What is chequered plate used for?
Chequered plate is hot-rolled steel sheet with a raised tear-drop (or five-bar) pattern rolled into one face for grip. The pattern adds 0.8–1.2 mm to the base thickness — a "4/5 mm" plate is 4 mm of steel with 1 mm of pattern. It is the standard anti-slip surface for industrial floors, mezzanines, stair treads and landings, walkways, loading ramps, truck and trailer beds, drain covers, machinery guards and vehicle kick plates. Aluminium chequered plate is the light-weight alternative for vehicles and marine use; steel is 3× stiffer for the same thickness and a third of the price.
Chequered plate sizes and weight chart
| Designation | Base thickness | kg/m² | 1 250 × 2 500 (kg) | 1 500 × 3 000 (kg) | 1 500 × 6 000 (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2/3 mm | 2.0 | 17.4 | 54 | 78 | 157 |
| 3/4 mm | 3.0 | 25.3 | 79 | 114 | 228 |
| 4/5 mm | 4.0 | 33.1 | 103 | 149 | 298 |
| 5/6 mm | 5.0 | 41.0 | 128 | 184 | 369 |
| 6/7 mm | 6.0 | 48.8 | 153 | 220 | 439 |
| 8/9 mm | 8.0 | 64.5 | 202 | 290 | 581 |
| 10/11 mm | 10.0 | 80.2 | 251 | 361 | 722 |
Mass per EN 10051 plus tear-drop pattern (~1.7 kg/m²). Widths 1 000 / 1 250 / 1 500 mm; lengths 2 000–6 000 mm cut to order.
Load capacity per span
For a walkway with 5 kN/m² live load, a 5 mm plate spans 1.0 m between supports; a forklift aisle needs 8–10 mm on 0.75–1.0 m supports or a supporting grid. Stair treads in 4–5 mm with a folded nosing are the norm.
| Base thickness | Span 0.5 m | Span 0.75 m | Span 1.0 m | Span 1.25 m | Span 1.5 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 8.5 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.9 |
| 4 mm | 15 | 6.7 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 1.7 |
| 5 mm | 24 | 10.5 | 5.9 | 3.8 | 2.6 |
| 6 mm | 34 | 15 | 8.5 | 5.4 | 3.8 |
| 8 mm | 60 | 27 | 15 | 9.6 | 6.7 |
| 10 mm | 94 | 42 | 24 | 15 | 10 |
Guide values from plate bending (deflection-governed); confirm with the project engineer for point loads and dynamic loads. Full method on our load-capacity guide.
Tear-drop vs five-bar pattern, black vs galvanized
| Option | Description | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-drop (lentil) | Oval raised lentils in offset rows — European standard, best drainage | Floors, ramps, treads (stock) |
| Five-bar (diamond) | Groups of five short bars at 90° — ASTM A786 pattern | Vehicle floors, US/Gulf specs (on request) |
| Black (mill) | Hot-rolled scale, to be painted | Indoor floors, painted stairs |
| Hot-dip galvanized | EN ISO 1461, 70–85 µm | Outdoor walkways, marine, Gulf platforms |
| Painted / anti-slip epoxy | Primer + top coat or grit epoxy | Visible or wet areas |
Cutting, folding and fabrication
Sheets are cut to size, laser-cut to DXF (treads with nosings, cut-outs for pipes and columns, drain covers), folded on the press brake into stair treads, kick plates and ramp edges, and drilled for fixings — all on our lines in Dilovası. Tread kits (tread + riser + nosing) ship flat-packed.
Chequered plate vs aluminium chequered plate vs grating
| Steel chequered plate | Aluminium chequered plate | Steel grating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (5 mm) | 41 kg/m² | 14 kg/m² | 25–35 kg/m² |
| Stiffness | High | 1/3 of steel | Very high for weight |
| Drainage | Poor (solid) | Poor | Excellent |
| Corrosion | Paint or galvanize | Inherent | Galvanized |
| Price per m² (5 mm) | 1.00 | 2.5–3.5 | 1.5–2.5 |
| Use | Floors, ramps, trucks, treads | Vehicles, marine, decorative | Platforms, drains, catwalks |
Chequered plate price per ton
Indicative FOB Istanbul band from our weekly export list, tear-drop S235JR black, 3–10 mm, cut sheets, full-container quantities. Galvanized adds the zinc cost (about 25–35%); laser-cut treads and folding are priced per piece.
