The standard structure of taikodai includes a basic part called daiwa (an architrave), on which a drum is placed, a koran (a balustrade) and four columns built on the daiwa, a shirin (a dressed lumber) fixed on the top of the four columns, an unpan (a metallic plate designed in the shape of cloud such as a signal) decorating the four sides of the shirin, and a roof on top of the taikodai, known as futon or ju; all these parts rest on katsugibo (shouldering poles, a taikodai with four poles is most popular).
台輪と呼ばれる土台部分に太鼓、担ぐための舁き棒（4本が最も多い）、高欄、四本柱と続き、この上に支輪と四方を飾る雲板、そしてその上に布団または重と呼ばれる屋根という構造が一般的である。