Speed Bump Installation Cost Calculator

With the defaults, four 12 ft rubber speed bumps on an asphalt lot come to $2,756, or $689 per bump. That is $1,344 for 48 ft of bump, $432 of installation labor, $180 to paint and add reflective markings on four bumps, $450 for two warning signs and $350 of mobilization.

The type changes the price the most. With the same four 12 ft bumps, plastic comes to $2,420, asphalt to $4,340 and concrete to $5,780. Bolting a rubber or plastic bump into a concrete surface adds anchoring at $4 per ft, which takes the rubber default to $2,948 and plastic to $2,612. Asphalt and concrete bumps are built in place, so the surface under them does not add a line.

The extras are small but easy to forget. Turning markings off takes the default to $2,576 and dropping both signs takes it to $2,306. Mobilization is a flat charge, so the cost per bump falls as the job grows: one 12 ft bump with one sign is $1,064, while ten 12 ft bumps with two signs come to $5,690, or $569 per bump. A single 4 ft bump with no markings or signs adds up to $498, which the calculator raises to the $600 minimum job charge.

The terms are not interchangeable in engineering, even though the public uses them that way. The federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices says that speed humps generally provide more gradual vertical deflection than speed bumps, and that speed bumps limit the speed of traffic more severely. The manual lists speed tables and raised crosswalks or intersections as other forms of speed humps, and it treats the names as interchangeable for signing purposes.

In a parking lot, a short, abrupt bump is often the choice, because drivers are already moving slowly and the goal is usually to hold speeds near walking pace in front of entrances, crosswalks and drive aisles with a lot of foot traffic. A longer, gentler hump is used where vehicles should still be able to cross at a slow but steady speed. The calculator prices a bump by its length across the lane, so treat the type you choose as the product you want quoted: bolt-down rubber or plastic sections, or an asphalt or concrete bump built in place.

Rubber is often picked for a lot because it is relatively cheap and can be removed or reset. Plastic is lighter and cheaper still and is typically sold for lighter traffic, so check the manufacturer's load rating. Asphalt and concrete cost more per foot and are permanent, so they tend to fit a drive aisle that sees truck traffic.

On a public street, a speed hump is a decision for the agency that owns the road, and it follows that agency's traffic calming process. A private lot is different: the owner decides, and many owners can install bolt-down bumps without a traffic permit. The federal MUTCD says it does not apply to parking areas, including the driving aisles within them, whether they are publicly or privately owned, so its sign and marking rules are not a requirement for a lot aisle. State and local rules can still apply to devices on private property used by the public, so check before you buy.

Ask the city or county whether a building, zoning or right-of-way permit is needed, and ask the fire department whether the bumps affect an emergency access route. Look at accessible routes too, because a bump should not cross a path that wheelchair users depend on, and read your lease or HOA rules. An owner or manager should also keep the signs and markings in place, since a bump that drivers cannot see is a liability.

Anchoring a bump or building one in place means drilling or cutting into pavement. 811 says utilities can be buried just inches below the surface, so call 811 a few business days before the work. The call is free.

Place a bump square across the lane, so drivers meet it at a right angle, and leave short gaps at the curb where water drains. Put bumps ahead of crosswalks and entrances rather than inside turns, where drivers are steering over the bump. The calculator adds a markings line at $45 per bump for paint and reflectors so the bump can be seen day and night. The federal manual shows white markings on a speed hump for public roads, while manufactured rubber bumps usually come with their own high-visibility color, so follow the product and local rules.

The federal manual says a SPEED HUMP warning sign should be used in advance of a vertical deflection that is designed to limit speed, and it allows the legend SPEED BUMP on that sign. The calculator adds a warning sign at $225 each, so two signs cover both approaches of a single aisle.

In snow country, plowing is a common reason to choose rubber. Bolt-down rubber and plastic bumps can be unbolted and stored for winter, which keeps the plow blade from catching them. Asphalt and concrete bumps stay in place, so mark them well and ask the plow contractor to work around them.