The Cost of a Jackhammer

In the past, pneumatic tools were reserved for professional teams, mining, digging wells, or breaking asphalt and concrete sleepers. But today there are small pneumatic hammers as well on the market, intended for domestic repair and renovation works. Anyone can use a jackhammer to make their work easier.

Jackhammers have high efficiency and can greatly simplify your work. Basically, they replace the brute force needed to work with the usual hammer and chisel. With the help of this equipment, you will be able to perform chiseling, breaking, and scraping operations, with power and clearly much more comfortable than with hand tools.

How much does a Jackhammer cost?

There are different types of jackhammers available on the market and their cost depends on the performance level, brand, and the place you purchase them from. For example, if you want a jackhammer for your personal use, which you will need occasionally, be prepared to spend anywhere between $130 and $950. On the other hand, if you want something more efficient that provides more facilities, you will have to spend $1,000 to $1,700.

You might also like our articles on the cost of concrete saw-cutting, post-construction clean-up, and driveway resurfacing.

In the table below you will find the average costs of some of the most popular types of jackhammers.

 How much does it cost to rent a jackhammer?

If you don’t use a jackhammer and you need one for a particular task, you can rent it. The renting costs depend on how long you need the jackhammer. For instance, you will have to pay anywhere between $60 and $170 for 24 hours, depending on the capability and power of the jackhammer.

Jackhammer overview

Jackhammers work on the basis of compressed air. They have a compression piston inside which is actuated by compression. This piston is the only moving part of the hammer component.

Under the action of air pressure, the piston moves back and forth and actuates a metal chisel, which cuts or breaks various materials. Jackhammer chisels are accessories designed to be easily disassembled, depending on the type of activity needed.

The force of the piston is controllable by actuating the trigger on the handle. Specifically, when you press the trigger, the air pushes the piston that activates the extension (chisel) mounted by you.

The air remaining in the mechanism will then push the piston back into the trigger position to prevent damage to the material you are working on. It can be said that the pneumatic equipment “doses” the amount of air necessary for that task itself.

 Types of jackhammers

Pneumatic jackhammer

A pneumatic jackhammer, also known as a pneumatic drill or pneumatic hammer is a hammer that uses compressed air as a power source. The air supply usually comes from a portable air compressor driven by a diesel engine.

 Electric jackhammer

An electric jackhammer is often called a rotary hammer because it has an electric motor that rotates a crank. The hammer has two pistons – an actuating piston and a free-flying piston. The crank moves the drive the piston back and forth in the same cylinder as the flight piston. The actuating piston never touches the flying piston. Instead, the actuating piston compresses the air in the cylinder, which then propels the flight piston against an attachment, which comes into contact with the drill.

These jackhammers are available in a variety of sizes, about 12–65 lbs. They require an external power supply but do not require a compressor.

Hydraulic jackhammer

A hydraulic jackhammer is generally much larger than a portable one and can be mounted on excavators or backhoe loaders. It is widely used for road works, quarries and general demolition or construction works.

Hydraulic tools are used especially in mines where there is a risk of explosion (such as underground coal mines) because they do not have high-power electrical circuits that could cause a spark.

FAQ