A traffic cone looks like one of the simplest products you can buy - orange plastic, hi-vis sleeve, sit it on the ground, done. But choose the wrong cone for the job and you're either over-spending on kit you don't need, or deploying a cone that doesn't meet the standard for the speed limit you're working in. This guide walks you through how to choose: cone heights, sleeve types, 1-piece vs 2-piece designs, materials, and use cases.
Cone heights: and why they matter
UK Chapter 8 specifies a minimum cone height that scales with the road speed limit:
- 450mm cones: suitable for indoor use (warehouses, exhibition halls, private car parks at low speed). Not Chapter 8 compliant for any road work.
- 500mm cones: the smallest size compliant for road works, but only on roads with a 30 mph or lower speed limit. Used heavily for residential street works, footway works, and city-centre jobs.
- 750mm cones: the workhorse cone for UK road works. Required minimum on roads with a 40 mph or higher speed limit. The default cone for most contractors and local authorities.
- 1000mm cones: used on motorways and major dual carriageways where higher visibility is needed at speed. Often used in larger numbers on lane closures and major incidents.
The reasoning: a faster road needs a more visible cone, both because drivers have less time to react and because higher-speed wind buffeting requires a more stable cone. A 500mm cone on a 60 mph road would be invisible to most drivers and would blow over in any reasonable wind.
Browse the SSUK cone range for all four heights in stock.
Reflective sleeves: what BS EN 13422 actually requires
The reflective sleeve on a traffic cone isn't decorative - it's what makes the cone visible at night and in low light. Sleeve compliance is governed by BS EN 13422, the UK standard for portable warning and delineation devices.
Three sleeve types you'll see:
- Non-reflective (PVC orange only): for indoor use. Cheap, but fails EN 13422 the moment you take it outside in low light.
- Class 1 reflective: a single retroreflective band around the cone. Compliant for most road work in normal conditions.
- Class 2 / starlux / prismatic reflective: high-performance retroreflective sheeting that meets the highest visibility standard at distance. Used on motorways, in fog, and where vehicle approach speeds exceed 50 mph.
Inspect every sleeve before deployment. Sleeves degrade through UV fading, physical damage, and contamination from paint, tar, or oil - any of which can drop reflectivity below the EN 13422 minimum.
1-piece vs 2-piece cones
1-piece cones are moulded as a single hollow plastic shape. They're cheaper, stack tighter for transport, and don't have a separable base that can come loose. The trade-off: less weight at the base, so they're less stable in wind unless they have a heavily-loaded foot.
2-piece cones have a separable rubber base into which the cone body slots. The base is heavy (typically 5-7 kg of recycled rubber) which gives the cone outstanding wind stability. The trade-off: more bulky to transport, and the joint between cone and base is a wear point.
Choose 1-piece for: static or low-wind sites, frequent transport between jobs, residential streetworks. Choose 2-piece for: motorways, exposed sites, high-wind conditions, anywhere stability is critical.
Materials: recycled polypropylene is the standard
Most quality UK traffic cones are manufactured from recycled polypropylene. It's durable in frost, UV-stable, recyclable at end of life, and the right weight. PVC cones still exist at the cheap end of the market but crack at low temperatures and the colour fades within a year - avoid them for outdoor use.
Use cases
Roadworks and lane closures: 750mm 1-piece or 2-piece, Class 1 sleeve minimum. Spacing per Chapter 8 (9m at 30 mph, 18m at 50 mph, 36m at 70 mph). SSUK 750mm cones.
Motorway work: 1000mm 2-piece, Class 2 / prismatic sleeve.
No parking enforcement: No Parking Cones - yellow or red cones with "No Parking" surface print.
Pedestrian channelisation indoors: 450mm cones with non-reflective sleeves.
Event use: 500mm or 750mm depending on whether the event is on a road.
How many cones do you need?
For a typical 100m lane closure on a 30 mph road: taper section 18 cones, working area 11 cones, exit taper 9 cones - total approximately 38 cones. Most contractors hold cones in pallet quantities (25 or 50 per pallet for 750mm cones). Bulk pricing kicks in from a half-pallet upward; call 0161 706 0479 for project pricing.
Key takeaways
- Match cone height to speed limit: 500mm at 30 mph, 750mm at 40+ mph, 1000mm on motorways.
- Sleeves must be EN 13422 compliant; inspect every sleeve before deploying.
- 1-piece for cost and transport efficiency, 2-piece for stability in wind.
- Recycled polypropylene is the standard material; avoid cheap PVC for outdoor use.
- Cone-to-cone spacing is set by Chapter 8 - get it right or fail an audit.
FAQs
Q: How long does a traffic cone last? A: A cone in regular outdoor use typically lasts 3-5 years before the body or sleeve needs replacing. The sleeve usually fails first through UV degradation.
Q: Can I have my cones printed with my company logo? A: Yes, most quality manufacturers offer custom sleeve printing, typically at a 100-cone minimum order. SSUK can supply branded cones - get in touch for pricing.
Q: Are heavier cones better than lighter ones? A: For the same height, yes - a heavier base resists wind better. But the cone height itself is the bigger factor in stability.