The best wood trestles, compared.
Top pick: Bora Workhorse twin pack – Highest editorial score in this set, 90, for a folding steel pair at about £76.74 with 4.7 from 1,470 reviews. That score is not a laboratory test. Best value: HOMCOM telescopic builders trestle – Lowest price for a telescopic pair in this set, about £32.99, with a stated 80–130 cm range and 4.2 from 1,003 reviews. Updated October 2026.
A wood trestle holds timber, a door or boards while you cut, sand or decorate. Judge a useful one by the stated load, whether that figure is per frame or for the pair, the height, and whether United Kingdom reviews mention wobble, collapse or loose bolts. The specification field states 2,500 lb, so those numbers stay separate. United Kingdom reviews report a slow build and nuts that work loose while you saw. A taller builders' trestle lets a board span a pair. Standing on that board is work at height under the Work at Height Regulations 2005 in. What to check before you pay is in the [wood trestle buying guide](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/wood-trestle/sub/wood-trestle-buying-guide). UK shoppers also search for a builders' trestle, a decorator's trestle or a sawhorse. The amazon.co.uk listings are steel or plastic frames. They are not wooden tables, and the category name does not mean the frame is timber. You separate a useful stand from a weak one with five checks.
A wood trestle holds timber, a door or boards while you cut, sand or decorate.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you supporting?
The Bora Workhorse PM-3350T gives you a folding steel pair for supporting timber, with a stored price of £76.74 and a 4.7 rating from 1,470 reviews. Its listing bullet states 612 kg per horse, although the specification field gives a conflicting 2,500 lb figure, so the capacity should not be read without that caveat. UK reviewers repeatedly praise the strength and the way the legs fold for storage or transport. The pair also ranked first in Saw Horses in the captured listing extract, though marketplace ranks can change. One practical limitation is the side bracket: a UK reviewer reports that a standard 4x2 did not drop in without machining the timber. Another describes the construction as tinny, so the high stated load does not remove the need to inspect locks and footing before each job.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A folding metal pair for timber and a van, if you can check the bracket size.
Less suitable: A standing platform, or a job that needs an unplaned 4x2 to drop straight into the slot.
Specifications
Common questions
How much weight does the Bora listing state?
The bullet states 612 kg (1,350 lb) per horse and 1,225 kg for the pair. The specification field says 2,500 lb. The extract does not reconcile those figures.
Do they fold, and is assembly required?
The bullet says both horses fold flat. Assembly is marked yes, with a gravity-assisted opening and instructions included.
Will a 4x2 fit the side brackets?
The listing sells 2x4 slots. One United Kingdom review says a 4x2 does not drop into the cut-outs without machining the timber.
The Bora Centipede CT6 opens into a 600 x 1,200 mm support area at a stated 914 mm working height, rather than functioning as a pair of A-frame trestles. Its listing states a 1,134 kg capacity, a weight of 5.96 kg and a stored price of £99.95. The 4.6 rating from 5,690 reviews gives it the broadest evidence base after the Amazon Basics pair in this comparison. UK reviewers like the compact fold and carry strap, especially when a temporary bench is needed. However, several report wobble or a need for a very flat floor, and one found that sheet material sagged until extra supports were purchased. Table tops and additional supports are separate costs, and care is needed to keep a saw blade away from the plastic holding blocks.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A flat, portable bench for sheet goods when the floor is level.
Less suitable: Uneven ground, or someone who wants a simple A-frame pair.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Centipede a pair of trestles?
No. It is one folding workstand, 2 ft by 4 ft, sold as a sawhorse and support. Table tops are sold separately.
What load and height does the listing state?
The bullet states 1,134 kg (2,500 lb) and a 914 mm (36 inch) working height. The stored price is £99.95.
What do UK reviews say about the floor?
More than one United Kingdom review says it can wobble or needs a very flat surface. One says sheet goods sagged until extra supports were bought.
The Amazon Basics pair arrives assembled and folds to about 5 cm thick, so it can go from storage to supporting a door or board without a flat-pack build. Its title states a 408 kg capacity for the set, and the stored price is £47.23. The 4.5 rating from 8,402 reviews is the largest review base in this comparison. UK reviewers use the pair for sanding doors, holding plasterboard and light shed work, while taller users sometimes want more working height. The material field says metal, but UK reviews describe the stands as plastic, so that listing detail is not reliable enough to settle the question. Printed cautions prohibit standing on the pair, chainsaw use and use on smooth ground, and reviewers also find work awkward to clamp.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light door and board support with no build time.
