The short answer
Scaffolding is usually priced as a single hire figure that includes the first 4–8 weeks, rather than a flat weekly charge — so for much of a normal job the effective weekly cost is built into the headline price. Where a weekly rate is quoted, domestic scaffolding commonly runs £300–£900 per week depending on size, height and access, and the underlying rate is about £20–£25 per square metre per week. Once you pass the included period, extension weeks are charged separately, typically around 5–10% of the original quote per week. The weekly figure rises with property height, the area covered and region, with London and the South East carrying a 15–25% premium.
People often ask for a weekly price, but scaffolding is usually sold as a whole-job figure with a long included period. Here is how the weekly and per-square-metre numbers actually work so you can read a quote correctly.
Weekly pricing in brief
- Typical weekly rate£300–£900 / week
- Per square metre~£20–£25 / m² / week
- Included period~4–8 weeks
- Extension week~5–10% of quote
- London / South East15–25% premium
Included weeks vs extension weeks
The key thing to understand is that the headline hire price already includes a long first period — often 4–8 weeks — so you are not billed week by week from day one. A genuine per-week charge only kicks in once the job runs past that included period, at roughly 5–10% of the original quote per extra week. Where a contractor does quote a standalone weekly figure, expect around £300–£900 per week for a domestic job, scaling with the area covered and the property height.
| Measure | Typical figure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly rate (domestic) | £300–£900 / week | scales with size & height |
| Per square metre | ~£20–£25 / m² / week | straightforward jobs lower |
| Included period | ~4–8 weeks | inside the headline price |
| Extension week | ~5–10% of quote | after the included period |
Indicative UK figures for guidance. Sourced UK guidance: MyBuilder and MyJobQuote scaffold cost guides.
How to keep the weekly cost down
- Schedule the trades: book the roofer, renderer or builder so the work finishes inside the included period and you avoid extension weeks.
- Confirm the included weeks: ask exactly how many weeks the headline price covers before the scaffold goes up.
- Agree the extension rate: get the per-week extension charge in writing so an overrun has no surprises.
- Right-size the scaffold: only wrapping the elevations you need keeps the square-metre figure — and the weekly rate — lower.
Want the weekly terms set out clearly?
We'll match you with a CISRS-accredited scaffolding contractor who confirms the included period, the per-week extension rate and the area covered in writing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does scaffolding cost per week?
Where a weekly rate is quoted, domestic scaffolding commonly runs £300–£900 per week, based on an underlying rate of about £20–£25 per square metre per week. Most hire prices, though, already include the first 4–8 weeks rather than charging week by week.
Is the first week of scaffolding included in the price?
Usually the headline hire price includes a long first period, commonly 4–8 weeks. A separate per-week charge typically only applies once the job overruns that included period, at around 5–10% of the original quote per extra week.
What is the per-square-metre rate for scaffolding?
Most domestic scaffolding is priced at about £20–£25 per square metre per week of face area, with straightforward setups sometimes nearer £12/m² and complex urban jobs past £30/m².
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific job. They are guidance, not a quotation.