The costs on this information are correct as of 2025*
Scaffolding is a crucial a part of lots of totally different building tasks, corresponding to loft conversions, in addition to upkeep jobs like gutter restore. It’s used to help employees, permitting them to achieve sure heights safely. It’s additionally used to assist raise building supplies and gear.
How a lot you’ll spend on scaffolding relies upon predominately on:
The quantity of scaffolding you’ll want
How lengthy you’ll want it for
The quantity of working ranges, walkways, handrails, loading bays and different components you’ll want
The complexity of entry (greater constructions would possibly require additional gear and security measures which may ramp up the prices)
The place you reside within the UK, with price of labour rising by as a lot as 20% on common in London and the South East
As an illustration, the final Huge Ben renovation price a staggering £3.5 million in scaffolding prices alone!
Learn on to search out out every little thing you want to learn about the price of scaffolding. And for those who’re prepared to rent, converse to a talented scaffolding specialist in your native space to get began.
How a lot does scaffolding price?
You’ll normally negotiate a charge relying on how lengthy you want your scaffolding for.
Scaffolding may be very generally rented out on a weekly foundation, however whether or not or not you’ll be charged weekly depends upon your scaffolding provider, your rent interval and the dimensions and complexity of your venture. You may get a:
Weekly charge
Period charge (one fastened quote for the entire venture)
Mission particular, customized charge (a extra detailed quote that components within the timeline, entry wants, scope of labor and extra providers or gear, in order to offer a extra tailor-made quote that considers the general venture not simply weekly or duration-based charges).
Your scaffolding provider will focus on your choices with you. Which charge you get will rely largely on the precise wants of your venture, however it’s a good suggestion to ask prematurely what extra prices would possibly crop up.
Get an in depth quote from a talented scaffolding erection specialist right here:
To provide you an concept of how a lot you would possibly spend, we’ve damaged down the price of hiring scaffolding by week, day and per metre squared. These quotes are simply an estimate – how a lot you’ll spend depends upon how a lot scaffolding you’ll want and the complexities of your venture…
How a lot does scaffolding price to rent per week?
You possibly can spend wherever between £200 and £1,500 per week renting scaffolding, relying on how a lot scaffolding you need to rent, throughout what number of flooring. Price of labour additionally rises in London and the South East, so hold this in thoughts as nicely.
In the event you solely want one 10 metre scaffold tower, this might price you as little as £200 every week to rent, while the upper bracket of £1,500 refers extra to the price of hiring sufficient scaffolding to hold out work on a 4 storey, semi-detached property.
In addition to this, you may count on to spend round:
£600-£800 every week to rent chimney scaffolding
£100-£150 every week to rent a 5 metre scaffolding tower
£1000-£1,200 every week to rent sufficient scaffolding to hold out work on a 2 storey, semi-detached home
These are simply basic quotes. For a extra correct concept of how a lot you would possibly spend, converse to a scaffolding specialist in the present day.
Often, the each day charge for scaffold renting is round 15-30% of the weekly charge.
Because of this you would spend wherever between £30 and £60 a day for a £200 weekly charge, between £90 and £180 a day for a £600 weekly charge, or between £225 and £450 for a £1,500 weekly charge.
As a basic information, you would spend wherever from £15 per sq. metre per week to £80 per sq. metre per week. How a lot you spend will rely on how advanced your venture is and the way lengthy you intend to lease out your scaffolding for.
Need a extra correct quote? Converse to a scaffolding specialist in the present day.
There are three predominant kinds of scaffolding construction utilized in building. These are:
Suspended scaffolding – used to entry the vertical sides of a constructing. Platforms are suspended from an overhead construction (corresponding to a roof) utilizing chains or ropes.
Supported scaffolding – the commonest sort of scaffolding, and is supported by the bottom or by a constructing utilizing vertical and horizontal constructions. You may get single scaffolding (normally used for brick buildings) or double scaffolding (normally used for stone buildings). In addition to these, you may as well get metal scaffolding, constructed utilizing metal tubes which might be simple to assemble and dismantle.
Cellular scaffolding (also referred to as trestle scaffolding) – consists of a platform with a wheeled base and adjustable legs, designed to maneuver simply in order that it may be dismantled and reassembled on totally different areas of a constructing.
