Loft boarding cost in 2023

If your loft isn’t boarded, it limits the amount of space you have to store your belongings. But boarding even a small area of your loft can help you make the most of the storage space and help you keep your home clutter-free.

Loft boarding normally costs around £55 per square metre, but the final cost all depends on any additional work you need alongside it. Find out how much loft boarding costs in our guide.

How much does it cost to board a loft?

How much it costs to board a loft depends on the type of boarding you want, how big the space that you want to board is and where you are in the country, but here are the average costs:

Job/item (including materials & labour)	Average cost (not including VAT)
Basic loft boarding with chipboard	£30-£80 per square metre
Raised loft boarding system	£80-£100 per square metre
New timber folding loft ladder in existing hatch	£200-£320
Create a new loft hatch	£210-£420
Carpenter hourly rate	£16-£40

How much you pay for the labour part of your loft boarding project will vary depending on where you live. If you live in the south east of England or London, expect to pay higher rates than shown here. You may pay less in other areas of the UK, particularly the north, Scotland and Wales.

HaMuch has a huge database of hourly and daily rates for carpenters and loft boarding companies across the country, so we’ve put together estimates for loft boarding based on your area further down the page.

Loft insulation and boarding cost

While you’re having your loft boarded it’s a good idea to get it insulated up to modern standards too. The most common form of loft insulation is blanket insulation made from glass, mineral or sheep’s wool that will be laid between your joists before the loft boards are installed over the top.

Blanket insulation to a thickness of 270mm costs between £30-£40 per square metre, including materials and labour.

What affects the cost of boarding a loft?

Loft size

Of course, the size of your loft will have the biggest impact on how much you pay to have it boarded.

For a 10 square metre loft, it’ll cost between £300-£1,000 to board, not including any insulation. For a 15 square metre loft, it will cost between £450-£1,500 to board.

Remember that you don’t have to have your entire loft boarded – if you don’t need to use the entire space, you could get just a small portion of it boarded to save some money.

Type of loft boarding

The simplest and cheapest method of loft boarding is to lay chipboard over your joists. This costs just £30-£80 per square metre and an average 15 square metre loft will only take a professional a day to do.

However, you could also go for a raised loft boarding system, where a carpenter installs the boards above the ceiling joists. This allows for air circulation, which reduces the risk of getting damp and condensation. Raised loft boarding systems cost between £80-£100 per square metre.

Whether you need better access

If you’re boarding your loft to make it easier to use, you’ll want to be able to access it easily too. If you’ve not got one already, you may want to consider getting a loft ladder installed.

There are lots of loft ladders available, including folding timber ladders that cost between £200-£320 to have installed, or cheaper but more lightweight aluminium ladders which cost between £155-£570 to install.

Whether you want to insulate your loft

Adding insulation will of course drive up the cost of boarding your loft. To board and insulate a 10 square metre loft, expect to pay between £600-£1,400.

Whether you want to add extras

If you’re making your loft into a better storage space, you probably want to get some shelves fitted up there, or buy some new storage boxes. This will all add to the cost of your loft boarding project.

The other thing to think about is whether you have lighting in your loft. It will be much easier to use if you have lights fitted so you don’t have to use a torch when you go up there. An electrician can fit an LED light fitting in your loft within 2 hours and the lights themselves can cost as little as £10 each, plus around £60-£90 in labour.

What about roof windows? If you have Velux windows installed, you will be able to see what you’re doing in your loft in the day time, making it much easier to use. A 55cm wide roof window that’s between 70cm and 118cm in height will cost between £675-£775 to install.

Loft boarding video

What is the difference between a loft conversion and loft boarding?

The difference between a loft conversion and loft boarding is simple: a loft conversion changes your loft into a liveable space, whereas loft boarding just makes your loft more usable and accessible.

With a loft conversion, you’ll need to ensure that all alterations adhere to Building Regulations and apply for planning permission where necessary. You’ll need to have a proper staircase for fire regulations as well as windows and the correct head height.

With loft boarding, you can simply have the boards placed down – there’s no need to cover with carpet or another floor covering if you don’t want to. Unless you want your loft to be a habitable space, there are no regulations that you need to meet.

Does boarding a loft add value?

Yes, boarding a loft definitely adds value to your home. Most prospective buyers will want to be able to use their loft space for storage, and having a ready-boarded loft is bound to impress them enough to increase their offer on your home – assuming they also love the rest of it!

However, it’s worth remembering that a bad job could reduce your home’s value. If your boards aren’t fixed down properly, are uneven or generally look shoddy, this could put them off. That’s why we always recommend hiring a professional to board your loft to ensure you get the best finish.

Post your job on HaMuch now to get in touch with reliable carpenters and loft boarders in your area who are available to do the work.

Estimates for common carpenter & joiner jobs;

Rates for other trades