The Ultimate Guide to Parking Lot Layout Dimensions and Design

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Proper parking lot design is crucial to ensure smooth traffic flow and efficient use of space. Understanding parking lot layout dimensions is essential to create a safe and functional parking area that maximizes capacity. From ideal stall sizes to aisle measurements, every aspect of parking lot design is essential to ensuring a seamless experience for both drivers and pedestrians. To get the most from your parking lot, carefully consider every detail, and layout your parking lot with precision. Keep reading for an in-depth look at parking lot layout dimensions.

What are the Factors to Consider in a Parking Lot Layout?

Factors Influencing Parking Lot Design

In terms of parking lot design, it is essential to take into account various factors that may influence the effectiveness and efficiency of the parking area. Considerations such as the size of the parking lot, the types of vehicles expected, volume, accessibility needs, safety considerations, environmental impacts, and regulatory compliance requirements are all critical factors that should be taken into account.

Size of the Lot

Accessibility Needs and Safety Considerations

Environmental Impacts and Regulatory Compliance Requirements

Parking Lot Dimensions

When planning for parking lot dimensions, ensuring the correct size of parking spaces is crucial. The layout and the dimensions of the parking lot can significantly impact the number of parking spaces you can accommodate, the space allocation for each spot, and the configuration needed for the aisles between stalls.

Amount of Vehicles Accommodated

Space Allocation for Each Parking Spot

Configuration of Aisles between Stalls

General Sizing Guidelines

It is important to bear in mind that for planning purposes, it is recommended to assume approximately 300-350 square feet per parking space. This calculation takes into consideration traffic aisles, end island/caps, space between adjacent cars, as well as the entrance and exit lanes. Following these guidelines will help in determining how many vehicles can be accommodated within the parking lot.

Sizing Guidelines for Parking Spaces

Calculation of the Number of Vehicles Accommodated

Common Parking Lot Layout Designs and Their Features

Parking Lot Layout Dimensions: A Detailed Overview

Standard Parking Space Size

When designing parking lots, understanding the standard sizes of parking spaces is crucial for maximizing space and accommodating typical vehicle dimensions. The three standard parking space sizes are U.S. Compact (16’ x 8’), U.S. Standard (18’ x 8’6”), and U.S. Standard Large (20’ x 9’).

Parallel Parking Spot Sizes

Parallel parking space dimensions must consider factors such as busy streets, tight spaces, and multiple cars turning. To prevent traffic jams and collisions, each parallel parking space should be 23’ long (19’ parking space plus 4’ extra safety room) and 8’6” wide. The width between rows should be at least 12’ wide to ensure optimal traffic flow.

Accessible Parking Spot Dimensions

1. Accessible parking space sizes are essential for following ADA guidelines, with widths of 8’ for standard spaces and 11’ for van-accessible spaces. Access aisles should be 5’ wide, and van-accessible aisles should be 8’ wide. A clearance of 98” for wheelchair lifts and vans is also necessary.

Angled Parking Space Specs

Property owners often wonder about the dimensions of angled parking spaces, with 51’6” x 14’ being the ideal width for two-angle parking rows. Angled parking requires a 45-degree angle and ample room for vehicles to park and maneuver without hindering traffic flow.

Which Type of Parking Spaces Are the Most Desirable?

Angled Parking Dimensions

Angled parking spaces offer convenience by requiring less turning radius for parking, enabling easy vehicle entry and exit, minimizing the risk of getting blocked in, and accommodating more spaces per square foot. One-way traffic lanes may be necessary, and careful planning is crucial for overall parking lot traffic flow.

Straight In Parking

Straight parking spaces allow for two-way traffic and flexible approaches to parking. They also save time for drivers and reduce congestion by accommodating two lanes of traffic. Straight parking spaces occupy more square footage and pose a higher risk of collisions and door damage

Angle Parking Dimensions vs. Straight Parking Dimensions

When choosing between angled and straight parking spaces, consider preferences, location, space availability, and business type. Straight parking layouts may suit call centers with minimal customer traffic, while angled parking may be more suitable for high-traffic storefronts. City regulations, such as parking meter placement, must also be considered when deciding on parking space dimensions.

