What Is Durbar Plate? The Complete UK Guide
Durbar plate — also called steel chequer plate, checker plate, tread plate or floor plate — is the raised-pattern steel sheet you see on factory floors, stair treads, ramps and trailer beds across the UK. This guide explains what durbar plate is, how it differs from aluminium chequer plate, the thicknesses and sizes available, how much it weighs and costs, the jobs it's built for, and the ready-made durbar stair treads and landing plates we stock for building complete steel staircases.
What is durbar plate?
Durbar plate is mild steel sheet with a raised anti-slip pattern rolled into one face. “Durbar” began as a Tata Steel trade name and is now used across the UK industry as a general term for steel tread plate or chequer plate. The raised teardrop pattern — short raised bars arranged in a repeating diamond layout — gives excellent grip in all directions and is part of the steel itself, so it never peels or wears off like a coating. Our durbar plate is supplied in structural S275 grade mild steel.
Durbar plate vs chequer plate vs tread plate
These terms cause a lot of confusion, so to be clear: durbar plate, steel chequer plate, checker plate, tread plate and floor plate all describe the same product — raised-pattern steel sheet. “Chequer” is the UK spelling and “checker” the US spelling. The main genuine distinction is the material: durbar/chequer plate in steel versus the lighter aluminium chequer plate, which uses a different five-bar pattern. If you've been quoted for any of these names, you're looking at the same type of plate.
Durbar plate thickness and sizes
We stock S275 durbar plate in two full-sheet sizes:
- 2500 × 1250mm (8×4ft) in 3mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm — the most commonly specified UK size.
- 2000 × 1000mm (2m × 1m) in 3mm, 4.5mm and 6mm.
The thickness quoted is the base plate, measured beneath the raised pattern. As a rule, 3mm suits light-to-medium flooring and trailer beds, 4.5mm general industrial floors and walkways, 6mm heavy walkways and ramps, and 8–10mm forklift routes, loading bays and high-load decking.
Durbar plate weight
Steel durbar is heavy, so weight matters for handling and delivery. Approximate weights per square metre, including the raised pattern, are:
- 3mm — 26.2 kg/m²
- 4.5mm — 38.0 kg/m²
- 6mm — 49.7 kg/m²
- 8mm — 65.4 kg/m²
- 10mm — 81.1 kg/m²
An 8×4ft sheet is 3.125 m², so a 6mm 8×4 sheet weighs around 155 kg — well into forklift or two-plus-person territory. Always plan offload before delivery for anything 4.5mm and above.
What is durbar plate used for?
Durbar plate's slip resistance and strength make it the default anti-slip steel surface in industry. The most common uses are:
Stair treads and walkways
The single most common use. Durbar stair treads and gangway walkways give a permanent slip-resistant surface for industrial staircases, mezzanines and access platforms. Rather than cutting and folding your own from sheet, you can buy our pre-formed durbar stair treads ready to bolt straight onto a stringer.
Loading ramps and vehicle access ramps
4.5–10mm durbar grips under forklifts, pallet trucks, barrows and plant on loading docks and ramps in all weathers.
Mezzanine and platform decking
As structural floor plate, durbar decks raised platforms, gantries and walkways where both strength and grip are needed.
Trailer and lorry bed flooring
Tough wear-plate flooring for trailers, tippers and plant bodies that takes constant loading and impact.
Trench and access covers
Strong, removable covers for service trenches, pits and ducts that carry foot and vehicle loads. Durbar is also widely used for factory and workshop flooring, protective floor coverings and general fabrication.
Durbar stair treads and landing plates
You don't have to fabricate steps from sheet. Rackerman now supplies a full range of pre-formed durbar stair treads and landing plates, pressed to pattern in S275 durbar plate and ready to bolt or weld onto a stringer. The standard mild steel durbar stair treads come in 800–1500mm lengths with a 265mm going, while galvanised durbar treads add hot-dip corrosion protection for external staircases and fire escapes. For accessible, public-facing stairs, DDA durbar treads carry a deep 145mm high-visibility front nosing, and spiral durbar treads are tapered to suit helical staircases. Finish the flight with matching durbar landing plates in standard or intermediate (half-landing) configurations. Browse the complete durbar plate collection to spec a whole staircase from one material.
