Speed Bumps for Sale: Rubber vs Plastic, 2.4" vs 3" & Anchoring [2026]
The buying page for traffic calming: which height matches your target speed, why rubber outlasts plastic, exact anchor hardware for asphalt and concrete, and how to size a run to your lane.
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TL;DR: Height sets the speed. Our 2.4 in heavy-duty oval bump targets traffic at or below 10 mph; the 3 in modular strip targets 5 mph and under. Recycled rubber outlasts plastic outdoors because it flexes instead of cracking. Anchor with spikes in asphalt and lag or wedge anchors in concrete.
Quick Facts
| Spec | 2.4 in heavy-duty oval | 3 in modular strip |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 2.4 in (~6 cm) | 3 in (~7.5 cm) |
| Target speed | 10 mph and under | 5 mph and under |
| Profile | Oval, smoother transition | Squarer, more aggressive |
| Material | Recycled rubber | Recycled rubber |
| Configuration | Modules plus end caps | Modules plus end caps |
| Reflective inserts | Yes | Yes |
| Asphalt fastening | Spike anchors | Spike anchors |
| Concrete fastening | Lag shields or wedge anchors | Lag shields or wedge anchors |
| Quote turnaround | 24 hours | 24 hours |
Step 1: Pick the Height by Target Speed
This is the whole decision, and it is easy to get backwards. Taller means slower:
If you are choosing between a bump, a hump and a table, start with speed bump vs speed hump vs speed table. For placement and spacing along a lot, use the speed bump height and spacing guide.
Step 2: Rubber vs Plastic
| Factor | Recycled rubber | Plastic |
|---|---|---|
| Cold weather | Stays flexible | Becomes brittle, cracks |
| UV / heat | Holds shape | Fades, can deform |
| Impact behavior | Absorbs and rebounds | Transfers to anchors, splits |
| Noise | Lower | Higher slap |
| Removability | Bolts out cleanly | Often fails at fastener holes |
| Typical service life | Many years outdoors | Shorter, especially in sun |
| Best use | Permanent installation | Short-term or seasonal |
Plastic and polymer bumps are cheaper up front and fine for temporary events. For a permanent installation the failure mode is always the same: the fastener hole cracks, the section lifts, and you buy it twice. Recycled rubber is also the more sustainable answer, since it diverts tire rubber from landfill.
Step 3: Size the Run to Your Lane
Bumps are modular. You combine full modules with end caps to reach your lane width, and the end caps are what keep the profile from being a tripping and snagging edge at the curb.
Two rules that prevent rework:
Our lane-width configurator turns your measurement into an exact module and end-cap count.
Step 4: Anchor It Correctly
Anchoring is where most installations fail early.
Asphalt. Spike anchors driven through the pre-molded holes. Pre-drill slightly undersized. Install in warm weather when possible — cold asphalt fractures around the spike. Re-check torque after the first week of traffic.
Concrete. Lag shields or wedge anchors sized to the hole. Drill to full embedment depth, blow the dust out of the hole — dust is the number one cause of pullout — and tighten to the anchor manufacturer's torque, not by feel.
Both surfaces. Lay the run out and mark before drilling; set the pavement surface clean and dry; check every fastener again 30 days in, then annually.
Never glue or adhesive-mount a permanent bump on a traffic lane. It moves, and a moving traffic-calming device is a liability, not a control.
Full hardware detail is in the speed bump installation spec and hardware guide and the cost and installation guide.
Step 5: Sign and Mark It
An unmarked bump is a claim waiting to happen. Add advance warning signage and pavement markings per MUTCD practice, use the reflective inserts, and keep an ADA-compliant accessible route that does not force a wheelchair over the device. Compliance detail is in the parking lot traffic safety compliance guide.
FAQ
Where can I buy rubber speed bumps?
LT Plastics' Site & Traffic Safety division supplies 2.4 in and 3 in recycled-rubber speed bumps across the United States and Mexico, with quotes returned in 24 hours. Send your lane width and target speed for a module count and price.
How do you install rubber speed bumps on asphalt?
Lay out and mark the run, pre-drill the molded holes slightly undersized, drive spike anchors to full depth, then re-check every fastener after the first week of traffic.
How do you anchor rubber speed bumps in concrete?
Use lag shields or wedge anchors: drill to full embedment, clear all dust from the hole, then torque to the anchor manufacturer's specification.
Which is better, 2.4 in or 3 in?
2.4 in for traffic at 10 mph and under — the parking-lot default. 3 in for 5 mph and under where pedestrians and vehicles mix closely.
Are rubber speed bumps better than plastic?
Outdoors and permanently installed, yes. Rubber stays flexible in cold, resists UV, and absorbs impact instead of cracking at the fastener holes.
Do speed bumps damage cars?
Not at their design speed with a correct profile and proper installation. Damage comes from excessive height for the traffic mix, poor transitions or loose sections — the detail is in do speed bumps damage cars.
Sources
LT Plastics Site & Traffic Safety product data sheets (2.4 in heavy-duty oval and 3 in modular strip: module geometry, end caps, load ratings); FHWA MUTCD signing and pavement-marking practice for traffic-calming devices; ITE traffic-calming design guidance on height versus target speed; anchor manufacturer embedment and torque specifications for asphalt and concrete.
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Part of the topic guide
Speed Bumps for Parking Lots, Truck Yards and Loading Docks