Best saw horses UK: four picks for different jobs
Updated: October 2026
The best saw horses in the UK are not simply the pair with the largest capacity or highest star rating. A steel folding horse, an adjustable builders trestle, a plastic pair and a one-piece workstand solve different problems. From the models in our [wood trestle comparison](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/wood-trestle), the BORA Workhorse PM-3350T is the strongest overall sawhorse pick, while HOMCOM offers the value route to adjustable height. Amazon Basics suits light jobs without assembly, and Brennenstuhl makes sense when you genuinely need one painter trestle. These are listing-and-review comparisons, not results from our own laboratory test.
The best saw horses in the UK are not simply the pair with the largest capacity or highest star rating.
The best saw horses in the UK are not simply the pair with the largest capacity or highest star rating. A steel folding horse, an adjustable builders trestle, a plastic pair and a one-piece workstand solve different problems. From the models in our wood trestle comparison, the BORA Workhorse PM-3350T is the strongest overall sawhorse pick, while HOMCOM offers the value route to adjustable height. Amazon Basics suits light jobs without assembly, and Brennenstuhl makes sense when you genuinely need one painter trestle. These are listing-and-review comparisons, not results from our own laboratory test.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Job | Stated load | Height | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  BORA Bora Workhorse twin pack | Folding sawhorse pair | 612 kg each in the bullet; spec field 2,500 lb | 83.8 cm on the dimension line | 9.0 | about £76.74 | View offer |
| Alternative |  Amazon Basics Amazon Basics folding sawhorses | Ready-folded sawhorse pair | 408 kg on the title; review quotes 900 lb across both | Not adjustable | 8.2 | about £47.23 | View offer |
| Best value |  HOMCOM HOMCOM telescopic builders trestle | Telescopic builders trestle | 100 kg each in the bullet; spec field 200 kg | Adjustable 80–130 cm | 7.8 | about £32.99 | View offer |
On this page
Best depends on the job, not the star
A rating tells you whether buyers were broadly satisfied, but it does not make unlike products comparable. The BORA Centipede has 4.6 from 5,690 reviews and a stated 1,134 kg capacity, yet it is one expanding workstand rather than two A-frame horses. The BORA Workhorse pair has 4.7 from 1,470 reviews and folds like conventional heavy sawhorses.
Price also needs a pack-size check. The Brennenstuhl MB 110 costs £16.78 in the captured listing, but that buys one trestle. HOMCOM costs £32.99 for an adjustable pair. If you are unsure whether you need a horse, tall trestle or standing platform, use the trestle versus sawhorse comparison first.
Top heavy folding pair: BORA Workhorse PM-3350T
The BORA Workhorse is the top pick in this set for someone who wants a substantial folding steel pair for timber. The listing combines a 4.7 rating from 1,470 reviews with a captured price of £76.74.
BORA's bullet states 612 kg, or 1,350 lb, for each horse. The Amazon specification field says 2,500 lb without reconciling the difference, so use the clearly attributed per-horse figure and still follow the manual. Skip the BORA if your plan depends on dropping an ordinary 4x2 straight into its side brackets without checking dimensions. One UK reviewer reports having to machine the timber.
Best-value telescopic pair: HOMCOM B40-015
HOMCOM is the value pick when adjustable support matters more than tool-free setup. The pair costs £32.99 in the stored listing, ranges from 80 to 130 cm and carries a 4.2 rating from 1,003 reviews. Its bullet says 100 kg per horse, with 200 kg shown elsewhere in the specification, apparently for both frames combined.
UK reviews commonly say the finished pair is stable, but buyers describe poor instructions, a lengthy assembly and nuts that loosen as sawing vibration builds. Skip HOMCOM if you want to unfold a pair and begin immediately. The builders trestle buying guide explains how the retail pair differs from a BS 1139 bandstand.
Best no-assembly pair: Amazon Basics
The Amazon Basics folding pair is the straightforward choice for supporting doors, floorboards or plasterboard during light DIY. It arrives assembled, folds to approximately 5 cm thick and costs £47.23 in the stored listing. Its 4.5 score from 8,402 reviews is the largest review base here.
The title states 408 kg for the set, while one review quotes the printed limit as 900 lb evenly distributed across both frames. Treat that as a pair capacity, not a figure for one stand. Skip this pair if you need adjustable height, easy clamping or chainsaw support. Printed cautions quoted by a UK reviewer prohibit standing on the horses, using a chainsaw and working on smooth ground.
The single painter trestle, and what to leave
The Brennenstuhl MB 110 suits someone who needs one compact steel support and already has a compatible second support. Its listing names painting, states 110 kg and shows a price of £16.78. Skip it if you need a ready pair for a door, because the package contains one trestle.
The BORA Centipede CT6 is a portable bench footprint rather than two horses. It opens to a stated 600 x 1,200 mm support area at 914 mm high. At £99.95, tops are sold separately, and UK reviewers mention wobble on imperfect floors. The HOMFME pair claims six heights from 80 to 130 cm, but the extract contains no rating or review text.
Common questions
Which pair is the best all-round sawhorse?
The BORA Workhorse PM-3350T is our top all-round pick from this set because it combines folding steel construction with 4.7 from 1,470 reviews. It is costly at £76.74 and its bracket may not accept an unplaned 4x2 without adjustment, so check that fit before buying.
Is the highest star rating the strongest?
No. Stars record customer satisfaction across different uses, while capacity comes from the manufacturer’s stated conditions. A 4.6 workstand is not directly comparable with a 4.7 sawhorse pair. Read pack size, load wording, locks and intended use before using stars as a tie-breaker.
Is BORA worth more than HOMCOM?
BORA is the better fit for heavy folding sawhorse use and quick opening. HOMCOM costs much less and adds 80–130 cm adjustment, but requires assembly and periodic nut checks. Pay for BORA when its folding strength and bracket system suit the job; choose HOMCOM for budget height adjustment.
What should I buy if I will not assemble anything?
Amazon Basics arrives assembled and folds flat, making it the clearest no-build pair here. It suits light door, board and sheet support. It has fixed height, can be awkward to clamp and carries explicit restrictions against standing, chainsaws and smooth-ground use.
Is the BORA Centipede the best trestle?
It is best treated as a folding workstand. Its broad support pattern can create a portable bench on a level floor, but it is not a pair of A-frame horses. Extra supports or a top may add cost, and UK reviews report wobble on floors that are not flat.
What is the best option for one painting trestle?
The Brennenstuhl MB 110 is the clearest single painter trestle in this set, at a stored £16.78 with a stated 110 kg capacity. Remember that one frame does not safely support a long door by itself, and inspect the package because one UK reviewer reported missing parts.
Related pages
Sources
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.
- Work at Height Regulations 2005 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- HSE — Work at height: the law (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- HSE — INDG401 Working at height (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- HSE — Scaffolding (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- HSE — Manual handling plasterboard (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- BS 2482:2009 timber scaffold boards (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- HSENI — Safe scaffolding components (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- HSE — PUWER (retrieved 17 October 2026)