Aluminum stems from having the lighted weight which reduces labor handling costs and offsets its higher initial material cost. When compared to steel panels, aluminum panels used for ganged forms weight approximately 50% less.

The major problem with aluminum forms is corrosion: Pure aluminum is attacked chemically by wet concrete. Aluminum alloys have proven to be very successful in resisting corrosion. So the commonly called aluminum formwork is made from aluminum alloy. Support trusses fabricated with aluminum alloys have been effectively used for flying forms. These forms are lightweight and allow large lengths of deck forms to be moved easily. Cast aluminum alloy molds have also been used successfully to form ornamental concrete products.

Aluminum wall forms have also been used to produce textures on the surfaces of concrete walls. Forms made of aluminum are in many respects similar to those made of steel. However, because of their lower density, aluminum forms are lighter than Formwork Requirements, Types, Materials & Accessories steel forms, and this is their primary advantage when compared with steel.

Because the strength of aluminum in handling, tension, and compression is less than the strength of steel, it is necessary to use larger sections when forms are made of aluminum. Because wet concrete can chemically attack aluminum, it is desirable to use aluminum alloys in resisting corrosion from the concrete.