The Short Answer
On our estimates, boarding a loft for storage costs about £60 to £110 per m² laid straight on the joists, or £1,200 to £2,150 for 20m² on a raised system, including VAT.
I'd go raised if your loft insulation is deeper than the joists, which it should be: a modern level is around 250mm. Boards laid straight on top squash it, and the Energy Saving Trust advises replacing insulation that's been compressed. It also suggests battens or legs to raise boards above the insulation.
Loft boarding prices
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Chipboard laid on the joists, per m² | £60 to £110 |
| Laid on the joists, 10m² | £600 to £1,100 |
| Raised system, 20m² | £1,200 to £2,150 |
Don't squash the insulation
The Energy Saving Trust says insulation that has become compressed is best removed and replaced, so boards shouldn't sit on top of it. A raised system, with battens or legs fixed to the joists, lifts the boards above the full depth of insulation.
What a good job looks like
LoftZone, which makes a raised boarding system, gives a checklist that's useful whether you fit it yourself or compare quotes:
- Structural boards: 18mm chipboard rated P4 or P5 (P2 and P3 are furniture grades), or good OSB, in panels about 1,220mm long that fit between joists and through a hatch.
- Screwed, not nailed: hammering nails risks cracking the ceiling below.
- Lift-out panels over pipes and wiring you'll need to reach, rather than tongue-and-groove everywhere.
- Gaps at the edges: don't board right up to the walls, so air can move and condensation doesn't build up.
- A check of the joists first for rot, cracks or weakness, and a professional if they're uneven or you're unsure how strong they are.
Many people board just the middle of the loft, where the headroom is, and leave the rest insulated. That's also the cheapest way to get storage.
Boarding is not a conversion
A boarded loft is storage. Using it as a room (an office, a bedroom, a playroom) needs a proper floor, stairs, fire protection and building regulations approval: that's a loft conversion. For access, see loft ladder installation.
Get loft boarding quotes
Loft boarding is priced by area and whether it needs raising above the insulation.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does loft boarding cost?
On our estimates, about £60 to £110 per m² laid on the joists, or £1,200 to £2,150 for 20m² on a raised system, including VAT.
Can I board my loft straight onto joists?
Only if the insulation fits within the joist depth. With a modern level of around 250mm it won't, and the boards would squash it; the Energy Saving Trust suggests battens or legs to raise them.
How to board a loft cheaply?
Board only the area you need for storage, near the hatch, and keep the insulation at full depth underneath on a raised system. Fitting it yourself saves the labour.
How thick should loft boards be?
18mm is standard. In chipboard, choose structural P4 or P5 boards rather than P2 or P3 furniture grades.
Should loft boards be screwed or nailed?
Screwed. Nailing means hammering, which can crack the ceiling below.
Do you need permission to board a loft?
Not for boarding for storage. Using the loft as a habitable room needs building regulations approval as a loft conversion.
How we priced thisView sources (4, 2 official)
Rules come from the legislation and official guidance, read at source. Prices are our estimates: we check them against trade price data, retailer shelf prices and specialists' price lists, then build them up from their parts so the totals add up. Below are the sources behind the page; the trade price guides we only compare against aren’t listed. Where sources disagreed, we've said so. More on our method.
- IndustryLoft floor boards installation: essential tips, LoftZone. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- OfficialHow to insulate a loft, Energy Saving Trust. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- OfficialApproved Document L: Conservation of fuel and power, Volume 1 Dwellings (2021 edition incorporating 2023 amendments), GOV.UK. Checked 16 Oct 2026.
- IndustryLoft ladder, boarding and insulation pricing, Home Counties Loft Ladders. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
