This page collects the numbers that appear in tender documents and submittals, in the form they are actually used: dimensions in millimetres with the imperial equivalent in brackets, coating systems described by process rather than by marketing name, and a clear statement of which figures are catalogue values and which are calculated.
Where a figure depends on a factory measurement that we have not yet verified — inner-liner volume in gallons, parking positions per rack, wall thickness on planters — the page says so instead of publishing a plausible number. Anyone who has had a submittal rejected for an unverified capacity figure will recognise why.
Conversion convention used throughout: 1 in = 25.4 mm exactly; 1 ft = 304.8 mm. A 1800 mm bench is therefore 5.9 ft (70.9 in) and is normally written as 6 ft (70.9 in) in US project documents — never as a bare "6 ft".
On this page
- Park bench dimensions
- 6 foot bench, in feet and inches
- Bench material comparison
- Coating systems (ISO 1461 / ASTM A123)
- Powder-coated steel: build and service life
- Galvanized + powder duplex system
- 304 vs 316 stainless steel
- Litter bin capacity
- Planter volume (L / ft³)
- Bike rack spacing
- What a TDS contains
Park bench dimensions: 6 ft, 1800 mm and seat height
Park bench dimensions in this range are set from one controlling figure: the standard length is 1800 mm = 5.9 ft (70.9 in), written as "6 ft (70.9 in)" in US tender documents — never as a bare "6 ft". Seat height is 450 mm = 17.7 in. Conversion convention: 1 in = 25.4 mm exactly, 1 ft = 304.8 mm.
| Length (mm) | Length (in) | Length (ft) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | 47.2 in | 3.9 ft | Compact bays; lower bound of the OEM range |
| 1500 | 59.1 in | 4.9 ft | Small parks and courtyard seating |
| 1800 | 70.9 in | 5.9 ft | Standard length — the "6 ft (70.9 in)" tender figure |
| 2000 | 78.7 in | 6.6 ft | High-capacity promenades and transit platforms |
OEM lengths from 1200 to 2400 mm are produced on request. Seating ergonomics follow the guideline ranges set out in our bench dimensions and ergonomics guide:
| Parameter | Public-seating guideline | AOTUDE standard |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 430–480 mm above finished level | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
| Seat depth | 400–500 mm | Pending factory confirmation |
| Armrest height above seat | 180–250 mm | Pending factory confirmation |
- ·Surface-fixed base plates suit paved slabs; embedded legs suit lawns and resist levering.
- ·Slats are individually replaceable, so the frame can outlive two slat cycles.
6 Foot Park Bench Dimensions in Feet and Inches
A specification written in feet is still manufactured in millimetres, and the gap between the two is not cosmetic: a literal 6 ft is 1828.8 mm, while our catalogue frame at that length is 1800 mm — 5.9 ft, or 70.9 in. On a converted drawing that 28.8 mm reads as tolerance, and a bench cut to the imperial figure alone will not line up with the seat modules, planter edges or railing gaps already set out in millimetres. The row that matters for most US submittals is the 6 foot park bench, so the table below carries it first, with the neighbouring models included because a streetscape package rarely buys one length.
| Catalogue model | Overall L x D x H (mm) | Length (ft / in) | Overall depth (in) | Overall height (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairway park bench | 1800 × 680 × 850 | 5.9 ft / 70.9 in | 26.8 | 33.5 |
| Contour slat bench | 1800 × 680 × 800 | 5.9 ft / 70.9 in | 26.8 | 31.5 |
| Lattice back bench | 1800 × 700 × 850 | 5.9 ft / 70.9 in | 27.6 | 33.5 |
| Aluminium backless bench | 1800 × 480 × 450 | 5.9 ft / 70.9 in | 18.9 | 17.7 |
| Curve backless bench | 1600 × 420 × 450 | 5.2 ft / 63.0 in | 16.5 | 17.7 |
| Broadway street bench | 1500 × 620 × 800 | 4.9 ft / 59.1 in | 24.4 | 31.5 |
Overall depth and overall height are catalogue dimensions taken from the current product data, converted at 1 in = 25.4 mm and rounded to one decimal. They are the envelope a drawing sheet needs for clearance, paving cut-outs and vehicle overhang — they are not seat depth or armrest height, which are measured to different reference points and remain pending factory confirmation for each model. Where a project sets out a seat module in feet, keep the millimetre figure as the controlling dimension and put the imperial equivalent in brackets beside it, which is how the same convention is applied on the park benches range page.
