What Are Standard Parking Block Dimensions?
A standard parking block - also called a wheel stop or parking bumper - measures 6 feet long, 6 inches tall, and 6 to 9 inches wide. The 6-foot length spans the dual-tire footprint of a standard 8-foot-wide parking stall, and the 6-inch height stops a passenger vehicle's tire without striking the front bumper. ADA 502.7 sets clearance rules but does not mandate block dimensions; the 6-foot baseline comes from the ITE Parking Generation Manual and IBC Section 1106.
This guide covers every dimensional standard - standard commercial, ADA, fleet-yard, and oversized industrial - and the dimensional tradeoffs to weigh before specifying a block.
What Are the Three Dimensions That Matter?
| Dimension | Standard | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 6 feet | Spans both tires of a standard 8-foot stall |
| Width | 6 to 9 inches | Wider blocks resist pin pull-out and tipping |
| Height | 4 to 6 inches | Tall enough to stop a tire, low enough to clear a low-clearance bumper |
What Does ADA Say About Parking Block Size?
ADA 502.7 (Wheel Stops) requires that wheel stops not encroach into the access aisle of an accessible parking stall and that they allow at least 12 inches of bumper-to-aisle clearance. ADA itself does not specify block length, width, or height. The U.S. Access Board's 2010 Standards for Accessible Design treat the block as an obstruction to be located rather than a sized component.
In practice, a standard 6-foot block sits within the 8-foot accessible-stall width and leaves 12 inches of clearance on either side, which is acceptable. Two-foot block segments installed at each tire location are also compliant if total combined length is 4 feet or more.
How Do Length and Width Vary by Application?
| Application | Length | Width | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger car stall | 6 feet | 6 to 7 inches | 4 to 6 inches | Standard commercial spec |
| Compact stall | 4 feet | 6 inches | 4 to 6 inches | Some Oregon city codes allow compact-only stalls |
| ADA accessible stall | 6 feet | 6 to 9 inches | 4 to 6 inches | Must clear access aisle |
| SUV / light truck | 6 feet | 7 to 9 inches | 6 inches | Wider block resists impact loads |
| Fleet yard / dock | 6 to 8 feet | 8 to 12 inches | 6 to 8 inches | Sized for Class 3-7 vehicles |
| Trailer / semi parking | 8 to 10 feet | 10 to 14 inches | 8 to 10 inches | Heavy-duty industrial |
How Much Does a Parking Block Weigh?
Weight matters for handling, drilling time, and pin pull-out resistance. The Cojo crew has installed every common variant:
| Material | 4 ft Block | 6 ft Block | 8 ft Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled rubber | 25 to 35 lbs | 30 to 50 lbs | 50 to 70 lbs |
| Concrete | 80 to 110 lbs | 200 to 280 lbs | 320 to 420 lbs |
| Plastic / polymer | 18 to 25 lbs | 25 to 38 lbs | 40 to 60 lbs |
| Asphalt-bonded composite | 60 to 80 lbs | 130 to 180 lbs | 220 to 280 lbs |
What Are the Pin Hole Dimensions?
A standard 6-foot block has 2 or 3 pre-cast holes for steel pin anchors:
- 2-hole blocks: holes 12 inches in from each end, 5/8-inch diameter
- 3-hole blocks: holes 12 inches in from each end plus one at center, 5/8-inch diameter
Pin diameter must match hole diameter within 1/16 inch. Looser fit allows the block to rock under impact and elongate the hole. Pin length runs 12 to 18 inches with 14 inches of concrete or asphalt engagement after passing through the block.
Industry Baseline Range
| Item | Industry Baseline Range |
|---|---|
| 6-foot rubber block (unit) | $55 to $130 |
| 6-foot concrete block (unit) | $30 to $80 |
| 6-foot plastic block (unit) | $45 to $95 |
| 4-foot block (unit, all materials) | $25 to $80 |
| 8-foot industrial block (unit) | $90 to $220 |
| Install (drilled and pinned, per block) | $35 to $90 |
Current Market Reality
Recycled rubber block prices rose 15 to 25 percent through 2025 due to tire-feedstock shortages. Concrete blocks tracked Portland-area aggregate costs (up 8 to 12 percent). Plastic blocks held flatter but freight surcharges added $5 to $12 per unit on Oregon I-5 corridor deliveries.
How Do You Measure for the Right Block Length?
The block should be 1.5 to 2 feet shorter than the stall width to leave clearance for door swing and walking past parked cars. For a standard 9-foot-wide stall:
- 6-foot block leaves 1.5 feet on each side
- 4-foot block leaves 2.5 feet on each side (compact stall preference)
The block should center on the stall, with the front face on the spec'd setback line (typically 30 inches from curb). For our how far from curb wheel stop deep-dive, we cover the setback math.
When to Use 4-Foot Instead of 6-Foot Blocks?
The 6-foot block is the default. Use 4-foot blocks when:
- Stalls are 8 feet wide or narrower (compact-only).
- The stall mix is mostly small passenger vehicles (urban office, residential).
- Cost per stall is the dominant constraint and 4-foot blocks satisfy local code.
Avoid 4-foot blocks for SUV-heavy or pickup-heavy stalls; the shorter block can let the driver miss the block entirely if they pull in off-center.
Get the Right Block Dimensioned for Your Stall
Standard parking blocks are 6 feet long, 6 to 9 inches wide, and 4 to 6 inches tall. Pick wider and taller for SUV and fleet stalls, shorter for compact-only lots, and always confirm clearances against ADA 502.7. Cojo specifies, supplies, and installs parking blocks across the Willamette Valley and Portland metro. Contact Cojo for a parking-block layout quote, or read our wheel stop guide for the full product overview.