By Chris, Director at Store Fittings Direct. Last updated 14 October 2026.
Car park barriers are the gates, arms and overhead frames that control which vehicles get onto your site and when. The main types are manual and automatic arm barriers (boom barriers), height restrictors, swing barrier gates and parking posts. Pick the right one and you stop fly-parking, keep tall vans out and lock the site at night. Pick the wrong one and you get a barrier nobody closes, or a van wedged under a low roof.
Quick answer: In the UK, a manual car park arm barrier costs from £674.50 ex VAT, a heavy-duty manual arm barrier for 6m to 9m roads from £1,197.70 ex VAT, and a solar-powered automatic arm barrier from £2,032.20 ex VAT at Store Fittings Direct. Fixed height restrictors start at £727.20 ex VAT (standard clearance 2.05m with a knock bar, 2.2m without) and swing barrier gates from £746.43 ex VAT. Powered barriers must be safe under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 and are covered by BS EN 12453. If you have accessible parking, plan for 2.6m headroom. Fitting and groundworks are extra.
Contents
- Types of car park barrier
- Car park barrier prices (2026)
- How to choose the right barrier
- Height restrictors: getting the clearance right
- UK rules and standards
- Barriers by site type
- Installation and maintenance
- Why buy car park barriers from Store Fittings Direct
- FAQs
Types of car park barrier
Most sites need one of five things. Here is what each does.
Manual arm barriers
A manual arm barrier is a counterweighted pivot post with an aluminium boom that rests on a lockable end post. You lift it by hand, drive through, drop it and padlock it. No power, no electrics, very little to go wrong. They are the go-to for private car parks, business units and yards that only need locking out of hours. Our arm barrier range covers openings from 2m up to 9m.
The Easy Lift Manual Arm Barrier uses a gas strut to take the weight of the boom, so it is easier for staff to raise many times a day. It comes in 2m to 8m spans, surface mounted or root fixed, from £674.50 ex VAT.
For wide entrances, the Heavy Duty Manual Raise Arm Barrier covers 6m to 9m road widths and can still be operated by one person. It starts at £1,197.70 ex VAT.
Automatic arm barriers
Automatic barriers open on a fob, keypad or other trigger, so nobody has to get out of the car. They make sense where the barrier is used dozens of times a day, or where you want to control access without staff on the gate. Our Automatic Rising Arm Barrier runs on solar power and an internal battery, so there is no cable to dig in. It is supplied pre-assembled with one remote fob and has a manual override for emergencies.
Height restrictors
A height restrictor is an overhead frame or bar that cars pass under but taller vehicles cannot. Use one to keep vans, lorries, caravans and travellers' vehicles out of a car park, or to protect a low roof, canopy or multi-storey deck. There are fixed, swing and pivot versions, plus simple hanging bars. See the full height restrictor range.
Swing barrier gates
A swing barrier gate is a steel gate on a hinge post that swings open sideways and locks shut against a catch post. It is tougher than a single boom and better at stopping vehicles physically, which is why it is common on yards, depots, field entrances and access roads. Browse our swing barrier gates, from the Single Leaf Access Gate to the Double Leaf Swinging Access Gate for 5m to 11m openings.
Parking posts and bollards
If you only need to protect one or two bays, a barrier is overkill. A fold-down parking post (from £59.28 ex VAT) or a telescopic parking post (from £104.32 ex VAT) does the job for a fraction of the cost. Our bollards buying guide covers these in detail.
Car park barrier prices (2026)
These are real starting prices from our range, ex VAT. The site shows both ex and inc VAT on every product page. Prices go up with span, finish (galvanised, or galvanised and powder coated) and fixing type.
| Product | Best for | From (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Lift Manual Arm Barrier (gas strut) | 2m to 8m openings, frequent manual use | £674.50 |
| Manual Arm Barrier, Standard | Up to 8m, everyday car parks | £744.94 |
| Manual Rise Arm Barrier, galvanised and powder coated | 3m to 7m, extra corrosion protection | £996.53 |
| Heavy Duty Manual Raise Arm Barrier | 6m to 9m wide roads | £1,197.70 |
| Automatic Rising Arm Barrier (solar) | Up to 2.5m drive-through, no mains power | £2,032.20 |
| Height Restriction Bar (aluminium) | 2m to 6m widths, hangs from a structure | £199.08 |
| Fixed Height Restrictor Barrier | Permanent height limit, 3m to 7m | £727.20 |
| Access Height Restrictor Barrier | Height limit with access for taller vehicles | £1,309.29 |
| Swing Height Restrictor Barrier | Swings open for deliveries and emergency vehicles | £1,319.73 |
| Pivot Height Restrictor Barrier | Pivots up to let tall vehicles through | £1,737.17 |
| Manual Swing Barrier Gate, Single Leaf | Yards, depots, access roads | £746.43 |
| Double Leaf Swinging Access Gate | Wide openings, 5m to 11m | £1,418.34 |
What else to budget for: groundworks (a concrete base or foundation), fitting by a competent local contractor, signage, and, for automatic barriers, extra fobs and any ongoing servicing. Root-fixed versions cost a little more than surface-mounted ones. For example, a 3m Easy Lift barrier is £745.90 ex VAT surface mounted and £833.31 ex VAT root fixed.