- ·Write the imperial figure as "6 ft (70.9 in)" rather than a bare "6 ft" — a fabricator converting a bare 6 ft lands on 1828.8 mm, which does not match the catalogue frame.
- ·Lengths outside the six above are OEM work: 1200 to 2400 mm is the quoted range, and a non-standard length is a custom run rather than a catalogue variant.
Bench Material Comparison: Steel, 304, 316, Aluminum, WPC, Hardwood
A bench is two material decisions, not one: the frame is a corrosion-system decision, the slats are a comfort and maintenance decision. Which material to specify comes down to exposure and maintenance budget — the six rows below summarise where each option wins at public-use intensity; figures without a factory-verified source are marked as pending rather than estimated.
| Material | Service life at public-use intensity | Maintenance | Seat surface in sun | Suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel frame, hot-dip galvanized + powder coat | Frame outlives two slat cycles; slats are individually replaceable | Touch up chips promptly; inspect annually | Warms in dark colours; slat material dominates comfort | High-traffic urban fleets |
| 304 stainless frame | No red-rust corrosion product; reliable inland, pitting risk near salt spray | Low; occasional cleaning against tea-staining | Warms quickly; slat material dominates comfort | Inland civic and transit sites |
| 316 stainless frame | Stabilised passive film; the default for chloride zones | Low; rinse in coastal salt zones | Warms quickly; slat material dominates comfort | Beachfront and de-icing salt routes |
| Aluminium frame | No red-rust corrosion product; alloy grade governs pitting resistance | Low; rinse in coastal salt zones | Warms quickly; slat material dominates comfort | Coastal sites and corrosion-critical installs — see our aluminium grades guide |
| WPC slats | 10–15+ years | No oiling; rot-resistant | Moderate; stays workable | Maintenance-light municipal fleets |
| Hardwood slats (species per model) | 10–20+ years with periodic oiling | Periodic oiling | Warmest touch; natural grain | Premium landscapes |
With regular oiling, documented teak can reach 25+ years — a service condition, not a catalogue value, which is why it stays out of the table. Slat availability is narrower than the material list: ipe is currently specified on one model and accoya on another, both named on the park benches page — a different model in either species is an OEM confirmation, not a catalogue option. Recycled plastic is not currently one of our slat options; the trade-offs are covered in our recycled plastic vs timber comparison. For the full reasoning on materials, see the outdoor furniture materials guide.
Read as a steel vs wood park bench decision, the table reduces to two separable calls: a galvanized steel frame settles corrosion and structure, while the slat rows settle comfort and maintenance. For most municipal fleets that means a steel frame under WPC slats, upgraded to hardwood where the landscape brief asks for it. Specify frame and slats together on the quotation so finish and species are confirmed as one build.
Coating systems: hot-dip galvanizing and powder coating
Hot-dip galvanizing is the corrosion layer; the polyester powder coat is the UV, colour and impact layer. A tender that says "galvanized" without naming a standard specifies neither process nor thickness. ISO 1461 and ASTM A123 both set the minimum mean coating thickness by steel-thickness class:
| Steel thickness (mm) | ISO 1461 min. mean coating (µm) | ASTM A123 min. mean coating (µm) | Approx. zinc mass (g/m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 | 45 | 45 | 320 |
| > 1.5 – 3.0 | 55 | 55 | 390 |
| > 3.0 – 6.0 | 70 | 65 | 500 |
| > 6.0 | 85 | 85 | 610 |
The powder coat on exposed faces of a duplex system runs 60–80 µm minimum, with 60–120 µm the working range for exterior polyester. Zinc corrodes slowly and predictably — roughly 1–2 µm per year in urban air — which is what makes first-maintenance budgets bankable, and published field data shows a duplex system lasting 1.5–2.3 times the sum of the individual coating lifetimes. One fabrication check matters more than any thickness figure: pre-galvanized sheet (Z275 coil, roughly 20 µm) loses its protection at every cut and weld, so post-fabrication hot-dip galvanizing is the correct specification. Batch coating-thickness reports (CMA/CNAS labs) are issued with shipment on request. The full standard-by-standard breakdown is in our hot-dip galvanizing guide.
