- Swing-lip levellers suit everyday loading of standard trailers, while telescopic-lip levellers place the lip precisely and reach further, which helps with end-loading and mixed fleets.
- Choose leveller length from the largest height difference you expect and the gradient your trucks can manage, because a longer platform gives a gentler slope.
- Edge-of-dock levellers need no pit but cover only a small height range, while lift tables handle ground-level doors and larger height differences.
- Pit levellers are priced assuming an existing, sound pit; new pits, pit repairs, concrete and groundworks are surveyed and priced separately.
What types of dock leveller are there?
There are three main types of dock leveller: swing-lip, telescopic-lip and edge-of-dock, with scissor lift tables as the alternative where a leveller cannot do the job. Each bridges the gap between the dock floor and the trailer bed in a different way.
- Swing-lip levellers are hydraulic platforms set in a pit. When raised, a hinged lip swings out and rests on the trailer bed.
- Telescopic-lip levellers are also pit-mounted and hydraulic, but the lip slides out to the distance the operator chooses.
- Edge-of-dock levellers are compact units fixed to the dock face, with no pit, for small height differences.
- Scissor lift tables raise and lower the load itself, so they work at ground-level doors and with large height differences.
Guide prices for supply and fit, ex VAT, are £5,200–£8,800 per swing-lip leveller, £6,800–£11,800 per telescopic-lip leveller and £1,800–£4,400 per edge-of-dock leveller. Scissor lift tables are £9,500–£28,000 per lift. Size, capacity, controls and pit condition move the price within each range.
When should I choose a swing-lip dock leveller?
Choose a swing-lip leveller when most of your vehicles are standard trailers that reverse right up to the bumpers and you load from the rear in the normal way. It is the everyday workhorse of the dock and the simpler of the two pit types.
The lip is typically about 400 to 500 mm long. As the platform rises, the lip swings out, and as the platform lowers, the lip comes to rest on the trailer bed. Because the lip extends to a fixed length, the trailer needs to sit close to the dock for a good overlap.
Swing-lip levellers work well where:
- the fleet is consistent and trailers dock tightly against the bumpers
- loading is pallet by pallet with forklifts or powered pallet trucks
- a simple mechanism matters more than precise lip placement
- the budget favours the lower-cost pit leveller
See swing-lip dock levellers for sizes and options.
When is a telescopic-lip leveller the better choice?
A telescopic-lip leveller is the better choice when the operator needs to place the lip precisely or reach further into the trailer. The lip slides out rather than swinging, and telescopic lips commonly extend 500 to 1,000 mm.
That control helps in several situations:
- End-loading. The lip can be set down just behind the last row of pallets, so the final row can be reached without the lip landing on the load.
- Mixed fleets. Trailers that stop short of the bumpers, or have rear frames that vary, can still be reached with a good overlap.
- Projecting dock fittings. Where bumpers or the dock edge keep the trailer further from the leveller, the extra reach still gives full support on the bed.
- Precise placement. The operator chooses exactly where the lip lands, which helps with uneven or damaged trailer floors.
Telescopic-lip levellers cost more than swing-lip versions and have more moving parts to maintain. See telescopic-lip dock levellers.
When should I use an edge-of-dock leveller or a lift table instead?
Use an edge-of-dock leveller where trailer beds sit close to your dock height and there is no pit, and a scissor lift table where there is no raised dock or the height difference is too large for a leveller. Neither needs a pit in the floor.
Edge-of-dock levellers are fixed to the dock face and fold down onto the trailer bed. They cover only a small height range, so they suit docks with a consistent fleet, retrofit work on older buildings and lightly used bays. They can also help where a pit would clash with drainage or services under the floor.
Scissor lift tables, also called dock lifts, raise goods from yard level to trailer height. They suit:
- ground-level doors where forming a raised dock is not practical
- sites that handle both vans and full-size trailers
- height differences outside the working range of a leveller
Lift tables are lifting equipment under LOLER, so they need thorough examination at least every 12 months, or every 6 months if they lift people, unless a competent person draws up a written examination scheme. The relevant safety standard is BS EN 1570-1:2024.
How long should my dock leveller be?
Your dock leveller should be long enough to bridge the largest height difference you expect at a gradient your handling equipment can cope with. For the same rise or fall, a longer platform gives a shallower slope.
Work through these points before choosing a length:
- Measure the dock height above the yard where the trailer stands.
- List the lowest and highest trailer beds you receive, loaded and empty. Bed heights commonly range from about 900 to 1,600 mm.
- Check what crosses the leveller. Low-clearance pallet trucks and some powered trucks need gentler slopes than forklifts.
- Ask the truck supplier what gradient the equipment can handle safely when loaded.
