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Traffic Cones in the UK: The Complete Guide to Sizes, Standards and Choosing the Right Cone
Complete UK Guide 2026
Traffic Cones in the UK: The Complete Guide to Sizes, Standards and Choosing the Right Cone
From motorway lane closures to car park restrictions, traffic cones are the most widely deployed piece of temporary traffic management equipment in the UK. This guide covers everything a professional buyer needs to know: Chapter 8 requirements, cone sizes, construction types, colour conventions, and how to choose the right cone for every application.
Contents
What is a traffic cone?
A traffic cone is a portable, freestanding device used to demarcate temporary work areas, redirect traffic, communicate restrictions, and protect operatives on UK roads and construction sites. The orange cone with a white reflective sleeve is the most recognised piece of temporary traffic management equipment in the country.
In the UK, traffic cones used on public highways must meet the requirements of BS EN 13422, the British Standard for portable road delineators including traffic cones and cylinders. This standard governs dimensions, minimum weight, colour, reflective sleeve height and position, and retroreflectivity performance. A cone that does not meet BS EN 13422 is not suitable for deployment on UK public highways under Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual.
BSI Kitemarked vs self-declared conformance: Any manufacturer can state that their cone "conforms to BS EN 13422." Only cones independently tested and certified by the British Standards Institution carry a BSI Kitemark. Many local authority and Highways England framework contracts specify BSI Kitemarked cones as a minimum requirement. Self-declared conformance does not satisfy this requirement.
Chapter 8 requirements: what size cone do you need?
Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual is the statutory guidance governing temporary traffic management on UK public highways. It specifies which cone height is required for each road type and speed limit. Getting the wrong size on a live carriageway is not just a compliance failure. It is a safety risk.
450mm Minimum height
The absolute minimum permitted on any UK public highway. Suitable for lower-speed environments.
Up to 40mph dual / 50mph single 750mm Standard height
The most widely used size. Required on higher-speed single carriageways and most A-road works.
Up to 50mph dual / most A-roads 1000mm High-speed height
Mandatory on motorways, dual carriageways above 40mph, and roads where the speed limit exceeds 50mph.
60mph+ / motorway approachesChapter 8 also specifies cone spacing by road type and speed. A 750mm cone correctly placed in the taper is not sufficient if the spacing is wrong. Always refer to the approved traffic management plan for the specific scheme.
The reflective sleeve on every cone deployed on a public highway must meet the retroreflectivity requirements of BS EN 13422. A cone with a degraded or missing sleeve does not meet the standard and should not be deployed on a live carriageway.
Types of traffic cone: one-piece vs two-piece
UK traffic cones fall into two construction categories. The choice between them affects cost, maintenance, durability, and how you manage your fleet over time.
One-Piece Cones
- Single moulded body, no separate base
- Engineered flexibility absorbs impact without cracking
- Lower unit cost, simpler handling
- No risk of base separation on busy sites
- Replace the whole cone when damaged
- Lighter weight, faster to deploy
Best for: High-volume deployments, cost-sensitive operations, sites where impact from vehicles or plant is frequent.
Two-Piece Cones
- Separate centre and base
- Replace only the damaged component
- Lower long-term replacement cost on large fleets
- Starlux prismatic sleeve for superior reflectivity
- Higher initial unit cost
- More components to manage on site
Best for: Long-term fleet investment, traffic management contractors, hire companies where component-level replacement reduces total cost.
Traffic cone colours: what do they mean on UK sites?
Orange is the statutory Chapter 8 colour for highway traffic management in the UK. But on construction sites, utility works, industrial facilities, and managed car parks, colour-coded cones communicate zone type and hazard information beyond what an orange cone alone can convey.
🟠 Orange
Chapter 8 standard. Highway traffic management, general construction demarcation.
🔵 Blue
Water mains, potable water services, subterranean utility works, civil engineering.
🟡 Yellow
Electrical works, cable hazard zones, warehouses, industrial H&S boundaries.
🟢 Green
Ecological zones, TPO boundaries, welfare areas, agricultural and environmental sites.
