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Traffic cone rules: height, bands and spacing

Height, reflective bands and spacing come from the road authority, not from the supplier. Here are the three numbers buyers ask about most, quoted word for word from the current US manual, plus the UK duty on reflective sleeves.

How tall does a traffic cone have to be?

18 inches for daytime work on low-speed roads, and 28 inches on freeways, high-speed roads, or at night on any highway. The requirement is written as a standard, which means it covers every cone on the site, not only the ones sitting in the taper:

"Cones (see Figure 6K-1) shall be predominantly orange and shall be made of a material that can be struck without causing damage to the impacting vehicle. For daytime and low-speed roadways, cones shall be not less than 18 inches in height. When cones are used on freeways and other high-speed highways or at night on all highways, or when more conspicuous guidance is needed, cones shall be a minimum of 28 inches in height."

Source: MUTCD 11th Edition (December 2023), Section 6K.03, page 818.

How many reflective bands does a cone need?

Two white bands: a 6-inch band 3 to 4 inches below the tip, and a 4-inch band about 2 inches under it. The gap between them is specified too, which is why a stretched or misplaced sleeve tends to get picked up on inspection. Above 36 inches the rule changes to alternating orange and white stripes, 4 to 6 inches wide, two of each colour at least, with orange at the top.

"For nighttime use, cones shall be retroreflectorized or equipped with lighting devices for maximum visibility. Retroreflectorization of cones that are 28 to 36 inches in height shall be provided by a 6-inch wide white band located 3 to 4 inches from the top of the cone and an additional 4-inch wide white band located approximately 2 inches below the 6-inch band."

Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Section 6K.03.

How far apart should cones be spaced?

One foot per mph on a taper, and two feet per mph along a straight line of cones. A 45 mph work zone wants a cone every 45 feet through the taper, then every 90 feet as the line runs on.

"The spacing between cones, tubular markers, vertical panels, drums, and barricades should not exceed a distance in feet equal to 1 times the speed limit in mph when used for taper channelization, and should not exceed a distance in feet equal to 2 times the speed limit in mph when used for tangent channelization."

Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Section 6K.01.

What does UK guidance say about reflective sleeves?

Sleeves have to be kept clean, and a damaged sleeve or cone must not be used. In the UK they count as a maintained part of the job rather than a one-off purchase, and that duty sits with whoever is running the works.

"The size shape and style of all signs, including traffic cones, must comply with the TSRGD (TSR (NI) in Northern Ireland). ... The retroreflective sleeves of cones must be kept clean. Damaged sleeves or cones must not be used."

Source: Department for Transport, Safety at Street Works and Road Works (2013), Part 3.

What should I check before ordering cones?

Nearly every cone complaint we get could have been caught before the order went out. This is the short version of what we go through with buyers.

• Height comes first. Daytime on a slow road is 18 inches. Anything at speed, or at night, starts at 28.
• Then measure a sample with your own tape. Where the bands sit is what an inspector will look at, and catalogues are not always redrawn after a supplier changes a sleeve.
• Agree the sleeve material and grade in writing, and stock spares. Sleeves wear out long before the cone under them does.
• Base weight should come from the site, not from the price list. Open ground in wind needs more than a sheltered yard.
• Carton size and pallet counts matter before you book freight. It sounds dull. It is also where money quietly goes missing.
• Keep one cone of each size in the office. When somebody questions a batch months later, a comparison takes seconds rather than a week.

By WESURESAFETY (Ningbo We Sure Safety Co., Ltd.) - last updated 15 October 2026.

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Technical guides: MUTCD Part 6 reflective tape rules · TSM Chapter 8 cone sizes and spacing · AS 1742 and NZGTTM certification · PVC against PE traffic cones · Speed humps against speed cushions · How to verify a traffic safety supplier · MOQ, lead time and payment terms

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