Up to 9 buckets of concrete (4.5 gal) per charge of the included 6.0Ah battery - Speed: 0–600 RPM - Chuck: 1/2 in, keyed - Includes: 6.0Ah battery (DCB606), fast charger (DCB118), side handle and chuck key - Warranty: 3 years, limited Specs from [DEWALT 60V MAX Mixer/Drill Kit with E-Clutch System (DCD130T1) product page](https://www.dewalt.com/en-us/product/dcd130t1/60v-max-mixerdrill-e-clutch-system-kit), [DEWALT DCD130 mixer/drill instruction manual (PDF)](https://assets.dewalt.com/GLOBALBOM/QU/DCD130T1/1/Instruction_Manual/EN/N601469_DCD130.pdf) (checked 2026-10-06). ### 6. Best for M18 battery owners: Milwaukee 2810-20 **Milwaukee 2810-20 M18 FUEL Mud Mixer with 180° Handle.** Milwaukee sells the 2810-20 as the mixer and chuck key alone, so it suits anyone already on M18 batteries. It has the power to mix heavy compounds such as concrete and mortar, its maker says, with a brushless motor, an 8-speed dial and a 1/2 in keyed chuck. It quotes up to 15 five-gallon buckets per 5.0Ah charge without naming the material, so we work out no concrete figure for it. Ranked on: buckets per charge, power from an outlet or a battery. - Batch size: One bucket at a time (runtime counted in 5 gal buckets; material not stated) - Power: M18 cordless, POWERSTATE brushless motor - Type: Cordless mud mixer for heavy compounds such as concrete and mortar - Runtime: Up to 15 five-gallon buckets per charge of a 5.0Ah battery - Speed: 8-speed dial, variable-speed trigger and lock-on button - Chuck: 1/2 in, keyed - Includes: Mixer and chuck key; no battery or charger in the box Specs from [Milwaukee M18 FUEL Mud Mixer with 180° Handle (2810-20) product page](https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m18-fuel-mud-mixer-with-180-handle/2810-20) (checked 2026-10-06). ## Spec comparison **Published specs of each pick** | Pick | Batch size | Power | Type | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. IMER Wheelman II 1105421 | 2.5 cu ft batch output | 1/2 hp, 120 V, 6 A electric | Wheelbarrow-style drum mixer: mix, wheel and dump | | 2. IMER Minuteman 1126632 | 2.5 cu ft batch output | 1/2 HP, 120 V electric | Portable drum mixer with a removable drum | | 3. Stark USA 67001 | 2.5 cu ft or 270 lb mixing capacity | 1/2 HP, 110 V electric | Portable drum mixer with a tilting drum | | 4. IMER Multi-Mix 350 1105802 | 9.5 cu ft batch output | 2 HP, 120 V electric | Portable barrel mixer, not towable | | 5. DEWALT DCD130T1 | One bucket at a time (runtime counted in 4.5 gal buckets of concrete) | 60V MAX cordless, brushless motor | Cordless mixer/drill with E-Clutch anti-rotation | | 6. Milwaukee 2810-20 | One bucket at a time (runtime counted in 5 gal buckets; material not stated) | M18 cordless, POWERSTATE brushless motor | Cordless mud mixer for heavy compounds such as concrete and mortar | “Not published” means the maker's page or manual does not state it. ## Figures behind the picks Computed with this site's calculators; the page shows the working. - QUIKRETE Concrete Mix, one 80 lb bag: 0.60 cu ft of concrete - Mixer capacity per 80 lb bag (QUIKRETE): at least 1 cu ft - Most mixing water per 80 lb bag: 9 pt, 9.4 lb - An 80 lb bag with that water: 89.4 lb - IMER Wheelman II: 80 lb bags per batch: 4 bags (drum rule 5, batch output 4) - IMER Minuteman: 80 lb bags per batch: 4 bags (drum rule 5, batch output 4) - Stark USA 67001: 80 lb bags per batch: 3 bags (drum rule 5, batch output 4, 270 lb load 3) - IMER Multi-Mix 350: 80 lb bags per batch: 12 bags (drum rule 12, batch output 15) - Stark USA 67001: 3 bags with water: 268.2 lb - Concrete slab (the concrete calculator's default): 10 × 10 ft, 4 in thick, 10% allowance: 62 bags of 80 lb mix (37.2 cu ft) - Batches for that slab: IMER Wheelman II: 16; IMER Minuteman: 16; Stark USA 67001: 21; IMER Multi-Mix 350: 6 - DEWALT DCD130T1, one charge: 9 buckets × 4.5 gal = 5.41 cu ft, the concrete from 9 bags - DEWALT charges for that slab: 7 - Fence post: 4×4 in a 12 in hole, mixed concrete above the dry mix: 12 × 36 in hole, 6 in of dry mix: 1.75 cu ft mixed, 3 bags of 80 lb mix (2.92 exact) - Dry mix under each post: about 0.65 bag - 10 posts: 10 batches in any drum pick; 4 DEWALT charges at 3 holes per charge ## Frequently asked questions ### How many bags of concrete can a mixer mix at once? Take the smallest of three limits: QUIKRETE's at least 1 cu ft of mixer capacity per 80 lb bag, the maker's batch output divided by the 0.60 cu ft one bag makes, and any published weight limit. A 5 cu ft drum with a 2.5 cu ft batch output mixes 4 bags of 80 lb mix at a time. ### What size concrete mixer do I need for a 10 × 10 slab? A 10 × 10 ft slab 4 in thick, with a 10% allowance, takes 62 bags of 80 lb mix. A mixer with a 2.5 cu ft batch output (4 