Hardwood decking joists review: Ipe 40 x 60 mm
- Ipe, durability class 1, lifespan 25+ years
- Planed, 40 x 60 mm, 3.00 m long, eased edges
- About £40.90 per 3 m joist, so roughly £13.60 per metre (price on 4 November 2026)
- In stock, UK delivery in 7 to 14 days
Our verdict point by point
| Point | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Durability | Strong. Ipe is durability class 1 and suitable for ground contact without treatment. We count on 25+ years, the same as the boards on top. |
| Appearance | Yellow brown to dark olive brown, planed smooth with eased edges. You will not see it once the deck is down, but it is as clean as a board. |
| Installation | Straight and stable, but hard. Pre-drilling is always needed and cutting calls for a carbide blade. |
| Weight | Ipe weighs about 1,050 kg per m³. One 3 m joist comes to around 7.5 kg. |
| Maintenance | None. The subframe sits under the deck and does not need oiling. |
| Price | About £40.90 per 3 m joist. At 40 cm centres you need roughly 2.5 metres of joist per m² of deck, so around £34 per m². |
| Delivery | In stock, delivered in 7 to 14 days. |
See the 40 x 60 mm Ipe decking joists
What convinces us
- One timber from top to bottom. Ipe boards on Ipe joists move together. You avoid different timbers working against each other, and the screws are under less strain.
- Lasts as long as the boards. A subframe that rots after ten years means lifting the whole deck. With class 1 Ipe that does not happen, even close to the ground.
- Ground contact is fine. Ipe is suitable for ground contact without treatment, so the joist can sit low on foundation posts.
- Little movement. Ipe has the lowest tangential shrinkage of the outdoor timbers we compare. The joist stays straight, and so does your deck.
- Handy length. Three metres gives a calm subframe and still fits in an ordinary trailer.
The downsides
- Always pre-drill. Ipe is so hard that a screw can snap or the timber can split without a pilot hole. Allow extra time.
- Cutting needs good tools. Ipe blunts blades quickly. Use carbide and dust extraction, as the sawdust can irritate the skin.
- One size only. We supply this joist in 40 x 60 mm at 3.00 m. For other lengths you cut it down or join it over a post.
- Can bleed. Ipe contains a dye that dissolves in water. Light paving can show some staining at first.
- Not a budget joist. Treated softwood joists are cheaper to buy. Under a deck meant to last 25+ years we think that is the wrong saving.
Questions about the build or joist spacing? Call us on +49 2821 7483051.
Who it suits, and who it suits less
A good fit for
- Anyone laying Ipe decking boards who wants a subframe with the same lifespan.
- A low deck close to the ground, on foundation posts.
- Hidden clip fixing: the clip is screwed into the joist.
Less suitable for
- Anyone who wants to work fast without pre-drilling.
- Anyone after an aluminium or composite subframe.
- A build where the lowest price comes first.
Comparison: joist or foundation post
Joists and posts work together. The post goes into the ground, the joist sits on it and carries the boards. So you need both, unless your deck sits on a solid base.
| Ipe joist 40 x 60 mm | Foundation post 40 x 40 mm, pointed | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Carries the decking boards | Carries the joist, driven into the ground |
| Length | 3.00 m | 80 cm or 1.80 m, pointed |
| Price | About £40.90 each | About £2.39 (80 cm) or £6.26 (1.80 m) each |
| How many | Roughly 2.5 metres per m² at 40 cm centres | 4 to 8 per m², depending on the ground |
Our advice: space the joists 40 to 45 cm apart, centre to centre. Drive in at least 2 posts along every metre of joist and screw the joist to them. Always lay weed membrane under the deck. Fix the boards with black coated stainless steel clips and screws, with an 8 mm gap. Prices on 4 November 2026.
All joists and posts are in our deck framing range. Our review of the boards themselves is the Ipe decking boards review.
Frequently asked questions
What timber should decking joists be?
Use the same timber as your boards. Under Ipe decking boards, that means Ipe joists. The frame and the deck then move together and the frame lasts just as long: 25+ years.
What joist spacing for hardwood decking?
We advise 40 to 45 cm centres. That keeps 21 mm boards from flexing. Closer spacing makes the deck even stiffer, but you need more joists.
Do you need to pre-drill Ipe?
Yes, always. Ipe is very hard. Without a pilot hole the screw can snap or the timber can split. Use our decking screws with a drill point.
Work out joists and boards in the decking calculator
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