Colour conventions are established industry practice, not statutory requirements under Chapter 8. On public highways, orange is the required colour for Chapter 8 traffic management. Coloured cones serve a zone identification function on construction, utility, and industrial sites.
The Securasite traffic cone range
Securasite supplies the full Melba Swintex cone range direct from five UK regional depots. Every cone in the range is manufactured by Melba Swintex, whose cone collection holds BSI Kitemark licence KM649097, independently certified to BS EN 13422. The range covers every size, construction type, and application from motorway approaches to car park restriction management.
One-Piece Cones
Two-Piece Cones
No Waiting / No Parking Cones
No Waiting Three-Sided One-Piece Road Traffic Cone 500mm Triangular
SKU: RS1NWCT · 500mm · 3.85kg
View product →
No Parking / No Waiting Traffic Cone - Three-Sided Two-Piece 530mm Triangular
SKU: RS2NWCT · 530mm · 3.20kg
View product →Specialist Cones
Mastercone 750mm Danger Overhead Cables Two-Piece Road Traffic Cone
SKU: RS2DOC750 · 750mm · 5.00kg
View product →Compare all Securasite traffic cones
Use the tabs to view different product groups. Click any product link to go directly to the product page.
| Product | SKU | Height | Weight | Construction | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MELBA 46 One-Piece 460mm | RS1RC450 | 460mm | 2.20kg | One-piece | Shop → |
| MELBA 75 One-Piece 750mm | RS1RC750 | 750mm | 4.00kg | One-piece | Shop → |
| Mastercone Two-Piece 450mm | RS2RC450 | 450mm | 2.25kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| Starlite Two-Piece 750mm | RS2RC750 | 750mm | 4.15kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| Starlite Two-Piece 1m | RS2RC1000 | 1000mm | 6.50kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| Starlite 750mm Blue | RS2RC750BLU | 750mm | 4.15kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| Starlite 750mm Yellow | RS2RC750YEL | 750mm | 4.15kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| Starlite 750mm Green | RS2RC750GRN | 750mm | 4.15kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| Danger Overhead Cables 750mm | RS2DOC750 | 750mm | 5.00kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
| No Waiting Circular 460mm | RS1NWCC | 460mm | 2.20kg | One-piece | Shop → |
| No Waiting Triangular 500mm | RS1NWCT | 500mm | 3.85kg | One-piece | Shop → |
| No Parking/Waiting 530mm | RS2NWCT | 530mm | 3.20kg | Two-piece | Shop → |
Which traffic cone do you need?
The answer to this question depends on four things: where the cone is being deployed, what speed limit applies, what the cone needs to communicate, and whether you need component-level replacement over time or a lower unit cost up front.
Motorway or 60mph+ road
Starlite Two-Piece 1m
RS2RC1000 · 1000mm
No other size meets the Chapter 8 mandatory height requirement on roads above 50mph.
View product →
A-road or dual carriageway works
Starlite Two-Piece 750mm or MELBA 75
RS2RC750 / RS1RC750 · 750mm
Both are Chapter 8 compliant at 750mm. Two-piece for component replacement, one-piece for lower unit cost.
View product →
Lower-speed roads, car parks, construction sites
MELBA 46 or Mastercone 450mm
RS1RC450 / RS2RC450 · 450–460mm
Minimum permitted height on any UK public highway. Cost-effective and certified.
View product →
Water main or utility excavation
Starlite 750mm Blue
RS2RC750BLU · 750mm
Blue is the UK convention for water and potable water service works.
View product →
Electrical works or cable hazard zone
Starlite 750mm Yellow
RS2RC750YEL · 750mm
Yellow is the established UK convention for electrical hazard and cable risk areas.
View product →
Near overhead power lines
Mastercone Danger Overhead Cables 750mm
RS2DOC750 · 750mm
The "Danger Overhead Cables" sleeve communicates the specific hazard to all operatives on site.
View product →
Ecological protection zone or TPO boundary
Starlite 750mm Green
RS2RC750GRN · 750mm
Green signals a protected or low-risk zone requiring care rather than an active hazard.