bags) needs 16 batches; IMER's Multi-Mix 350, at 12 bags per batch, needs 6. For bigger pours, compare the bag count with a ready-mix delivery. ### Do I need a concrete mixer to set fence posts? Not for fast-setting mix, which is poured dry into the hole and then wetted. QUIKRETE Concrete Mix is mixed before it goes in: a 12 in hole 36 in deep around a 4×4 takes 1.75 cu ft of mixed concrete (3 bags of 80 lb mix) above 6 in of dry mix, so one batch per hole in any drum mixer here. ### Can a paddle mixer mix concrete? For a few bags at a time, yes. DEWALT says its DCD130 mixes up to 9 buckets of concrete of 4.5 gal each per charge, the concrete from 9 bags of 80 lb mix. A 62-bag slab would take 7 charges of mixing bucket by bucket, so a drum mixer suits slabs better. ### How much water goes in a concrete mixer per bag? QUIKRETE says to put about 6 pints of fresh water per 80 lb bag in the mixer, start it, then add the concrete, and to expect 6 to 9 pints per bag in the final mix. ### Did you test these mixers? No. They are ranked on each manufacturer's published specs for mixing bagged concrete, and every spec on this page links to the maker's own page or manual. The bags-per-batch figures are computed with this site's concrete calculator and QUIKRETE's data sheet. ## Related calculators and guides ### Calculators - [Concrete Calculator](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/concrete-calculator/) — Slab volume in cubic feet, cubic yards, and cubic meters, with ready-mix order size and bag counts for documented products. ### Guides - [How to Pour a Concrete Slab](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-to-pour-a-concrete-slab/) — Plan, form, mix, place, finish, joint, and cure a slab, following the manufacturer's published method. - [Concrete Bag Yields by Bag Size](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/concrete-bag-yields/) — Published cubic-foot yields for bagged concrete mixes, with bags per cubic foot, cubic yard, and cubic meter. - [How Much Concrete Do I Need for a Fence Post?](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/how-much-concrete-for-fence-posts/) — Hole size, concrete volume, and bags per post from the manufacturers' instructions, with a bags-per-hole table for 4×4 and 6×6 posts. - [Bagged vs. Bulk Materials: Which Should You Buy?](https://www.howmanyyardsdoineed.com/guides/bagged-vs-bulk-materials/) — How to compare bags and bulk delivery using bags per cubic yard and your own local prices. ## Sources - [QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) product data sheet: mixing](https://www.quikrete.com/pdfs/data_sheet-concrete%20mix%201101.pdf) — QUIKRETE Companies. Used for: At least 1 ft³ of mixer capacity per 80 lb bag mixed at one time; about 6 pt of water to start, 6–9 pt in the final mix; may be mixed by hand in a container. Checked 2026-10-06. - [QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) product data sheet](https://www.quikrete.com/pdfs/data_sheet-concrete%20mix%201101.pdf) — QUIKRETE Companies. Used for: 40 lb = 0.30 ft³; 60 lb = 0.45 ft³; 80 lb = 0.60 ft³; 90 lb = 0.675 ft³ (regional). Checked 2026-10-03. - [QUIKRETE Concrete Mix (No. 1101) product data sheet: setting fence posts](https://www.quikrete.com/pdfs/data_sheet-concrete%20mix%201101.pdf) — QUIKRETE Companies. Used for: Hole about 3 × the post, 1/3 of the overall post height deep; 6 in of dry concrete mix in the bottom; mixed concrete; wait 24 h before strain. Checked 2026-10-06. - [Setting Posts without Mixing: QUIKRETE how-to video and project instructions](https://www.quikrete.com/athome/video-setting-posts.asp) — QUIKRETE Companies. Used for: Hole 3 × the post width (about 12 in for a 4 in wood post), 1/3–1/2 of the height above ground deep (at least 2 ft for a 6 ft fence); about 6 in of gravel; fill to 3–4 in below ground; about 1 gal of water per 50 lb bag; wait about 4 h. Checked 2026-10-06. - [Water Density (USGS Water Science School)](https://www.usgs.gov/water-science-school/science/water-density) — U.S. Geological Survey. Used for: 62.424 lb/ft³ at 39.2 °F (4.0 °C), the heaviest weight in the table. Checked 2026-10-06. - [NIST Handbook 44 (2026), Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement](https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2025/12/30/appc-26-HB44-20251222.pdf) — National Institute of Standards and Technology. Used for: 1 yd³ = 27 ft³; 1 US gal = 231 in³. Checked 2026-10-03. **Estimate only.** Results are planning estimates computed from the numbers you enter. They are not engineering, structural, or code advice. Confirm quantities, product yields, and installation requirements with your supplier, the product label, and your local building authority before you order or build.