How many boards wide should a scaffold platform be?

Minimum platform widths per TG20 and BS EN 12811: 3 boards (675mm) — access and inspection only. 4 boards (900mm) — painting, light work, foot traffic. 5 boards (1125mm) — bricklaying, general purpose (most common). 6+ boards — heavy duty, material storage. Most working scaffolds use 5 boards to allow space for workers, materials, and a walkway.

When are toe boards required?

Toe boards (150mm high minimum) are required at any platform edge where there is a risk of materials or tools falling. This means the outer edge of every working platform and any open end. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, all scaffold platforms at 2m or above must have toe boards, guardrails (950mm), and an intermediate guardrail or brick guard.

What length scaffold boards should I use?

Standard UK scaffold boards come in: 2.4m (8ft), 3.0m (10ft), 3.9m (13ft), and occasionally 4.8m (16ft). The 3.9m board is the most common as it spans between transoms with adequate overhang. Boards must overhang the transom by 50-150mm (4× thickness minimum). A board should never overhang more than 4× its thickness.

How often should scaffold boards be inspected?

Scaffold boards must be inspected before each use and at least every 7 days as part of the scaffold inspection. Check for: splits or cracks, rot (especially at bearing points), warping, missing end nails or bands, excessive wear. Reject any board that is split more than the board's width from the end, or has a knot larger than 1/3 of the board width.

What is the difference between scaffold boards and staging boards?

Scaffold boards are sawn softwood timber, 225mm × 38mm × 3.9m (standard), graded to BS 2482 and banded at each end. Staging boards are wider (225-450mm) and thicker, used for longer spans. Lightweight composite boards (aluminium/plywood) are increasingly used as alternatives — they are lighter, more durable, and don't absorb water.

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Scaffold Board Calculator — Platform Width, Boards & Toe Boards

Calculate scaffold board requirements per TG20. Determines platform boards, toe boards, and total quantities including spares for your scaffold configuration.

Number of Bays

Total scaffold bays

Number of Working Lifts

Lifts requiring platform boards

Platform Width (boards)

3 = access, 5 = bricklaying (standard)

Bay Length

Distance between standards

How We Calculate This

This calculator determines the number of scaffold boards needed for your scaffold configuration, including platform boards and toe boards for each bay and lift.

Board quantities

Platform boards: Width (3-8 boards) × number of bays × number of lifts
Toe boards: 2 per bay (front and back) at each working level
Spares: 10% extra for damaged or rejected boards

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Verify with your supplier.