Powder-Coated Steel: Coating Build and Service Life
Powder coated steel outdoor furniture relies on the coating as a system, not a colour choice. The build on our frames is a zinc-rich or hot-dip galvanized base layer, followed by an exterior polyester powder coat cured at temperature: 60–80 µm minimum on exposed faces, 60–120 µm the working range, verified with a magnetic gauge reading on the finished part. Edges, welds and cut-outs are where coatings fail first, so those areas are inspected before shipment rather than assumed. Service life depends on exposure and upkeep, not a fixed figure: chips touched up promptly, an annual inspection and a rinse in coastal salt zones are what keep the duplex system inside its published 1.5–2.3× multiplier band. RAL colour and film thickness per model are stated in the TDS; request one through the contact form.
Hot-Dip Galvanized Outdoor Furniture: The Duplex System
Hot-dip galvanized outdoor furniture is specified as a duplex system: the zinc layer and the powder coat are engineered to fail in the right order. The zinc below is sacrificial — at a scratch or a cut edge it corrodes first and protects the bare steel beside it, which is why galvanizing happens after fabrication, so every cut and weld leaves the works sealed. The polyester powder above is the barrier and colour layer: it carries the UV load, the impact and the RAL specification, and it is applied over the zinc, never instead of it. In a tender, the sentence that gets both layers right names the zinc standard — hot-dip galvanized after fabrication to ISO 1461 or ASTM A123 — and then states the powder system and film thickness separately. The thickness figures behind both standards are set out in the coating section above.
304 vs 316 stainless steel for street furniture
316 adds 2–3% molybdenum to 304's 18% chromium / 8% nickel recipe. Molybdenum is what stabilises the passive film against chloride pitting — the failure mode triggered by sea air, road salt and pool water. The specification decision is matching grade to exposure, not buying a "better" grade everywhere.
| Property | 304 | 316 |
|---|---|---|
| Composition | 18% Cr, 8% Ni (18/8) | 304 plus 2–3% Mo, slightly more Ni |
| Chloride resistance | Reliable inland; pitting risk near salt spray | Stabilised passive film; default for chloride zones |
| Relative cost | Base | Typically 15–30% higher |
| Suitable distance from coast | Beyond roughly 10–15 km | Anywhere, including beachfront |
De-icing salt zones deserve 316 even well inland: salt splash on bench legs, bin bodies and bollard bases creates chloride concentrations comparable to sea spray. Under long neglect, tea-staining can appear on any stainless grade; 316 is not maintenance-free. And near water, weathering steel is the wrong answer — it is not recommended within about 1 km of the shoreline, where airborne chlorides prevent the patina from stabilising. Grade selection, surface finishes and the 10–15 km rule of thumb are detailed in our stainless steel grades guide.
Litter bin capacity: litres, gallons and usable volume
Bin capacity is a function of the inner liner, not the outer body. Usable volume is the nominal body volume less roughly 10–15% taken up by liner wall thickness and the opening aperture — so the figure that matters for a collection contract is the tested liner, not the shell.
| Nominal body volume (L) | Typical usable liner volume (L) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | 34–36 | Waiting areas, office entrances, low-footfall corners |
| 60 | 51–54 | Pedestrian walkways and transit stops |
| 80 | 68–72 | Standard park placement |
| 100 | 85–90 | Event spaces and high-traffic entrances |
| 120 | 102–108 | Stadium concourses and festival grounds |
Catalogue litre figures are nominal body volumes. Gallon equivalents for a specific model are Pending factory confirmation — the measurable, contractable figure is the tested inner liner, and that is the number we publish once measured.
- ·Hooded openings keep rain out; perforated bodies drain and ventilate; canopy tops add wayfinding surface.
- ·Two-stream stations only work where both streams are collected separately; a third compartment without a collection contract becomes a contamination bin.
