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Railway Sleepers
New oak railway sleepers for raised beds, retaining walls, garden steps and borders. Each sleeper is 2300 mm long, 200 mm wide and 100 mm thick, fresh sawn rather than reclaimed, so there is no tar or creosote. Every sleeper is stocked in our warehouse and delivered across Ireland.
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Railway Sleepers for Sale in Ireland
Our railway sleepers are new, solid oak, cut to the classic sleeper section. They are fresh sawn rather than reclaimed from the railway, so there’s no tar or creosote to worry about near children, pets or vegetables. Every sleeper is stocked in our warehouse and delivered across Ireland.
Sleeper Size
Every sleeper is 2300 mm long. The 200 mm width is the face you see when a sleeper is laid on its side in a wall, and the 100 mm thickness is the height of each course when it is laid flat. Laid on edge, one sleeper gives a 200 mm high wall 2.3 m long; stack two for 400 mm, or three for 600 mm.
What You Can Build With Garden Sleepers
Sleepers are the quickest way to add structure to a garden.
- Raised beds: two courses on edge give a 400 mm deep bed, a good height for vegetables.
- Retaining walls: hold back soil on a sloped garden, stepped in a course at a time.
- Garden steps: one sleeper per tread, set into the slope.
- Borders and edging: a clean line between lawn, gravel and planting.
- Seating: a sleeper laid across two short uprights makes a solid bench.
How Many Sleepers Do You Need?
Work out each run in metres, divide by 2.3 and round up, then multiply by the number of courses. For example, a raised bed about 2.3 m long and 1.35 m wide uses 2 full sleepers for the long sides and 1 sleeper cut in half for the ends. That is 3 sleepers per course, so 6 sleepers for a bed two courses high.
Laying and Fixing Timber Sleepers
- Lay the first course on firm, level, well drained ground. A bed of compacted gravel helps water get away.
- Stagger the joints between courses, like brickwork.
- Pre-drill, then fix with long stainless steel structural screws, or threaded rod with washers through stacked walls. See our outdoor timber hardware.
- Line the inside of raised beds with a membrane to keep damp soil off the timber.
- Sleepers are heavy. Plan every lift with two people or mechanical help.
For everything about the oak itself, including colour, oiling and how long it lasts, see our oak sleepers page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Railway Sleepers
What size are your garden sleepers?
Our landscaping sleeper is European Oak, 2300 mm long, 200 mm wide and 100 mm thick.
What can I build with sleepers?
Garden borders, raised beds, steps and general landscaping features. Make sure the ground underneath is level and well drained before you lay them.
How do I fix sleepers together?
Pre-drill, then use long structural screws, or threaded rod with washers for stacked walls. Sleepers are heavy, so plan lifts with two people or mechanical help.
Do sleepers need treating?
They don’t need a preservative. Oak is Durability Class 2 and naturally resistant to rot, insects and fungal decay. Left bare it weathers to a silver grey, so most people oil it to keep the honey brown. See our wood oils and stains.