Dock leveler sizes are nominal, meaning they are the measured size in name only. Nominal sizes allow for cross-comparison of manufacture brands. The reality is that dock leveler sizes are based on the pit size, and these are generally the same across the industry.
A common size for a mainstream warehouse dock leveler is a 6’ x 8’ deck. The size of a dock leveler is dependent on the application and customer requirements.
For example, a chemical manufacturer may want to maximize the width of the deck to take up as much of the dock door opening as possible for safety reasons of a tow motor staying on the deck plate. Or you may have a low dock height (the standard is 48”) and need a longer deck to lessen the incline into a truck bed if a truck’s floor is high at your dock. Both scenarios require different dock leveler sizes.
Commonly available dock leveler widths are nominally 6’, 6’-6”, and 7’. Common lengths nominally are 6’, 8’, 10’ and, in some instances, 12’ long.
However, because these are nominal sizes, the pit dimensions are different. For a “6x6” dock leveler, for example, the pit size is 74” wide by 63” long. And a “6x8” dock leveler is a 74” wide x 87” long pit.
The standard dock leveler pit depth is 20” (with shims under the frame). For longer levelers (10’ and 12’ long) as well as special manufacture designs, a 24” pit depth is used.
The pit depth is slanted from back to front, commonly with a 19.5” rear and 20” face. This aides in water drainage from the dock leveler pit.
Different manufactures sometimes use different pit sizes, especially those of US from Canadian origin.
The general pit dimensions are listed below for Systems Poweramp dock levelers, a Wisconsin USA-based manufacture.
- 6’ x 6’ - 74” x 63” x 20”
- 6’ x 8’ - 74” x 87” x 20”
- 6’ x 10’ - 74” x 111” x 24”
- 6.5’ x 6’ - 80” x 63” x 20”
- 6.5’ x 8’ - 80” x 87” x 20”
- 6.5’ x 10’ - 80” x 111” x 24”
- 7’ x 6’ - 85” x 63” x 20”
- 7’ x 8’ - 85” x 87” x 20”
- 7’ x 10’ - 85” x 111” x 24”
