The basic scaffolding materials are tubes, couplers and boards.

Tubes are either steel or aluminium, although composite scaffolding uses filament wound tubes of glass fibre in a nylon or polyester matrix. If steel they are either 'black' or galvanised. The tubes come in a variety of lengths and a standard diameter of 48.3 mm. (1.5 NPS pipe). The chief difference between the two types of tubes is the lower weight of aluminium tubes (1.7 kg/m as opposed to 4.4 kg/m) and also a greater flexibility and so less resistance to force. Tubes are generally bought in 6.3 m lengths and can then be cut down to certain typical sizes.