View product →
Car park no-waiting restriction, single approach
No Waiting Circular 460mm
RS1NWCC · 460mm
Compact, cost-effective yellow body with circular no-waiting symbol for single-direction locations.
View product →
Loading bay or multi-direction car park
No Waiting Triangular 500mm
RS1NWCT · 500mm
Three-sided design displays the restriction from every approach angle simultaneously.
View product →
Branded parking management fleet
No Parking / No Waiting 530mm Two-Piece
RS2NWCT · 530mm
Dual branding positions, customisable base, the tallest and most visible no-waiting cone in the range.
View product →
Frequently asked questions
The minimum permitted cone height on any UK public highway is 450mm under Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual. This applies to single carriageway roads up to 50mph and dual carriageways up to 40mph. For higher speed roads the minimum increases to 750mm, and motorway approaches and roads above 50mph require a minimum of 1000mm.
BS EN 13422 specifies minimum dimensions, weight, cone colour, reflective sleeve height and position, and retroreflectivity performance. A cone meeting BS EN 13422 satisfies the physical and optical criteria required by Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual for use on UK public highways. The standard covers both the cone body and the reflective sleeve.
Self-declared conformance means the manufacturer has tested their own product and stated it meets BS EN 13422. No independent body has verified this. BSI Kitemarked means the British Standards Institution has independently tested the product, issued a formal licence number, and conducts ongoing audits to confirm continued compliance. Many local authority and Highways England framework contracts require BSI Kitemarked cones specifically. Self-declared conformance does not satisfy this requirement. All Melba Swintex cones in the Securasite range carry BSI Kitemark licence KM649097 where indicated.
A one-piece cone is a single moulded body with no separate base. It uses engineered flexibility to absorb vehicle impact. A two-piece cone has a separate centre and base. When one component is damaged, only that part needs replacing. One-piece cones have a lower unit cost. Two-piece cones have a lower long-term replacement cost on large fleets where component-level replacement is practical. Both construction types are available at BSI Kitemarked quality in the Securasite range.
Blue cones mark water mains and utility service corridors. Yellow cones mark electrical hazard zones and cable risk areas. Green cones mark ecological protection zones, TPO boundaries, and welfare areas. Orange is the Chapter 8 standard for public highway traffic management. These colour conventions are established industry practice, not statutory requirements under Chapter 8.
The Starlux sleeve uses pocketed prismatic optics rather than standard glass bead or flat sheet retroreflective material. Prismatic optics return significantly more light to the driver at night and in wet conditions. On a wet A-road at night, a Starlux prismatic sleeve is visibly brighter than a standard reflective sleeve at approach speed. It also maintains better performance over time as the pocketed design protects the reflective surface from the elements.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and HSE guidance on overhead lines require that work near overhead electrical cables is planned and managed to prevent contact with live conductors. Deploying "Danger Overhead Cables" cones at approach points and along the cable hazard corridor is a recognised method of communicating the hazard boundary to operatives and plant operators. The cone is a warning device. It communicates the hazard. It does not replace electrical isolation, permit-to-work systems, or mechanical exclusion measures where those are required by the risk assessment.
A cone alone does not create a legally enforceable no-waiting or no-parking restriction on a public road. On public highways, a valid Traffic Regulation Order or lawful authority is required. The cone communicates the restriction visually. On private land, enforceability depends on the landowner's rights and any applicable parking management scheme. The no-waiting cones in the Securasite range meet Chapter 8 and Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions requirements for use where legally authorised.
Securasite supplies direct from five UK regional depots in Wolverhampton, Wigan, Rochester, Brentwood, and Livingston. Stock is held regionally so delivery is faster than from a single central warehouse. The sales team is available Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:30pm, and can confirm the correct cone for your specific application, current stock levels, pallet quantities, and bulk pricing in one call. Securasite holds Constructionline and CHAS Elite accreditations, relevant for contractors and local authorities procuring through framework agreements where supplier accreditation is required. White label delivery is available for hire companies and traffic management contractors supplying clients direct. Call 0330 056 4420 or email sales@securasite.co.uk.
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