Less suitable: A chainsaw, a standing platform, or a taller working height.
Specifications
Common questions
Do you have to build them?
Assembly is marked no. The bullet says they come fully assembled, fold flat, and include locking braces, non-slip feet, and fold-out stoppers.
Can you stand on them or use a chainsaw?
A United Kingdom review quotes a caution: do not exceed 900 lb evenly across the two, do not use them as a jack or scaffold, do not stand on a plate across the frames, do not use a chainsaw, and do not use them on smooth ground.
What do UK reviews use them for?
Sanding doors, holding floorboards and plasterboard, and light shed work. One taller reviewer wanted more height. Clamping the work is described as difficult.
The Brennenstuhl MB 110 is one folding steel trestle for painting, interior work and workshop support, not a complete pair for a door or long board. Its listing states a 110 kg load and a stored price of £16.78. The 4.4 rating from 966 reviews is encouraging, although only three comments in the extract are marked as United Kingdom reviews. Two of those describe it as strong and straightforward to assemble. The third reports missing parts, so count the fixings before beginning the build. Its working height is not stated in the captured listing, and buying two changes the apparent low-price advantage.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A single low trestle for painting kit, with a second support bought separately.
Less suitable: A ready pair for a door or a ceiling board.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a pair?
No. The bullet says one steel work trestle, model MB 110. You need a second support for a long board. The stored price is £16.78.
What is it for, and what load is stated?
The bullet says painting, interior work, and workshop use, with a steel square tube and a plastic coating. The specification field is 110 kg.
What do UK reviews in the extract say?
Three reviews are marked United Kingdom. Two call it strong and straightforward to assemble. One says parts were missing.
This unbranded plastic twin pack provides two 2.32 kg stands that fold to just 5 cm thick, making them easy to store between occasional jobs. The listing states 175 kg per stand and a combined 350 kg, with a stored price of £36.29. Its frame includes 5.2 cm grooves, clamp slots, a tool shelf and hanging points, which are useful for a temporary bench. The rating is 4.4 from only 44 reviews, so it carries much less review evidence than the established pairs here. Several UK reviewers call the stands sturdy enough for light work, but one says a stand collapsed while timber was being manoeuvred. That report makes this a poor choice for heavy stock that will be shifted sideways after loading, regardless of the headline capacity.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light, occasional support where a thin fold matters.
Less suitable: Heavy timber that will be shifted on the stands.
Specifications
Common questions
What load does the plastic pair claim?
The bullet says 175 kg per stand and 350 kg combined. Each stand is listed at 2.32 kg. The stored price is £36.29.
Do UK reviews agree they are sturdy?
Several United Kingdom reviews call them sturdy for a temporary bench. One says they collapse when timber is manoeuvred and would not recommend them. Another limits them to light work.
What else is on the frame?
The bullet lists 5.2 cm grooves, clamp slots, a 32 x 25 cm tool shelf, four hangers, and non-slip elastomer feet.
The HOMCOM B40-015 gives you two steel trestles adjustable from 80 to 130 cm for a stored £32.99, the lowest price for a telescopic pair in this set. The listing bullet states 100 kg per horse, while the 200 kg specification appears to describe the pair together. A 4.2 rating from 1,003 reviews provides a useful body of feedback, and the captured extract placed it fourth in Saw Horses. UK reviewers commonly find the pair stable once assembled and value the wide height range for boards and decorating work. Assembly is the compromise: comments describe poor instructions, a lengthy build and nuts that can vibrate loose during sawing. Check every fixing after the first use and periodically thereafter; one reviewer also received only two of the four feet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A budget telescopic pair if you can assemble it and recheck the nuts.
Less suitable: Someone who wants a tool-free pair or a platform to stand on.
Specifications
Common questions
How high do the HOMCOM trestles go?
The bullet says 80–130 cm. Folded size is 84 x 68 x 11 cm. The stored price is £32.99.
Is the load 100 kg or 200 kg?
The bullet says 100 kg per saw horse. The specification field says 200 kg, which matches two trestles at 100 kg each. The page does not spell that out in one sentence.
What do UK reviews say after assembly?
