Calculate scaffold weight – guide values for scaffolding & transport
How heavy is a scaffold? The answer determines transport, storage space and handling on site. As a rule of thumb, a complete steel frame scaffold weighs approx. 19–21 kg per m² of scaffolded area, a modular scaffold approx. 24 kg/m² – with aluminium decks the weight drops to approx. 15 kg/m². For a 100 m² scaffold that means around 1.5 to 2.4 tonnes of material.
Below you will find the guide values per system and component group. The fastest way to an exact figure is our EasyFlow scaffold weight calculator – in the same style as the scaffolding area calculator: choose a system, enter the area, read off weight and transport needs.
Choose a scaffolding system and enter the area
Guide values per m² of scaffolded area incl. frames, decks, guard rails, diagonals and base jacks.
Weight guide values per m² and transport needs
Guide values per m² of scaffolded area – including frames, decks, guard rails, diagonals and base jacks (load class 3, standard bay sizes):
- Layher Blitz (steel decks): approx. 20 kg/m²
- Layher Blitz (aluminium/robust decks): approx. 15 kg/m²
- Layher Allround (modular, steel): approx. 24 kg/m²
- Plettac SL70: approx. 19 kg/m²
- Hünnebeck Bosta 70/100: approx. 21 kg/m²
- Rux Super: approx. 20 kg/m²
Worked example: A standard single-family house with 230 m² of scaffolding area in Layher Blitz (steel) weighs around 4.6 t – that means 2× 7.5-t trucks or a small articulated lorry. As transport guide values: a 7.5-t truck ≈ 3 t payload, a 40-t articulated lorry ≈ 24 t payload.
The breakdown by component group: vertical frames/standards ~45%, scaffold decks ~34%, guard rails & diagonals ~13%, base jacks & small parts ~8% of the total weight.
All values are non-binding guide values – the exact weight comes with the parts list in your quote. What your scaffold costs is covered in the price guide: What does a scaffold cost?, and you can determine the right area with the EasyFlow scaffolding area calculator.