How to choose the right barrier
Answer these five questions and the choice usually makes itself.
1. What are you trying to stop?
If it is cars parking out of hours, a manual arm barrier is enough. If it is tall vehicles getting in, you need a height restrictor. If you need a physical block against vehicles forcing their way in, a swing gate is stronger than a boom. For hostile vehicle threats, look at proper anti-ram bollards instead. A standard car park barrier is not designed to stop a deliberate ram.
2. How often will it open?
A few times a day: manual is fine and cheaper. Dozens of times a day, or by people who cannot be trusted to close it: go automatic, or at least a gas-strut Easy Lift so staff do not leave it up.
3. How wide is the opening?
Measure the full width between kerbs or walls, not just the driven lane. Arm barriers go up to 9m in our range, swing gates up to 11m with a double leaf. Allow room for the pivot post and end rest.
4. Is there power?
Running a cable to an entrance can cost more than the barrier. A solar-powered automatic barrier avoids that completely, which is why it is popular on private roads and small car parks.
5. Who else needs to get in?
Think about deliveries, bin lorries, fire engines and ambulances. A swing or pivot height restrictor can open for them; a fixed one cannot. Fire brigade (FB) versions of parking posts exist too, such as the Retractapost 745mm FB telescopic bollard. Check access needs with your fire risk assessor before you lock anything.
Height restrictors: getting the clearance right
Height restrictors are where most mistakes happen, so it is worth getting the numbers right.
- Standard clearance: our Fixed Height Restrictor Barrier has a standard clearance of 2.05m with a knock bar fitted and 2.2m without one, and the manufacturer's spec sheet gives the same figures. The Swing Height Restrictor has a 2.05m standard clearance.
- Accessible parking: if you have accessible bays, plan for 2.6m headroom to those bays and the routes to them. Sheffield City Council's car parking guidance sets a 2.6m minimum, and the RIBA access audit checklist asks whether height barriers give 2.6m clearance. Wheelchair-accessible vans with roof conversions will not fit under a 2.05m bar.
- Warn before you block: hang a knock bar or warning bar before the main restrictor so drivers hear and see the limit before they hit steel. Our Height Restriction Knock Bar (from £78.87 ex VAT, chain and clips included) and the lightweight Traffic-Line plastic Height Restrictor (from £34.89 ex VAT) do exactly this.
- Sign it: use a clear maximum height sign showing the real clearance. On public roads, height limits use the red-ringed sign from the Traffic Signs Regulations; on private land, the same familiar sign is the sensible choice.
If you need tall vehicles in now and then, a Swing Height Restrictor or Pivot Height Restrictor opens on demand while keeping the limit the rest of the time.
UK rules and standards
There is no single "car park barrier law", but several rules apply. Here are the ones that matter.
Workplace car parks: keep people and vehicles apart
Regulation 17 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 says every workplace must be organised so that "pedestrians and vehicles can circulate in a safe manner", and that where they share a route there must be sufficient separation. HSE guidance on separating pedestrians and vehicles recommends separate vehicle and pedestrian entrances wherever possible, protective barriers, and marked crossing points. In practice: do not make people walk under your arm barrier. Give them a footpath, and use pedestrian guardrail to guide them to it.
Powered barriers count as machinery
HSE says powered doors, gates and barriers must be safe under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. The key standard is BS EN 12453, which covers powered doors, gates and barriers mainly for vehicle use. The door and gate industry body DHF confirms EN 12453:2017+A1:2021 is now harmonised and listed as a designated standard in the UK. It sets limits on the force a moving gate or barrier can apply to a person and requires a risk assessment at installation.
HSE issued a safety alert after a child was killed by a powered gate, so this is not paperwork for its own sake. Whoever installs an automatic barrier should do a risk assessment, and the owner must keep it maintained.
Maintenance is the owner's job
HSE points out that once a barrier is in, the site owner or manager has the ongoing duty to keep it safe, including under Regulation 5 of the Workplace Regulations (maintenance of equipment) and, for sites the public use, section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Landlords and managing agents are included.