Many call them stable once built and like the height range. Several say the instructions are poor and that nuts shake loose while sawing. One delivery had two feet instead of four.
The black Relaxdays pair gives you two folding alloy-steel supports at about 75 cm high, with painting and interior work named in the listing. Its stated load is 100 kg and the stored price is £47.90. The overall rating is 3.9 from 202 reviews, but the UK evidence in the extract is limited to two comments. Both are negative: one reports a very wobbly frame, difficult-to-tighten bolts and instructions in German, while the other says the nuts and bolts were missing. That makes box inspection and a careful assembly check essential before any work is placed on top. At the same price as the red Relaxdays pair, it offers no height adjustment and little reassuring UK feedback.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Only if the box is complete and the bolts lock solid.
Less suitable: A first trestle if you cannot afford a missing-fixings risk.
Specifications
Common questions
Are they sold for painting?
Yes. The bullet names painters and decorators, and the specification lists masonry, painting, garden, and interior design. Stated load is 100 kg at about 75 cm.
What do the UK reviews in the extract say?
Two reviews are marked United Kingdom. One says the frame is very wobbly, the bolts are hard to tighten, and the instructions are in German. The other says the package had no nuts or bolts.
How much do they cost and weigh?
The stored price is £47.90. Item weight on the extract is 2.4 kg.
The red Relaxdays set supplies two fixed-height steel frames measuring about 75 x 78 x 40 cm, aimed at painting, wallpapering and timber support. Its listing states a 100 kg load and a stored price of £47.90. The frames fold, but assembly is required and the specification says instructions are not provided. A rating of 3.9 from 78 reviews is weaker than most alternatives in this comparison, and only two reviews in the extract are marked as United Kingdom feedback. One of those calls the pair totally unstable, while the other gives no useful account of the frame. Given that evidence and the lack of height adjustment, check the assembled frame carefully rather than treating the stated load as proof of stability.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A fixed 75 cm steel pair only if you can judge stability on the day.
Less suitable: A buyer who needs height adjustment or a clear run of UK reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Are these painting trestles?
The bullet calls them wallpapering trestles for painting, and also sawhorses for cutting wood. The specification says indoor use. Stated load is 100 kg.
Do they come with instructions?
The specification says assembly is required, a screwdriver is recommended, and instructions are required but not provided.
What do the UK reviews in the extract say?
Only two reviews are marked United Kingdom. One says totally unstable. The other does not describe the frame. The 3.9 from 78 is the listing line, not a UK-only score.
The HOMFME set supplies two telescopic metal trestles with six stated positions from 80 to 130 cm. Its listing claims a combined 200 kg capacity and includes side clamps, anti-slip feet and an instruction sheet at a stored price of £47.47. The captured page does not state a per-trestle load, so the combined figure should not be silently divided or applied to one frame. More importantly, the extract contains no star rating and no customer review text. The page says it was first listed on 22 June 2026, which helps explain the absent history but does not substitute for user evidence. Choose it only if the height increments matter enough to accept an unreviewed listing at a higher price than the reviewed HOMCOM pair.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A telescopic pair only if you accept an unreviewed listing.
Less suitable: A buyer who wants a UK review history before paying £47.47.
Specifications
Common questions
What heights does the HOMFME pair offer?
The bullet lists six positions: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, and 130 cm. It also claims side clamps and anti-slip feet. The stored price is £47.47.
How much weight is stated?
The bullet says a combined bearing limit of 200 kg. It does not state a per-trestle figure.
Is there a star rating?
The extract has no customer-review line and no review text. First listed date on the page is 22 June 2026.
Nine amazon.co.uk listings are on this page. The 0–100 comparison score combines the star rating and review count with job fit, how complete the stated specification is, value at the captured GBP price, and recurring United Kingdom review themes. It is an editorial comparison score, not a laboratory result and not a safety certification. Scores are reduced for conflicting load fields, no rating line, reports of collapse or wobble, loose or missing fixings, restrictive warnings, extra accessory costs, and a pack of one when the job needs a pair. A high stated capacity does not cancel a fit or safety concern.
Amazon rating and review volume
40%Forty percent of the score. The amazon.co.uk star rating and the number of reviews both count. A listing with no review line does not receive this share.
Suitability for the stated job
25%Twenty-five percent. A folding pair, a telescopic pair, a single painter trestle and a workstand are different tools. Pack size and stated equipment are part of the fit.