Benefits of Efficient Parking Lot Layout Dimensions

Aisle Width for Safe Parking

Parking spaces require ample aisle room to efficiently accommodate both backing and driving maneuvers. Adequate aisle width ensures smooth and safe navigation within a parking lot. When it comes to backing into a parking space, drivers need sufficient room to maneuver their vehicles easily. Without enough aisle width, backing can become a challenging and potentially hazardous task, leading to an increased risk of collisions and vehicle damage.

Traffic Flow Efficiency

Ample aisle room also facilitates convenient driving within the parking lot. Drivers must be able to navigate comfortably through the aisles, especially during peak hours when traffic is heavy. Insufficient aisle width can bring congestion and delays as vehicles struggle to pass each other, resulting in frustration for drivers and potential bottlenecks within the parking lot.

Accessibility Considerations for Larger Vehicles

Wider aisles improve accessibility for drivers with larger vehicles, such as trucks, vans, or SUVs. These vehicles require more space to maneuver and turn, making it essential to have wider aisles to accommodate their size. Parking lots can cater to a diverse range of vehicles by providing sufficient aisle width, ensuring that all customers can access and park their cars conveniently.

Prioritizing Ample Aisle Room

Sufficient aisle width reduces the risk of accidents, enhances traffic flow, and promotes accessibility for various vehicles. By prioritizing ample aisle room in parking lot design and maintenance, businesses can enhance the overall parking experience for their clients and customers.

What Is Parking Validation

Parking Lot Barrier

Legal and Regulatory Standards for Parking Lot Layout Dimensions

Parking lot design is subject to various legal parameters, including zoning laws, ADA requirements, and other local regulations. Compliance with these regulations significantly impacts layout design choices and operational effectiveness.

Parking Stall Angles & Dimensions

The configuration of parking lots is determined by the available area and the desired number of spaces.

The standard parking space dimensions are 8.5 feet wide by 18 feet long, with angles typically ranging between 30º, 45º, 60º, and 90º relative to the curb.

Standard public-use parking spaces are usually between 8.5 and 9 x 18 feet. Special needs like ADA-compliant stalls or bus bays may require different sizes.

The typical car size is about 15 feet long, with 8 feet needed per parked vehicle lengthwise. Therefore, each row of parked cars requires 64 square feet (8 x 8 = 64), allowing room for vehicles, access to adjacent spots, and an aisle.

An optimal layout involves aisles parallel to the lot's longest side, increasing lot capacity by 20 percent. Parking spaces should be within 250 feet of a facility's entrance.

While perpendicular parking rows are recommended for pedestrian safety and convenience, rows less than 130 feet long are impractical. Angled spaces are efficient for high-turnover lots, and 90-degree parking is ideal for full-day or overnight parking.

Lanes & Aisles

Parking lot aisles range from 11 to 24 feet wide, depending on one-way or two-way circulation and parking angles.

Two-way circulation lanes should be at least 20 feet wide. Large parking areas need cross aisles every 30 spaces, with traffic breaks suggested for aisles longer than 350 feet.

Accessibility Requirements & Compliance

ADA mandates accessibility for all new or renovated structures, including parking lots. The regulations specify the location, size, and number of accessible parking spaces based on the total number of spaces in a lot.

For instance, lots with 1-25 spaces need at least one ADA space, increasing with the total spaces. Compliance involves ensuring accessible routes, striping, identifying signs, lighting, van-accessible spaces, and wheelchair-accessible ramping.

Exit & Entrance Lanes

Ideally, parking lot entrances and exits should be away from busy intersections and crosswalks, with a minimum 3-foot distance from street lights, utility poles, and fire hydrants.

