Striping
Parking Lot Stencils Guide: Symbols, Standards, and Application
Cojo
March 21, 2026
6 min read
Parking lot striping involves far more than painting straight lines between parking spaces. Every commercial lot requires a range of stenciled symbols, text markings, and patterned applications that communicate critical information to drivers and pedestrians. These stenciled markings serve regulatory, directional, and safety purposes — and many of them have specific dimensional and color requirements defined by federal, state, and local codes.
Understanding which stencils your lot needs, what standards govern their size and placement, and how they should be applied helps you verify that your contractor is delivering compliant, professional work. For a comprehensive overview of all marking types, see our complete striping guide.
The wheelchair symbol is the most regulated stencil in any parking lot. The ADA requires this symbol to be painted in each accessible parking space and displayed on an accompanying sign. The stencil must use the International Symbol of Accessibility — a standardized figure in a wheelchair — in white on a blue background or in contrasting color on the pavement.
Dimensions: The pavement stencil should be at least 36 inches tall, though 39 to 48 inches is standard industry practice for visibility. The symbol must be centered in the parking space, positioned so it is visible to approaching drivers and not obscured when a vehicle is parked in the space.
Access aisle markings: The access aisle adjacent to each ADA space must be marked with diagonal crosshatch lines, typically at 12 to 18-inch spacing, painted in the same color as the stall lines (usually blue or white). These crosshatch lines clearly indicate that the aisle is not a parking space.
For full ADA requirements, see our striping regulations in Oregon guide.
Arrow stencils direct traffic flow through the lot. Standard arrow types include straight ahead, left turn, right turn, and combination arrows (straight with left or right options). Arrows should be positioned at decision points — lot entrances, aisle intersections, and one-way aisle beginnings.
Dimensions: Standard parking lot directional arrows are 72 to 96 inches in length with proportional width. Smaller arrows (36 to 48 inches) are used in tight lots and parking garages.
Color: White for general traffic direction, yellow for areas requiring caution or marking one-way traffic flow.
Text stencils reading "NO PARKING" are used to mark fire lanes, loading zones, and areas where parking is prohibited. The text must be clearly legible from a driver's perspective.
Dimensions: Standard text height is 8 to 12 inches per character for parking lot applications. Characters smaller than 6 inches become unreadable at driving distances.
Color: White for general no-parking areas, red or white on red curbing for fire lanes.
Fire lane markings require "FIRE LANE" text painted on the curb or pavement in areas designated for emergency vehicle access. Oregon fire codes specify that fire lanes must be clearly marked and kept free of parked vehicles at all times.
Dimensions: Standard fire lane text is 8 to 12 inches in character height, painted in white on a red curb or in red on the pavement surface.
Reserved parking signs and pavement markings designate spaces for specific users — management, visitors, employee of the month, expectant mothers, or other designated groups. While not regulated to the same degree as ADA markings, reserved space text should be clearly legible and professionally applied.
Crosswalk stencils or applied markings delineate pedestrian crossing zones within the parking lot. Standard crosswalks use two parallel white lines spaced 6 to 10 feet apart, with or without interior ladder bars or diagonal hatching for enhanced visibility.
Placement: At building entrances, between parking areas and building frontage, at lot intersections, and at connections to public sidewalks.
Professional-grade aluminum stencils are laser-cut from 1/16 to 1/8-inch aluminum sheet. They maintain their dimensional accuracy over hundreds of uses, produce clean edges when properly applied, and resist the solvents in traffic paint. A professional contractor's stencil inventory represents thousands of dollars in tooling.
LDPE (low-density polyethylene) stencils are lighter and less expensive than aluminum. They work adequately for light-duty applications but can warp with heat exposure from thermoplastic work and degrade after repeated contact with solvent-based paints.
Single-use stencils made from cardboard or foam are the lowest-quality option. They absorb paint, produce fuzzy edges, and cannot be reused. If your contractor is using disposable stencils, expect lower-quality symbol reproduction.
The quality of a stenciled marking depends heavily on application technique. Key factors that differentiate professional work from amateur work include proper stencil anchoring to prevent movement during spraying, correct spray distance and pressure to fill the stencil without bleeding under the edges, adequate paint thickness for durability and visibility, and clean stencil removal before the paint begins to skin over.
Common mistakes that indicate poor technique:
For information on paint types and application for all marking methods, see our line striping basics guide.
Stencil application adds to the base cost of parking lot striping because each symbol requires positioning, application, and drying time beyond what straight-line work requires. Typical stencil costs for Oregon parking lots include $15 to $35 per directional arrow, $150 to $375 per ADA space (complete marking with crosshatch), $75 to $200 per crosswalk, and $2 to $5 per character for text markings. See our parking lot striping cost in Oregon guide for comprehensive pricing.
Stencil quality directly reflects on your property's image and compliance status. Cojo carries a full inventory of professional-grade aluminum stencils for all standard parking lot symbols and maintains them to produce clean, crisp markings on every project. Our striping services include all stencil work as part of complete lot marking packages.
Contact Cojo for a free assessment of your parking lot's stencil and marking needs.
Complete guide to ADA parking lot striping dimensions, paint colors, access aisle markings, and layout requirements for Oregon commercial properties. Includes van accessible specifications.
Current ADA parking lot striping requirements for Oregon in 2026. Space counts, dimensions, access aisles, signage, and marking specifications for full compliance.
Learn the specific requirements for van-accessible parking spaces in Oregon — wider aisles, vertical clearance, signage, and proper striping for full ADA compliance.
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