Durbar plate vs aluminium chequer plate
Steel durbar is roughly three times the weight of aluminium and much stronger, making it the right choice for heavy structural flooring, ramps under plant and high-traffic industrial use. Aluminium chequer plate is about a third of the weight and won't rust, so it wins for trailers, vans, marine and decorative work. Choose steel durbar for load-bearing strength and lower cost per sheet; choose aluminium for weight saving and corrosion resistance. For a full breakdown, see our aluminium chequer plate guide.
How much does durbar plate cost?
Durbar plate price depends on thickness and sheet size — thicker plate uses more steel, so it costs more. As a rough UK guide, an 8×4ft S275 durbar sheet ranges from around £220 for 3mm up to roughly £500 for 10mm, with the smaller 2m × 1m sheets costing less. Ready-made durbar stair treads start from around £62 and landing plates from around £157, depending on size and finish. Steel durbar is generally cheaper per sheet than aluminium chequer plate of the same size. See the live product pages below for current pricing.
Cutting and finishing durbar plate
Our durbar sheets are supplied as full fixed sizes rather than cut to order, while treads and landings are pressed to standard patterns. S275 cuts, drills and welds with standard steelwork tools, so it's easily fabricated on site. It's supplied in a mill finish (uncoated) — paint, prime or galvanise it after fabrication where corrosion protection is needed, especially outdoors.
Buy durbar plate at Rackerman
We hold UK stock of S275 durbar plate, stair treads and landings with free mainland UK delivery:
- Full durbar plate collection — sheets, treads & landings
- Durbar Plate 8x4 (2500 × 1250mm) — 3 to 10mm
- Durbar Floor Plate 2m × 1m (2000 × 1000mm) — 3 to 6mm
- Durbar Stair Treads — mild steel, 800 to 1500mm
- Galvanised Durbar Stair Treads
- DDA Durbar Stair Treads — 145mm nosing
- Spiral Durbar Stair Treads
- Durbar Landing Plates — standard & intermediate
Shop the durbar plate collection at Rackerman →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is durbar plate?
Durbar plate is mild steel sheet with a raised anti-slip teardrop pattern rolled into one face. It's used for industrial flooring, stair treads, ramps and walkways. “Durbar” is also known as steel chequer plate, checker plate, tread plate or floor plate.
Is durbar plate the same as chequer plate?
Yes. Durbar plate, steel chequer plate, checker plate and tread plate all describe the same raised-pattern steel sheet. The main difference in the market is steel versus aluminium chequer plate, which uses a different five-bar pattern.
What thicknesses does durbar plate come in?
We stock S275 durbar plate in 3mm, 4.5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm in the 8×4ft (2500 × 1250mm) size, and 3mm, 4.5mm and 6mm in the 2m × 1m (2000 × 1000mm) size. The thickness is the base plate, beneath the raised tread.
How much does durbar plate weigh?
Approximate weights are 26.2 kg/m² (3mm), 38.0 kg/m² (4.5mm), 49.7 kg/m² (6mm), 65.4 kg/m² (8mm) and 81.1 kg/m² (10mm). An 8×4ft sheet is 3.125 m², so a 6mm 8×4 sheet is around 155 kg.
Can you cut durbar plate to size?
We supply full fixed sheets (2500 × 1250mm and 2000 × 1000mm) rather than cut to order. S275 durbar cuts, drills and welds with standard steelwork tools, so it's straightforward to fabricate on site.
Do you sell ready-made durbar stair treads?
Yes. We stock pre-formed durbar stair treads in mild steel, hot-dip galvanised, DDA (deep 145mm nosing) and tapered spiral patterns, plus matching durbar landing plates in standard and intermediate configurations — all pressed to pattern in S275 and ready to fit. See the durbar plate collection.
Does durbar plate rust, and is it stronger than aluminium?
Mild steel durbar will rust if left untreated, so paint, prime or galvanise it for outdoor use. It is significantly stronger and heavier than aluminium chequer plate, making it the better choice for heavy structural flooring and ramps under plant.