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Shuttering Finance

Trench and excavation shuttering equipment costs from around £4,000 for a basic trench box to £80,000 for a full deep excavation shoring package, usually financed by groundworks contractors.

Can you finance a shuttering?

Yes, shutterings are financed as a standard asset purchase, usually on hire purchase or a lease, with the machine itself acting as the security. UK prices typically run £5,000 to £80,000, and most deals are written over 12-84 months with a deposit of around 10-20%. Decisions typically take 24–48 hours. Used machines are financeable too, usually with a shorter term.

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Typical Cost

£5k – £80k

Approval Speed

24–48 hours

Same-day for straightforward deals

Rates From

5.4% - 9.9% per annum

What would a shuttering cost per month?

£25,000
10%
60 months
9%
£0

Your estimate

Indicative only. Not a quote and not an offer of finance.

Pre-filled with a typical shuttering price. Indicative only, not a quote.

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Finance options

Hire Purchase (HP)

Rate
5.9% - 9.9% per annum
Term
12-84 months
Deposit
10-20%
Ownership
Yours at the end
Best for
Businesses that want to keep shoring equipment permanently available for regular excavation work

Finance Lease

Rate
5.4% - 8.9% per annum
Term
12-84 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return or buy (balloon payment)
Best for
Businesses that want lower upfront cost while an excavation and drainage contract book grows; payments are usually deductible as an operating expense

Operating Lease

Rate
6.4% - 9.9% per annum
Term
24-60 months
Deposit
None required
Ownership
Return at end
Best for
Businesses that want to keep the shuttering off balance sheet and upgrade regularly

Representative example

On a purchase price of £25,000: a 10% deposit of £2,500, then 48 monthly payments of £527 at 5.9% APR representative (fixed). Total amount payable £27,796, including the deposit. The rate you are offered depends on your business and the asset.

What buyers actually specify

Guide prices for sizing a finance agreement, not quotes. Manufacturers in this market mostly price on application, so where a current UK list price could not be confirmed the row describes a specification class rather than naming a model. Your supplier quote is what the agreement is written against.

Machine or specification Guide price Type
Trench Box, up to 2m depth class £4,000 - £8,000 Lightweight Trench Shoring
Hydraulic Shoring Set, 2-4m depth class £8,000 - £18,000 Hydraulic Trench Shoring
Manhole/Drag Box Shoring System £15,000 - £35,000 Manhole Shoring System
Large Excavation Shoring Package £35,000 - £80,000 Deep Excavation Shoring

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Tax benefits

A shuttering and shoring system is treated as plant and machinery for tax purposes, so it qualifies for the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA), letting a business deduct the full cost from taxable profits in the year of purchase, up to the current £1,000,000 annual limit. Companies buying new, unused equipment may also qualify for full expensing, a 100% first-year deduction against Corporation Tax. These allowances apply where you own the asset, so they are available under a Hire Purchase agreement. Under a Finance Lease or Operating Lease you do not own the shuttering and shoring system outright, so allowances are not claimed directly; instead the payments are generally deducted as a business expense against profits. Always confirm treatment with your accountant before committing to a structure.

Market context

Trench and excavation shuttering is bought by groundworks, drainage and utilities contractors who dig excavations regularly enough that owning a shoring inventory is safer and cheaper than hiring a system for every job, given the strict duty under CDM regulations to prevent excavation collapse. Contractors with occasional excavation work more commonly hire shoring from a specialist, since correctly sized equipment must match ground conditions and depth on a job-by-job basis. Replacement is driven by corrosion, dents and damage to hydraulic struts and panels from repeated site use, and shoring equipment is inspected before each use, which keeps the used market active among contractors who service their kit properly.

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Several of our 200+ lenders specialise in businesses with imperfect credit histories. You may need a larger deposit or personal guarantee, but options exist. Checking your options here does not affect your credit score, because we do not run a credit search to match you. A lender will run their own checks only if you decide to apply.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I finance used shuttering and shoring equipment?
Yes. Lenders will check panels, struts and hydraulic components for corrosion and structural damage, since shoring equipment has to be sound every time it goes into the ground under CDM duties. A documented inspection and service history matters more here than for most plant, given the safety-critical role shoring plays. Whatever the age of the shuttering, a clear paper trail showing how it has been maintained and used will always work in your favour when negotiating price and terms.
What term suits shoring equipment's working life?
5 to 7 years is typical for the structural boxes and panels, with hydraulic struts sometimes serviced or replaced on a shorter cycle. Contractors with regular drainage and utilities work often finance a shoring package over the longer end of that range to match steady project demand. Getting the term broadly right for a shuttering matters more than chasing the lowest possible monthly payment, since a mismatch either strains cashflow early on or leaves you paying for a machine that has already become expensive to keep running.
Is shuttering eligible for Annual Investment Allowance?
Yes, shuttering and shoring equipment qualifies as plant and machinery, so it's eligible for AIA up to the current annual limit under Hire Purchase. Leased equipment doesn't attract AIA, but the rental is usually deductible as a business expense instead. It is worth confirming the treatment with your accountant at the point of purchase, since claiming the allowance in the year you buy the shuttering rather than spreading relief over several years can make a real difference to that year's tax bill.
What happens at the end of the agreement?
HP transfers ownership of the shoring package once paid off. A Finance Lease usually allows a balloon payment, continued rental, or return. Given how site-specific shoring requirements can be, some contractors prefer HP outright ownership so they always have the right sizes available rather than relying on a return-and-rehire cycle. Which option suits best usually comes down to whether you expect to keep using this exact shuttering for years to come, or whether you are likely to want a newer or different-specification machine within a few years.
Do I need a deposit?
Hire Purchase deposits of 10-20% are standard, calculated against the value of the full shoring package. Contractors building up a range of box and strut sizes to cover different depths and ground conditions sometimes finance the package in stages as their excavation workload grows. If cash is tight when the shuttering is needed, ask the lender whether the deposit can be reduced in exchange for a marginally higher rate; this is often negotiable, particularly for an established trading business.

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