Bands from our weekly export list (September 2026), FOB Istanbul, full-container quantities, excluding freight and certificates. Firm price per project on RFQ within one working day.
Export and packing
Sheets in packs of 2–4 t on timber skids, pattern face up, strapped and wrapped; galvanized packs with spacers. A 20' container takes about 20 t (e.g. 195 sheets of 4/5 × 1 250 × 2 500). HS code 7208.40 (hot-rolled, with patterns in relief).
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ | 1 × 20' (≈20 t) or 1 truck; thicknesses mixed |
| Incoterms | FOB Istanbul · CIF / CFR Gulf, Africa · DAP EU, Balkans, Iraq, Caucasus |
| Lead time | Stock 5–10 working days; galvanizing +5–7 days |
| Packing | Packs 2–4 t on skids, strapped, wrapped; spacers for HDG |
| Container / truck | 20' ≈ 20 t · 40' HC ≈ 24 t · truck 22–24 t |
| Documents | Invoice, packing list, EN 10204 3.1, certificate of origin; SASO / SONCAP / COC / EAC on request |
| Payment | 30% advance, balance against B/L copy; L/C at sight via London office |
Certificates
EN 10204 3.1 per heat, certificate of origin; SASO, SONCAP, COC (Iraq), EAC on request; zinc thickness report for galvanized plate.
How to order
Send thickness, sheet size (or cutting list), finish, tonnage and port. Reply within one working day with price, pack list, gross weight and container count; stock sizes load in 5–10 working days.
Standards
- EN 10025-2 (S235JR base)
- EN 10051 / EN 10029 (tolerances)
- ASTM A786 (rolled floor plate)
- ASTM A36 equivalent
- BS 4592 (industrial flooring)
Grades
Grade data sheets (chemistry, mechanicals, equivalents) are on our reference site: S235JR · A36
Frequently asked questions
What are chequered plates used for?
Anti-slip flooring: industrial floors and mezzanines, stair treads and landings, walkways and platforms, ramps, truck and trailer beds, drain and trench covers, kick plates and machinery guards.
What is the size of a 4 mm chequered plate?
Standard sheets are 1 250 × 2 500 mm (103 kg) and 1 500 × 3 000 mm (149 kg); widths 1 000–1 500 mm and lengths up to 6 000 mm are cut to order. The 4 mm base plus 1 mm pattern is written "4/5 mm".
What is the weight of a chequered plate?
Base thickness × 7.85 kg/m² plus about 1.7 kg/m² for the pattern: 3/4 mm ≈ 25.3 kg/m², 4/5 mm ≈ 33.1, 5/6 mm ≈ 41.0, 6/7 mm ≈ 48.8, 8/9 mm ≈ 64.5, 10/11 mm ≈ 80.2 kg/m².
What thickness of chequered plate do I need for a floor?
5 mm for walkways and light industrial floors on supports at 1 m; 6–8 mm for pallet-truck areas at 0.75–1.0 m; 8–10 mm for forklift traffic on 0.75 m supports. See the load table above and confirm with the engineer.
Is the chequered plate available galvanized?
Yes — hot-dip galvanized to EN ISO 1461 (70–85 µm) for outdoor walkways, marine and Gulf platforms; pattern remains sharp. Painted and grit-epoxy anti-slip finishes on request.
What is the price of chequered plate in the UAE?
Landed Jebel Ali in container quantity, a Turkish 4/5 mm tear-drop plate typically comes in 10–20% under Dubai stockist prices; freight adds about 40–60 USD/t and duty 5%. Ask for the CIF price on the RFQ form.
Can you cut stair treads and drain covers?
Yes — laser cutting to DXF, folded nosings and risers, drilled fixings, and flat-packed tread kits; priced per piece on the offer.
Steel or aluminium chequered plate?
Steel for floors, ramps, trucks and anything load-bearing (3× stiffer, a third of the price); aluminium where weight or corrosion matter more than cost — vehicle boxes, boats, decorative cladding.