Speed Bumps
Speed Bumps: Cost, Sizes & Installation (2026 Guide)
Cojo
May 7, 2026
7 min read
Speed bumps are short, raised pavement devices — typically 3 to 4 inches tall and 1 to 3 feet long in the direction of travel — built to slow vehicles to about 5 mph. The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE Traffic Calming Manual) calls them vertical-deflection devices, and they belong on private parking lots, driveways, and low-speed access roads. They aren't the same as speed humps, which are much longer and live on public residential streets.
Below: what bumps actually are, the four common materials they're built from, the use cases each one fits, and how to pick the right product for your property.
A speed bump is a localized vertical obstacle that forces drivers to decelerate before crossing it. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA Traffic Calming ePrimer) describes vertical-deflection devices as the most effective single tool for reducing speeds in low-volume environments. The bump's height creates a jolt at higher speeds and a controlled rise at the target design speed, which conditions repeat drivers to slow down.
ITE recommends a 3 to 4 inch height for parking-lot bumps. Anything taller damages vehicle suspension components and oil pans; anything shorter loses the deterrent effect. The 1 to 3 foot footprint distinguishes a bump from a hump, which spans 12 to 14 feet.
Speed bumps belong on private property where target speeds are below 10 miles per hour. Public roads almost always require a speed hump, speed table, or speed cushion instead, since fire codes and transit access depend on longer profiles.
Common installation environments include:
On a Salem retail center we installed in March 2026, we placed four rubber speed bumps across a 14,000 square foot parking lot to control cart-corral traffic and pedestrian crossings near the store entrance. The center had logged three near-miss incidents in the prior year. Six months in, the property manager has reported zero.
Material selection is the single biggest decision in speed bump procurement. Each option trades cost, lifespan, and install complexity differently.
| Material | Typical Cost | Lifespan | Install Method | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recycled rubber | $80 to $400 per unit | 3 to 5 years | Bolt-down, removable | Most commercial lots, retrofits |
| Hot-mix asphalt | $300 to $1,500 installed | 7 to 10 years | Form and pave | New construction, permanent installs |
| Concrete | $400 to $2,000 per unit | 15 to 25 years | Precast set or cast in place | High-traffic, high-impact locations |
| Plastic | $40 to $200 per unit | 1 to 3 years | Bolt-down | Temporary or low-traffic use |
Property managers often confuse the four main vertical-deflection devices. They are not interchangeable.
| Device | Length (travel) | Target Speed | Emergency Vehicle Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed bump | 1 to 3 feet | 5 mph | No |
| Speed hump | 12 to 14 feet | 15 to 20 mph | Slows them significantly |
| Speed table | 22 feet (flat top) | 20 to 25 mph | Yes, lets buses ride flat |
| Speed cushion | 6 by 6 feet with wheel-track gaps | 15 to 20 mph | Yes, fire trucks straddle |
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) does not formally include speed bumps as standard traffic-control devices, since they live on private property. Authoritative guidance instead comes from the ITE Traffic Calming Manual chapter 3 and the FHWA Traffic Calming ePrimer. Both documents specify the 3 to 4 inch height range, recommended cross-section, and the yellow-and-black chevron paint pattern that makes the device visible.
In Oregon, public-road requests run through city traffic-engineering programs. Portland's Bureau of Transportation runs a residential traffic-calming program; Salem Public Works uses Chapter 79 of the Salem Revised Code to govern street modifications; Eugene applies its Engineering Procedures and Practices manual.
For private parking lots, no city approval is required. Property owners are responsible for compliance with ADA Standards for Accessible Design when bumps cross or border accessible routes. A bump cannot be installed across an ADA access aisle.
Always verify current requirements with your local jurisdiction. This article reflects 2026-05-07 specifications.
A turn-key bump install in Oregon typically lands between $200 and $1,500 per bump, depending on material, length, and site complexity. See our speed bump cost guide for a full breakdown.
Industry Baseline Range
| Component | Range |
|---|---|
| Rubber bump (4 to 6 ft section) | $80 to $400 per unit |
| Anchor hardware and epoxy | $30 to $80 per bump |
| Labor for bolt-down install | $150 to $400 per bump |
| Hot-mix asphalt bump (formed) | $300 to $1,500 installed |
| Yellow chevron paint and reflectors | $40 to $120 per bump |
| Mobilization fee | $250 to $800+ flat |
In 2026, fuel surcharges, hot-mix plant pricing, and labor scarcity in the Willamette Valley have pushed real-world quotes above baseline. A four-bump install on a Beaverton apartment complex this spring came in 35 percent above the 2024 baseline because of asphalt unit-cost increases and ADA-compliant signage upgrades. Always get a site-specific quote.
A short selection guide for the most common Cojo installs:
For full ranked roundups, see our best speed bumps for parking lots guide.
A code-compliant install requires layout, anchors, paint, and signage. Skipping any of these creates a liability exposure. The full procedure is documented in how to install speed bumps.
Cojo's Salem and Portland crews handle the full scope, including asphalt maintenance services when your lot needs patching or sealcoat work alongside the bump install. For local service in the Portland metro area, see our speed bump installation in Portland page.
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