Value at the captured price
20%Twenty percent. The figure is the stored amazon.co.uk price in GBP, VAT as Amazon showed it, not a survey of every trestle on sale.
UK review sentiment
15%Fifteen percent. Recurring United Kingdom comments on wobble, collapse, loose nuts, missing fixings and bracket fit lower the score. A star line that is not marked as United Kingdom is not treated as British opinion.
A wood trestle on this page is a sawhorse or a builders' trestle for timber, doors and decorating. Read the job, the load wording, the height and the assembly before the price. None of these nine amazon.co.uk listings was laboratory tested for this comparison, and none is a certified scaffold.
A wood trestle in this comparison is a work trestle or sawhorse. It holds timber, doors or boards while you cut, sand or decorate. UK shoppers also search for a builders' trestle, a decorator's trestle or a sawhorse. The amazon.co.uk listings in this set are steel or plastic frames. They are not wooden tables, and the category name does not mean the frame is timber. You separate a useful stand from a weak one with five checks. The job comes first.
HOMCOM's bullet says 100 kg per saw horse and the specification field says 200 kg, which matches the pair. The Bora Workhorse bullet says 612 kg per horse and the load field says 2,500 lb. Do not merge those two Bora figures into one capacity.
The Brennenstuhl MB 110 is one frame at about £16.78. A door or a long board needs a second support. Buying two changes the price you thought you were paying.
Standing on a board across a pair is work at height under the Work at Height Regulations 2005. Hire notes say open the trestle fully, do not gain height with bricks, and do not climb the frame. A domestic plank is not staging.
Start with the job. A folding sawhorse holds a door or a length of timber. A telescopic pair around 80–130 cm is what HOMCOM and HOMFME offer when boards go across the pair. The Bora Centipede is one folding workstand, 600 x 1,200 mm in the bullet, not an A-frame pair. Table tops for it are sold separately. Then read the load as written. HOMCOM's bullet says 100 kg per saw horse. The plastic pair claims 175 kg each. The Brennenstuhl specification field is 110 kg for one trestle.
Fixed frames in this set sit near 75 cm (both Relaxdays listings) or about 83.8 cm on the Bora Workhorse dimension line. HOMCOM and HOMFME claim 80–130 cm, and HOMFME lists six steps: 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 cm. The Centipede bullet claims 914 mm. Working height is not stated for the plastic pair or the Brennenstuhl. Amazon Basics is marked assembly not required and folds to about 5 cm. The plastic pair is 2.32 kg per stand and folds thin, which suits occasional light work.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a folding steel pair in the van for timber, and you can check whether your batten fits the bracket. The Bora Workhorse twin pack is about £76.74, with 4.7 from 1,470 reviews. One United Kingdom review says a 4x2 does not drop in without machining.
You want boards across a pair at 80–130 cm, at the lowest telescopic price in this set. The HOMCOM pair is about £32.99, with 4.2 from 1,003 reviews. Plan for a flat-pack build, and recheck nuts that United Kingdom reviews say work loose while you saw.
You want no build time and you will stay inside a modest load, such as a door or a light board. The Amazon Basics pair is about £47.23, with 4.5 from 8,402 reviews. The height is fixed, and the printed caution rules out standing, a chainsaw and smooth ground.
The top pick is the Bora Workhorse twin pack at about £76.74. It has the highest editorial score in this set, 90, as a folding steel pair with 4.7 from 1,470 reviews. Keep the clash between the 612 kg bullet and the 2,500 lb specification field, and the 4x2 bracket comment, in view. The best value is the HOMCOM telescopic pair at about £32.99, score 78, the lowest price here for an 80–130 cm pair with 1,003 reviews. United Kingdom reviews call the assembly slow, and nuts can work loose while you saw. Neither listing is a platform to stand on, and neither score is a laboratory test.
Bora Workhorse twin pack
Highest editorial score in this set, 90, for a folding steel pair at about £76.74 with 4.7 from 1,470 reviews. That score is not a laboratory test.
HOMCOM telescopic builders trestle
Lowest price for a telescopic pair in this set, about £32.99, with a stated 80–130 cm range and 4.2 from 1,003 reviews.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources for the work-at-height points on this page. Prices, stars and review counts are the stored amazon.co.uk listing lines, not a laboratory test.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the stored amazon.co.uk listing lines. We did not run a laboratory test.
