We’re often asked about the differences between bog mats and crane mats, what sizes are available, and how quickly we can deliver. To make things simple, we’ve pulled together clear answers to the most common questions.
Bog mats are large, durable mats that are used to create temporary access roads and working platforms for vehicles, heavy plant equipment, and foot traffic. You’ll spot them everywhere from construction sites to music festivals. Their job is to protect the underlying ground from disturbance and provide a safe, stable surface for people and machinery to operate on. Bog mats can be manufactured from plastic, steel, wood, or composite materials.
In our case, we supply premium Ekki hardwood bog mats. FSC-certified, renowned for their extreme durability, and reusable across multiple projects, they’re a popular choice in the construction, renewable energy, utility, demolition, and civil engineering sectors.
Crane mats are a distinct category of bog mat. Engineered to withstand extreme loads, such as cranes, piling rigs, and tracked machinery, they are generally denser, larger, and more robust than general-purpose mats. Their role mirrors that of a regular bog mat (stability and ground protection) but crane mats are deployed on sites where pressures and loads are much greater. If your project involves high ground pressures and heavy lifting operations, these heavy-duty mats are essential for maintaining safety and stability.
Ground protection mats are used across a broad range of projects and environments, including:
We’ve supplied bog and crane mats for everything from motorway upgrades and wind farm builds to Anfield football ground. Our timber mats perform in almost any environment, including bogs, tidal zones, wetlands, floodplains, and even desert conditions.
Our timber bog and crane mats range from 2.8m × 1m × 70mm right up to 7m × 1m × 200mm. The size you choose depends on the application, for example:
The length and width of trackways and working platforms can be extended as needed with the correct layout. The varying thicknesses will give you the appropriate strength and load-bearing capacity for your specific operations. Your bog and crane mat supplier will be able to advise you on the best configurations and mat sizes for your project.
Find out more about our bog mat specifications here.
Load capacity varies depending on mat size, thickness, and the type of ground. Our 200mm crane mats are designed for heavy lifting and extreme loads, making them suitable for cranes, piling rigs, and tracked plant. For project-specific advice, our team will guide you on the right mat type and thickness.
Our mats are manufactured from Ekki hardwood (Azobé), one of the densest, strongest, and most rot-resistant timbers in the world. Highly resilient and incredibly durable, Ekki mats can withstand decades of use, even in the toughest site conditions. They’re also fully recyclable and biodegradable.
We source all our hardwood from FSC-certified suppliers, ensuring it is sustainably harvested, responsibly managed, and of the highest quality, helping to reduce our environmental impact.
You can buy or hire bog mats as standalone options or combine the two if that better fits your project.
We know that time is money on any project. That’s why we keep large quantities of mats in stock, ready for next-day delivery across the UK and rapid worldwide shipping. Our team regularly mobilises large, complex orders at short notice, so whether you need 20 crane mats next month or hundreds of bog mats tomorrow, we’ve got the logistics down to a fine art.
We build prompt collection into the plan from the outset, while staying flexible enough to adjust timelines if your project schedule changes. As soon as the job is done, we’ll pick up directly from site, so you don’t need to worry about removal or storage.
Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to an urgent site need, GJ Mats has the expertise and stock to keep your project moving. With FSC-certified timber, 24-hour delivery, and flexible hire or purchase options, we’re the UK’s trusted supplier for bog mats and crane mats.
Contact our team today for tailored advice, a fast quote, and reliable service.