Manufacturers state a working range above and below dock level for each length. If one leveller cannot cover your fleet at a workable gradient, consider a longer unit, a separate bay for low vehicles or a lift table. Leveller width should match the door opening so trucks are not squeezed at the edges.
What capacity does a dock leveller need?
A dock leveller needs a rated capacity that comfortably covers the heaviest truck and load that will cross it, not just the weight of the goods. Levellers are rated by nominal load, and a forklift accelerating, braking and turning on the platform puts more force through it than its weight alone.
When comparing capacities, consider:
- the laden weight of your heaviest forklift or powered truck
- how often it crosses the platform each shift
- whether loads are carried on small, hard wheels, which concentrate stress on the plate
- future changes, such as heavier trucks or a busier operation
Your truck supplier can confirm axle loads, and we specify the capacity from that information so the leveller is suitable for the work, as PUWER expects of work equipment. Levellers should meet BS EN 1398:2009, the safety standard for dock levellers, which is current and under review. Features to ask about include an emergency stop, toe guards or skirting, and safety devices that stop the platform dropping if a trailer moves away.
Do I need a pit for a dock leveller?
Swing-lip and telescopic-lip levellers sit in a pit, so you need either an existing sound pit or new pit works; edge-of-dock levellers and lift tables do not. Our leveller prices assume an existing, sound pit.
- Existing pit in good condition. The new leveller is matched to the pit size, which is measured at survey.
- Damaged or wrong-size pit. Kerb angles, concrete and drainage may need repair or alteration, priced separately after survey.
- No pit. Forming one involves cutting and excavating the floor, new concrete and possibly drainage. It is a structural alteration that may need Building Regulations approval, a building warrant in Scotland or building control approval in Northern Ireland.
Where forming a pit is not practical, an edge-of-dock leveller, a loading house with a built-in leveller or a lift table can avoid breaking into the floor.
Replacing a leveller in an existing, sound pit is generally the simplest route, because the work can often be planned one bay at a time while neighbouring bays keep running.
What should a dock leveller quote include?
A dock leveller quote should state the leveller type, platform size, lip length, rated capacity and controls, along with exactly which pit, electrical and making-good work is included. A clear quote makes it easier to compare like with like.
Check that it covers:
- leveller type, length, width and lip length
- nominal capacity and the safety standard the leveller meets
- control panel position, and whether it links to the door or traffic lights
- the pit condition assumed, and any pit repairs or kerb angles priced separately
- electrical supply and isolation
- removal and disposal of the old leveller where relevant
- the manufacturer's warranty and the workmanship terms, set out in writing
Our guide prices assume an existing, sound pit, and the written quote after survey is the fixed price. The site survey and quote for new and replacement levellers are free and without obligation.
What should I look for in a cold store dock leveller?
A cold store dock leveller should be built and positioned to limit warm air getting in through and around the platform. In a chilled or frozen bay, an ordinary leveller in an open pit can let cold air escape and warm air in around the platform edges.
Common approaches include:
- insulated platforms and seals around the pit edges
- placing the leveller outside the insulated door line, for example in a loading house, so the door closes inside it
- hydraulic components and oil suited to low temperatures
- pairing the leveller with a cold store door and a well-sealing shelter or seal
Whatever the type, the leveller needs regular servicing. Most dock levellers are treated as work equipment under PUWER, and engineering insurers commonly inspect them every 12 months. Our guide to dock leveller inspections explains what applies.
Questions
What is the difference between a swing-lip and a telescopic-lip leveller?
Both are hydraulic pit levellers. A swing-lip leveller has a hinged lip, typically about 400 to 500 mm long, that swings out and rests on the trailer bed. A telescopic-lip leveller has a lip that slides out, commonly 500 to 1,000 mm, so the operator can place it precisely. Telescopic lips suit end-loading and mixed fleets; swing lips suit everyday loading of standard trailers.
How much does a dock leveller cost?
Guide prices for supply and fit, excluding VAT, are £5,200–£8,800 for a swing-lip leveller, £6,800–£11,800 for a telescopic-lip leveller and £1,800–£4,400 for an edge-of-dock leveller. These assume an existing, sound pit. New pits, pit repairs, concrete and groundworks are priced separately after survey, and the written quote is the fixed price.
Can a dock leveller be fitted without a pit?
An edge-of-dock leveller can, because it fixes to the dock face, but it only covers a small height range. Swing-lip and telescopic-lip levellers need a pit. If you have no pit and forming one is not practical, a loading house with a built-in leveller or a scissor lift table at a ground-level door are the main alternatives.
Does a dock leveller need a LOLER inspection?
Most dock levellers are treated as work equipment under PUWER, and engineering insurers commonly inspect them every 12 months. A leveller designed or used to lift people may fall under LOLER, with thorough examination every 6 months. It depends on the equipment and how it is used, so your insurer or competent person will confirm which applies to your docks.