Edge-of-dock levellers

How much does an edge-of-dock leveller cost?

An edge-of-dock leveller typically costs £1,800 to £4,400 per leveller, excluding VAT, supply and fit. That is considerably less than a pit leveller, because there is no pit to form or maintain and the unit itself is smaller.

The price depends on:

• Operation: mechanical units with a lever and spring assistance cost less than hydraulic push-button units.
• Width and capacity: wider plates and higher ratings for heavier forklifts.
• Fixing method: bolting to sound concrete, welding to an existing steel edge, or fitting a new edge angle first.
• Dock face condition: spalled or damaged concrete may need repair before fixing.
• Bumpers: often replaced or repositioned at the same time.
• Power: hydraulic units need a supply at the bay.

Concrete repairs or new edge steel are priced as separate items after survey, so you can see exactly what the leveller costs on its own. The written quote is the fixed price.

Do edge-of-dock levellers need the same inspections as pit levellers?

Yes, an edge-of-dock leveller is work equipment just like a pit leveller, so it must be kept in a safe condition and inspected where deterioration could lead to danger. Its small size does not exempt it.

• Great Britain: PUWER 1998 applies, with HSE as the regulator.
• Northern Ireland: PUWER (Northern Ireland) 1999 applies, with HSENI as the regulator.
• Insurer inspections: engineering insurers commonly inspect dock levellers under PUWER at 12-month intervals, so ask your insurer to confirm edge-of-dock units are on the schedule.
• Standard: the dock leveller safety standard is BS EN 1398:2009, which is current and under review.
• Trapping points: HSE guidance notes that guards or skirting may be needed on dock levellers where something could be caught, so hinge areas and plate edges are checked.

Mechanical units rely on springs and hinges that wear, so an inspection should cover these as carefully as the hydraulics on a powered unit.

Should I choose a mechanical or hydraulic edge-of-dock leveller?

Choose a mechanical edge-of-dock leveller for occasional use and simple sites, and a hydraulic one where the bay is busy or operators need push-button control. Both bridge a similar small height range.

• Mechanical: the operator pulls a lever or handle and the lip lifts and drops onto the bed with spring assistance. No power is needed and there is little to go wrong, but it takes some physical effort.
• Hydraulic: a push button raises the plate and extends the lip, then lowers it onto the trailer. It is easier and quicker for frequent use and can be interlocked with the dock door and traffic lights.

Other choices include plate width, which should suit the wheel track of your pallet trucks and forklifts, and capacity, which must cover the truck and its heaviest load. On exposed external docks, a galvanised or well-painted finish helps the unit cope with rain, frost and road salt.

Which types and options are available?

Typical specification

How is an edge-of-dock leveller fitted to an existing dock?

An edge-of-dock leveller is fixed to the front face or top edge of the dock from the yard side, and installation usually takes around half a day to a day per bay. No digging is involved.

1. The dock face is inspected, and damaged concrete or worn edge steel is repaired or replaced first if needed.
2. The leveller is positioned centrally on the door opening and bolted or welded in place.
3. Bumpers are fitted or repositioned so trailers stop at the right distance from the plate.
4. On hydraulic units, the power pack and controls are connected.
5. The leveller is tested across its working range.

You will need to keep the yard approach to the bay clear, take the bay out of use and, for hydraulic units, provide a power supply near the door or ask us to include one. Because the work is outside, very wet or freezing weather can affect welding and fixing, so we keep the date flexible where we can.

How much height difference can an edge-of-dock leveller handle?

An edge-of-dock leveller can only handle a small height difference, typically in the region of 75 to 150 mm above and below dock level depending on the model. That is enough where trailers are consistent, but not where bed heights vary widely.

Typical UK docks are around 1,200 mm above yard level, while trailer bed heights can range from roughly 900 to 1,600 mm across rigid, curtain-sider, refrigerated, double-deck and container chassis. If your trailers sit outside the leveller's range, the plate becomes too steep to use safely.

• Good fit: dedicated fleets or regular suppliers with similar trailers.
• Poor fit: sites receiving everything from low rigids to high double-deck trailers.

Where trailer heights vary, a pit leveller such as a swing-lip dock leveller gives a much longer, gentler ramp. We record your trailer heights at survey to confirm which suits.

Where does an edge-of-dock leveller work best?

An edge-of-dock leveller works best where trailer heights are consistent, a pit is impractical, or the budget rules out a pit leveller. It is a practical choice for many smaller operations and for adding capacity at larger ones.

• Leased units: where the lease or landlord does not allow a pit to be cut into the slab.
• Dedicated fleets: sites loading their own vehicles of a known bed height.
• Extra bays: adding loading positions at a dock where most bays already have pit levellers.
• Difficult slabs: where drainage, services or the structure would make a pit costly.
• Low-volume docks: occasional deliveries that do not justify a pit leveller.

Our guide on how to choose a dock leveller compares edge-of-dock, swing-lip and telescopic units in more detail, including the trailer and equipment questions to answer before deciding.

When is this the right choice?

• Your trailers arrive at consistent bed heights close to your dock height.
• Forming a pit is not allowed under your lease or would hit drains or services.
• Staff are using loose bridge plates that slip or must be carried into place.
• You need an extra loading position at low cost alongside existing pit levellers.
• An old mechanical edge leveller has a damaged lip, weak springs or cracked welds.

How the job runs

1. Free site survey

   We check the dock face and edge steel, measure dock height and record your trailer bed heights to confirm they sit within an edge-of-dock leveller's range.

2. Written quote

   A fixed written price for the leveller, fixing, bumpers and any controls, with concrete repairs or new edge steel listed separately if they are needed.

3. Installation

   The unit is fixed to the dock face from the yard, bumpers set and any hydraulic controls connected, typically within half a day to a day per bay.

4. Testing and handover

   The leveller is tested across its working range, fixings and bumpers checked, and staff shown how to operate and store it safely.

Edge-of-dock levellers: questions

Related equipment and services

• Swing-lip dock levellersHydraulic pit levellers with a hinged lip for everyday trailer loading.
• Dock bumpersRubber and steel-faced buffers that protect the dock face and leveller.
• Scissor lift tablesDock lifts that raise goods to trailer height at ground-level doors.

Further reading

• How to choose a dock leveller: types, sizes and capacity
• Converting a ground-level door into a loading dock
• Dock leveller repair or replace? The signs to look for

Edge-of-dock levellers by area