Signage, pavement markings, and delineators indicate entrance or exit lanes. Entry and exit points should be at least 200 feet from intersections, with more than one for lots exceeding 100 parking spaces. A 20-foot driveway radius return and 25-foot throat length are recommended. Understand the parking restrictions and ADA compliance to design efficient, accessible, and legally compliant parking lots that meet operational needs.

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4 Steps to Parking Lot Layout Design

1. Lot Measurements

Knowing your exact parking lot measurements is very important. You may wish to start with a satellite image from Google Maps then draw in each boundary line. Some property legal descriptions include dimensions. Surveys will also typically include all of these measurements.

Alternatively, take a measuring tape with you to site to precisely measure the available space. Keep in mind that a lot may have required setbacks from the property line. Further, there may be limits for the locations and widths of the entry and exit laneways for ingress and egress to the parking area. Once you have your lot dimensions, you may want to start with grid paper or a basic software program (see below suggestions) to set up your canvas!

2. Parking Space Dimensions & Parking Lot Layout

How many spaces you can fit in your parking layout depends in part on the dimension of each space. (Though, as we’ll discuss, there are many other elements you’ll need to include in your layout — parking spaces are just one.) Typically public parking spaces are 9’ x 18’ with tiny spaces as small as 7.25’ x 15.1’. Depending on the angles in which vehicles park, aisles for driving may be 11’ to 23’.

3. Prepare a Preliminary Parking Layout

And now for the fun part! Use a software program to test lot configurations. If this seems a bit daunting, there are many architects and parking consultants who specialize in parking lot layout.

4. Calculate Your Potential ROI

After you’ve completed the parking space layout AND added your parking revenue system laneways, let’s start looking at how much revenue your parking lot can generate! For some of you, this is actually the fun part!

Start with our Parking Revenue Calculator. There are two calculators: basic & advanced. The Basic option incorporates 3 values: daily parkers, average parking price and days per year. 150 parkers paying $5 for 365 a year is $273,750 in revenue!

If you have monthly parkers plus different transient groups (i.e. day parkers, evening event parkers, weekend parkers, etc.) you may fill in those values to calculate what you believe to be your parking revenue.

Compare the parking system price to your potential revenue to determine your ROI as well as how long it will take you to pay off the system.

Streamlined Parking Operations with Parqour

Parqour is a software platform that simplifies parking operations and improves the customer experience. It offers real-time data, automated plate recognition, and contactless payments. We operate in more than 22 countries, 300+ parking areas, and have detected over 100M+ vehicles. Parqour offers a comprehensive end-to-end management platform to increase revenue, reduce operational cost and enhance transparency. Say goodbye to piecing together different vendors and integrations.

No need to spend huge capital on bulky hardware. Control all operations from one platform. Contactless parking and online payment methods make the parking experience easier for your customers too. The end result:

Higher utilization and lower operating costs

99,6% license plate recognition rate

Online QR payment & 3rd party APIs (integrated with Parkmobile, SpotHero, Honk, PayByPhone)

Data analytics (real-time occupancy, revenue, utilization, parking trends)

Validation and permit management (free flow access for approved drivers)

24/7 remote control system, Hardware with zero upfront costs, Zoning and violation detection (control POD, VIP and nested zones), and much more!

Book a free demo to learn about how Parqour can shift your parking operation into top gear!

5 Technological Tools for Designing Parking Lot Layout Dimensions

1. RoomSketcher for Quick and Easy Parking Lot Layouts

RoomSketcher.com is free software for up to 5 projects. While intended for interior design layouts, it’s a quick, low-cost option that can be used for a basic parking lot layout. And because RoomSketcher is cloud-based, there is no need to download.

Using the software to layout your parking lot design is intuitive. Create a new project, then edit. Click on “1. Walls” and use the Divider or Wall options for the layout. Dimensions are shown as you extend the lines. You may create each parking stall to your desired dimensions. We really like how easily we can quickly create and visualize the parking lot layout!