Barriers by site type
Retail parks and shops
Height restrictors stop unauthorised vans and caravans, and a manual arm barrier locks the car park after trading. Pair them with wheel stops on bays facing shop fronts. Our guide to site safety barriers for car parks covers the wider picture.
Offices and business units
A manual or solar automatic arm barrier keeps staff spaces for staff. If the barrier opens many times a day, automatic is worth the extra spend. See our site entrance security guide.
Warehouses, depots and yards
Swing barrier gates or heavy-duty arm barriers control the yard entrance; height restrictors protect canopies and loading areas. Inside the yard, think about loading bay protection and traffic mirrors at blind corners.
Councils, NHS sites and schools
Swing gates and height restrictors stop unauthorised encampments on public car parks and playing fields, while swing or pivot designs keep emergency access.
Housing and private roads
Solar automatic barriers suit private estates where running power is awkward. For single bays, telescopic posts are cheaper and neater.
Installation and maintenance
Most of our barriers come as surface-mounted (bolted onto existing sound concrete) or root-fixed (set into a concrete foundation). For example, the AUTOPA fixed height restrictor's spec sheet calls for four 16mm bolts per leg on a bolt-down base, or a concrete foundation about 600mm deep if concreted in. Always follow the fixing instructions supplied with your product, and use a competent local groundworker or installer.
Simple maintenance checklist:
- Check bolts, pivots and padlocks every few months, and after any knock.
- Keep reflective bands clean so the boom is visible at night.
- Check the boom still sits level on its end rest and has not been bent.
- For automatic barriers, keep the solar panel clean, test the manual override, and have safety features checked in line with the installer's recommendations.
- Replace damaged knock bars straight away. A missing warning bar is how roofs get hit.
Why buy car park barriers from Store Fittings Direct
- One supplier for the whole car park: arm barriers, height restrictors, swing gates, bollards, wheel stops, guardrail and mirrors.
- Clear pricing: every price is shown ex VAT and inc VAT.
- Free delivery on over 90% of our products.
- Over 30 years' experience supplying retailers, the NHS, councils, warehouses and construction.
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and a SEDEX member.
- Every Google review is five stars.
- Straight answers: call our advice line on 0116 318 4182 and we will help you pick the right size and fixing.
Browse the full barriers and guard rail range or read our guide to choosing car park swing barrier gates.
FAQs
How much does a car park barrier cost in the UK?
At Store Fittings Direct, a manual arm barrier starts from £674.50 ex VAT (2m, surface mounted), a heavy-duty manual barrier for 6m to 9m openings starts from £1,197.70 ex VAT, and a solar-powered automatic arm barrier starts from £2,032.20 ex VAT. Fixed height restrictors start from £727.20 ex VAT and swing barrier gates from £746.43 ex VAT. Groundworks and fitting are extra.
What is the difference between an arm barrier and a height restrictor?
An arm barrier (or boom barrier) opens and closes to control who can enter. A height restrictor is a fixed or swinging overhead frame that lets cars through but stops vans, lorries and caravans that are too tall. Many sites use both: a height restrictor to keep big vehicles out and an arm barrier to stop out-of-hours parking.
What clearance height should a car park height restrictor have?
There is no single legal height for private car parks. Standard steel restrictors are commonly set at about 2.05m to 2.2m. If you have accessible parking bays, council and RIBA access guidance points to 2.6m headroom to those bays and the routes to them, so wheelchair-accessible vans can get in. Always sign the height clearly.
Do automatic car park barriers have to meet a safety standard?
Yes. HSE says powered gates and barriers count as machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, and BS EN 12453:2017+A1:2021 sets the safety requirements for powered gates and barriers used mainly by vehicles. Owners must also keep them maintained under the Workplace Regulations 1992.
Should I choose surface-mounted or root-fixed (concreted-in)?
Surface-mounted barriers bolt down onto a sound concrete base and are quicker to fit. Root-fixed barriers are set into a concrete foundation and are more permanent and harder to tamper with, but take more groundwork. On our Easy Lift 3m barrier, surface mounted is £745.90 ex VAT and root fixed is £833.31 ex VAT.
Can pedestrians walk under a car park arm barrier?
They should not have to. The Workplace Regulations require pedestrians and vehicles to circulate safely, and HSE recommends separate routes and clearly marked crossing points. Give people a separate footpath or gate beside the barrier instead of making them duck under the boom.
Do solar arm barriers need a mains power supply?
No. Our Automatic Rising Arm Barrier runs on an internal battery charged by solar power, so it needs no outside electrical supply. It comes pre-assembled with one remote fob and has a manual override for emergencies. It suits small to medium entrances up to 2.5m drive-through width.
