What is the best timber for formwork? Choosing the right timber for formwork is critical for getting clean concrete finishes, maintaining safety on-site, and staying on budget. With several types of timber products available, understanding what to use for which situation can help you get better results and reduce waste.
This article breaks down the best timber types for formwork and what to consider before choosing one for your next pour.
What Is Formwork Timber?
Formwork timber is used to create moulds that shape concrete as it sets. The timber needs to be strong enough to withstand the pressure of wet concrete, stable enough to maintain shape, and often smooth enough to ensure a clean finish.
There are various timber products used for formwork, including Formply, Formwork LVL, Edgeform LVL, Bending Formply, CD structural plywood, and traditional solid timber. Each has specific benefits depending on project size, repetition, and required finish quality.
For a full product overview, see ATS Formwork Materials.
Key Considerations When Choosing Formwork Timber
Before choosing a formwork material, consider the following
- Strength and load capacity – must handle the weight of concrete
- Dimensional stability – reduced risk of warping under moisture
- Surface finish – smoother timber creates cleaner concrete lines
- Reusability – some materials allow multiple pours before replacement
- Cost-efficiency – balance between upfront cost and lifecycle
Formwork Timber Options:
1. Formwork LVL Timber for Concrete
Formwork LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) is one of the most popular and reliable materials for formwork. It is manufactured from thin layers of timber veneer bonded together, providing high structural strength and consistent performance.
Why it’s used:
- Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
- High dimensional stability (resists warping and twisting)
- Suitable for both vertical and horizontal applications
- Can be reused multiple times if properly maintained
- Designed for specifically for concrete use
ATS Products:
2. Formply (Plywood for Formwork)
Formply is a structural rated plywood designed and engineered to deliver exceptional performance under demanding conditions in formwork applications, with a smooth phenolic resin film on the surface. It’s commonly used for slab formwork, walls, suspended decks, columns, and precast formwork and other applications where a smooth concrete finish is essential.
Why it’s used:
- Smooth face for clean concrete finish
- Coated for moisture resistance
- Suitable for repeat use if cleaned and oiled between pours
- Dependable solution for formwork, delivering superior strength and durability for professional-grade results on every project
- Outstanding strength, stability, and resistance to wear and moisture, making it a reliable choice for a wide range of construction projects
ATS Products:
3. Solid Timber (Softwood/Hardwood)
In some jobs, especially smaller residential projects or custom shaping, traditional solid timber can still be used for formwork. However, it’s less common in commercial builds due to its weight, inconsistency, and lower reusability.
Why it’s used:
- Readily available and easy to cut on-site
- Suitable for basic, low-volume applications
- Typically used when the formwork will only be used once
Note: For high-volume or exposed work, more engineered products like Formwork LVL, Formply and Edgeform LVL are recommended.
Alternative: Steel Decking
While not a timber product, steel decking is worth mentioning as an alternative or complement to formwork. Steel Decking is an effective, durable and permanent metal formwork product, providing fast and efficient application of suspended concrete slabs. Offering excellent spanning capabilities, high composite strength and minimal deflection.
ATS Products:
Frequently Asked Questions
Apply a formwork release agent or formwork oil to the timber before use. These products ensure easy removal of the formwork and help achieve a smooth concrete finish.
17mm formply is ideal for most concrete formwork, offering the right balance of strength and durability. Thicker formply may be needed for larger pours.
ATS Building Products supplies LVL, formply, and accessories for commercial and residential projects across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
It’s not recommended. Untreated pine will absorb moisture, warp, and reduce concrete quality. Use engineered or coated timber instead.
Yes. To ensure a clean release from the concrete and protect the timber, formwork should be oiled before use.
Using Formwork LVL in conjunction with Formply ensures the overall strength and stability of your formwork system. LVL provides the structural support needed to hold concrete loads without bending, while Formply delivers a smooth, durable surface for forming concrete. Together, they minimise deflection in both soffits and vertical forms, helping maintain shape and integrity throughout the pour.
LVL and high-grade formply can often be reused 5–10+ times depending on treatment, cleaning, and site conditions.
Choosing the best timber for formwork depends on your project scale, finish requirements, and reuse expectations. For clean pours and site efficiency, LVL and Formply remain the gold standard in most applications.
For tips on managing the associated risks of formwork, you can visit Safe Work Australia.
Need advice on what to use for your next job? View our full range of formwork materials or speak to your nearest ATS Building Products branch.