2. ConceptDraw for Detailed Parking Lot Layouts

ConceptDraw.com offers Site Plan software for parking lot layout and is free for 21 days. There are more robust options, including adding barrier gates, bollards, bike racks, lamp posts, trees and more.

3. Transoft: Advanced Software for Engineers and Architects

For the more advanced, Transoft is an award-winning software for engineers, architects and land developers. This software utilizes ParkCAD to design multiple parking sites in minutes and includes stall counts, set area dimensions, object editing and powerful reporting.

ParkCAD will run combinations of row layouts, rotations and positions to create the optimal space yield based on the parameters input by the users. Once all of the iterations have been generated, it’s easy to review and select the best option.

4. ParkCAD for Quicker and Smarter Parking Layout Designs

ParkCAD is an advanced CAD software that allows users to design parking layouts quicker and smarter than traditional CAD methods. It features powerful layout, optimization, and editing tools to increase productivity, reduce time-consuming redrawing of parking layout designs, and ensure conformity to regulations in many different jurisdictions.

ParkCAD allows users to design parking rows and aisles, create complex parking layouts, place parking around other objects, add accessible parking, consider traffic flow, and edit parking layouts. It also includes real-time stall counts, parking object editing, quantity takeoff costing, and powerful reporting abilities.

5. CAD Pro for Comprehensive Parking Lot Planning

CAD Pro is a leading source for parking lot plans and design software, providing many features needed to design parking lot layouts and designs. It allows users to create any size and shape of parking lot layouts or designs, comply with industry guidelines, optimize layouts with real-time stall counts, and ensure compliance and inclusivity for accessibility needs. CAD Pro is used by NARI professional remodelers and contractors, NHBA home builders and contractors, and other professionals in the construction industry.

Simplify Your Parking Operations and Improve Your Customer Experience with Parqour －Book A Free Demo Today

Parqour is a cutting-edge software platform that transforms the way parking operations are managed. Our advanced technology simplifies the parking process and enhances the overall customer experience. By providing real-time data, automated plate recognition, and contactless payment options, Parqour offers a seamless solution for parking management.

With a presence in over 22 countries and more than 300 parking areas, we have processed over 100 million vehicles to date. Our platform delivers a comprehensive end-to-end management solution that helps increase revenue, reduce operational costs, and improve transparency in parking operations.

Seamless Integration and Comprehensive Management Platform

Parqour eliminates the need to juggle multiple vendors and integrations by offering a centralized platform for all parking management needs. You can streamline operations, control various aspects of parking, and access real-time data from a single interface. This simplifies the management process and allows you to focus on optimizing your parking facilities efficiently.

Contactless Payment Options for Enhanced Customer Experience

With contactless parking and online payment methods, Parqour ensures a hassle-free experience for your customers. By eliminating the need for physical tickets or cash transactions, you can provide a convenient and secure payment process for parkers. This leads to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately boosting revenue and utilization rates for your parking facilities.

Advanced Features for Operational Efficiency

Parqour offers a range of advanced features to optimize parking operations, including a 99.6% license plate recognition rate, online QR payment, and integration with third-party APIs such as Parkmobile, SpotHero, Honk, and PayByPhone.

With data analytics capabilities, you can access real-time occupancy, revenue, utilization, and parking trend insights to make informed decisions. The platform also includes validation and permit management features for free-flow access to approved drivers, 24/7 remote control system, zoning and violation detection options, and much more.

Zero Upfront Costs and Hardware Solutions

One of the key advantages of Parqour is the zero upfront cost for hardware, saving you from significant capital investment in bulky equipment. Our platform offers hardware solutions that are easy to implement and integrate seamlessly with your existing parking infrastructure. This ensures a smooth transition to a more efficient parking management system without the financial burden of upfront costs.

Book Your Free Demo Today

Ready to revolutionize your parking operations with Parqour? Book a free demo to explore how our platform can transform your parking facilities, enhance customer experience, and increase revenue. Say goodbye to complex parking management processes and hello to a streamlined, efficient solution with Parqour!