Subject of the invention is a method to measure the compaction properties of soil and other similar masses. A mass specimen is placed in a cylinder. The mass specimen is then pressed with standard pressure between an upper platen and a lower platen, and the height of the specimen is measured. Also subject of the invention is a device to measure the compaction properties of soil and other similar masses. Characteristic to the method and apparatus according to the invention is the fact that there is a specimen cylinder (2) attached to the frame (1) to be rotated mainly with respect to its central axis.