A headframe (also known as a gallows frame,winding tower,hoist frame,pit frame,shafthead frame, or headgear) is the structural frame above an underground mine shaft. Modern headframes are built out of steel, concrete or a combination of both. Timber headframes are no longer used in industrialized countries, but are still used in developing nations. Traditionally steel headframes are used when a drum hoist is employed, and concrete headframes are built for friction hoists, however a steel headframe can be used with a friction hoist for shafts with a smaller capacity and depth.

A steel headframe is less expensive than a concrete headframe providing the height (defined as the vertical distance from the collar elevation to the center-line of the highest head sheave) does not exceed 50 m. Steel headframes are more adaptable to modifications (making any construction errors easier to remedy), and are considerably lighter, requiring less substantial foundations. As steel headframes are easier to design, they have the potential to utilize "off the shelf" design tools. Construction of a steel headframe can be easily interrupted and restarted if necessary for statutory holidays or bad weather, where slip forming concrete is not. Upon mine closure and mine reclamation a steel headframe is easier to demolish and may have value as scrap metal.