Which scaffolding construction you’ll want depends upon the character of your venture. Your scaffold specialist will be capable of advise you on which to get.
Although you may technically erect your personal scaffolding within the UK, it’s solely on the situation that you simply adjust to all of the laws and security pointers outlined by the Well being and Security Government (HSE). This consists of acquiring the mandatory permits or licenses you’ll want earlier than beginning work.
Ideally, you also needs to have the related competence and CISRS coaching in scaffolding erection in addition to NASC Membership so as to erect your personal scaffolding.
You additionally must:
Scaffolding could be laborious to construct, and could be very harmful if not erected correctly. For this reason it’s usually really helpful that you simply rent an expert. The authorities web site on scaffolding emphasises the significance of hiring a reliable scaffolding contractor to stop accidents and to make sure public security.
In the event you do select to erect scaffolding your self, you’ll want the related coaching and permits, which can take time to acquire. You also needs to guarantee you could have the proper insurance coverage protection (corresponding to public legal responsibility insurance coverage) to guard your self in case of an accident.
For extra data on erecting scaffolding, try the SG4:22 which outlines essential steps to observe to erect secure scaffolding.
Why not go away it to the consultants? You possibly can rent a talented scaffolding specialist in your native space right here.
DIY scaffold towers could be secure, so long as they’re assembled and used correctly. Working at heights is at all times going to contain dangers, however making certain security requirements are met on DIY scaffold towers is feasible.
In addition to complying with the laws outlined above, ensure:
The scaffold tower is high-quality (sturdy, correctly related and in good situation) and that it meets all security requirements
The scaffold tower is assembled correctly, following all producer’s pointers and directions
Make sure that you don’t exceed the scaffold’s load capability, accounting for all employees, instruments and supplies that will probably be on the scaffold at any given time
Don’t go over the really helpful most top outlined by the producer
Lastly, at all times be sure that everybody utilizing the DIY scaffold tower makes use of protecting gear (laborious hats, security harnesses, non-slip footwear).
The explanation scaffolding can get fairly costly is as a result of it wants to fulfill very stringent security requirements which might be in place to guard the tradespeople utilizing it. Because of this prime quality supplies like metal are sometimes used, as they’re robust and sturdy.
On high of this, scaffolding is cumbersome and requires transportation prices. In the event you’re renting yours, then the associated fee to take care of and retailer the scaffolding will make hiring it dearer. Because of the dangers concerned with utilizing scaffolding, prices are typically additionally raised by insurance coverage protection.
Lastly, scaffolding can also be costly because it requires cautious engineering to make sure supposed masses are supported and that the scaffolding can face up to environmental components like heavy winds and storms. Making scaffolding can also be a exact course of that requires a number of totally different parts (frames, braces, platforms, connectors) that every one should be manufactured to excessive requirements, subsequently elevating manufacturing prices.
What can I exploit as a substitute of scaffolding?
If for no matter cause scaffolding isn’t out there or appropriate in your venture, you would strive:
MEWPS (Cellular Elevated Work Platforms)
Ladders
Trestles and planks
Podium steps
Which various to scaffolding you choose will rely largely in your venture’s necessities (accessibility, top, security issues). You need to at all times seek the advice of an expert scaffolder or builder to make sure your chosen construction complies with security laws.
Converse to a talented scaffolding specialist in the present day to get began.
Whether or not you’re getting a loft conversion, fixing roof tiles or are getting gutters repaired, there are many causes you would possibly want scaffolding. We don’t really helpful you decide to erect your personal scaffolding except you are feeling you could have the mandatory competency, coaching, {qualifications}, permits and insurance coverage. As an alternative, rent a talented scaffolder(s) to do it for you. This may guarantee all security necessities are met.
It’s as much as you to make sure you ask your scaffolders for proof that they’ve the mandatory permits or licenses wanted to erect your scaffolding, so be sure to ask for these earlier than work begins.
*The Rated Individuals price guides are produced in collaboration with the quote-building platform PriceBuilder, and a variety of tradespeople throughout the 30+ trades on our platform have been consulted. Please notice that the costs included are for steering solely – how a lot you find yourself spending will rely on the precise necessities of your venture.