Floats

About Floats

Masonry floats are the finishing tools that determine the texture, levelness, and smoothness of concrete, mortar, and grouted surfaces. At one end of the size range sits a compact 5-by-3-inch urethane float like the Troxell 09-55U, weighing 5.6 ounces and ideal for stucco, grout pressing, and texture patch work. At the other end are large bull floats like the Bull 1128-SNMZ, a 48-by-8-inch aluminum-magnesium board that drags across freshly poured concrete slabs in the critical window before surface bleed water disappears. The 14 floats in this collection range in price from $8.97 to $139.99 and include every major material type: urethane, magnesium, foam, rubber, and steel. Material is the most important first decision. Urethane and foam floats leave a slightly open, textured surface that accepts paint and sealers well, making them the right call for stucco, mortar joints, and tile grouting. Magnesium is the trade standard for hand concrete finishing because it does not absorb water or warp during use, dries quickly between sessions, and cuts wet concrete surfaces cleanly. The MARSHALLTOWN line, including the 145D and 143D, illustrates why magnesium dominates professional concrete work: both earn 4.6 to 4.7 stars across hundreds of verified owner ratings. Steel and aluminum-magnesium bull floats serve a different job entirely, moving large volumes of concrete by surface area rather than detail. Size class and price tier narrow the choice further. A 9.5-by-4-inch float like the QEP 10060 or the Mutt TH110-101 fits tile work and small patch jobs and costs under $11. A full 16-inch magnesium hand float makes sense for anyone finishing concrete more than occasionally, where the cost of $34 to $37 is justified by durability and efficiency. Bull floats at $123 to $139 serve concrete professionals and serious DIYers tackling driveways or garage slabs. Review counts and monthly purchase figures from verified buyers guided every ranking here, so every pick reflects what the market actually uses.