Planter volume in cubic feet and litres
Soil volume is calculated, not dipped: V = πr² × (overall height − 150 mm drainage layer) × 0.85 settlement factor. The table below applies the formula to the round planters in our catalogue; volumes are planning values, treated as ±10%.
| Diameter (mm) | Height (mm) | Calculated soil volume (L) | Soil volume (ft³) | Catalogue example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 700 | 800 | ≈ 210 | ≈ 7.5 | Noirline round urn |
| 750 | 850 | ≈ 260 | ≈ 9.3 | Aurelia gold planter |
| 800 | 900 | ≈ 320 | ≈ 11.3 | Verde marble round planter |
| 900 | 900 | ≈ 410 | ≈ 14.3 | Atrium ribbed planter |
| 1000 | 1000 | ≈ 570 | ≈ 20.0 | Grand atrium round planter |
Worked example, the Ø800 × 900 mm round planter: V = π × 0.4² × (0.9 − 0.15) × 0.85 ≈ 0.32 m³ ≈ 320 L ≈ 11.3 ft³. Worked example, ±10%, wall thickness pending factory confirmation. Rooftop and indoor installations need an internal liner, not just drainage holes.
- ·Wall thickness and exact drainage detail are pending factory confirmation; treat volumes as ±10%.
Bike rack spacing and layout dimensions
On-centre spacing changes with rack type, frame geometry and the local authority's own guidance — which is why we issue a layout drawing per site rather than quoting a universal number. The bands below are common planning practice, not code values.
| Rack type | Typical on-centre spacing | Approach clear space | Fixing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inverted U | 600–1,000 mm planning band | ≥ 1.2 m clear access aisle (planning practice) | Base plate with expansion anchors, or embedded |
| Vertical rack | 600–750 mm, frame-dependent | ≥ 1.2 m clear access aisle; allow for handlebar overhang | Base plate or embedded |
| Wall loop | 600–900 mm along the wall | Clear of door swings and kerb ramps | Anchored to a structural wall |
Every spacing figure above is jurisdiction-dependent — confirm with the local authority before it enters a tender. We issue a layout drawing per site showing rack positions, clearances and fixing details.
- ·A removable bollard controls access; it does not stop a vehicle. Use fixed bollards where impact is the threat.
What a technical data sheet (TDS) contains
A submittal pack is reviewed line by line, and reviewers reject it over omissions, not opinions. This is what we state, item by item, in the TDS issued for any catalogue model or custom project:
| Item | What we state |
|---|---|
| Model and revision | Catalogue model code and the drawing revision the sheet refers to |
| Dimensioned drawings | Plan and section in millimetres with imperial equivalents |
| Material and wall thickness | Steel grade or alloy, and nominal wall thickness per component |
| Coating system and standard | ISO 1461 or ASTM A123 class, powder system, film thickness in µm |
| Colour | RAL reference for the powder coat |
| Fixings and anchors | Base plate size, anchor type and grade |
| Static load | The load case each model is designed for; tested values only where a report exists |
| Warranty scope and exclusions | The 5–10 year frame terms and what falls outside them |
| Spare parts list | Replaceable slats, inner liners and hardware, itemised |
| Packing method | Flat-pack export packing and per-container configuration |
A submittal without wall thickness and film thickness cannot be reviewed. Request the TDS for any model via the contact form — our engineers reply within one working day — and read the commercial side (MOQ, incoterms, payment) on the trade terms page.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is a standard park bench?
AOTUDE's standard bench is 1800 mm long — 5.9 ft, written as 6 ft (70.9 in) in US tender documents — with a seat height of 450 mm (17.7 in). Seat depth follows the public-seating guideline of 400–500 mm; our standard seat depth is pending factory confirmation and is stated per model in the TDS. OEM lengths run from 1200 to 2400 mm.
What is the best material for a park bench?
There is no single best material — the right choice depends on the site. Hot-dip galvanized steel frames with a powder coat suit high-traffic urban fleets; aluminium suits coastal salt exposure; WPC slats suit maintenance-light programmes (10–15+ years); hardwood slats suit premium landscapes (10–20+ years with periodic oiling). The material comparison table above sets out the full trade-offs.
How thick is powder coating on outdoor furniture?
Exterior polyester powder coat on our furniture runs 60–120 µm, with 60–80 µm the minimum on exposed faces of a duplex (galvanized plus powder-coated) system. Thickness is verified with a magnetic gauge reading on the finished part, and batch coating-thickness reports to ISO 1461 or ASTM A123 are issued with shipment on request.
How do I get a TDS for a project?
Send the model name and quantity through the contact form and our engineers reply with the technical data sheet — dimensions in mm and inches, material and wall thickness, coating system and film thickness, RAL colour, fixings, warranty scope and spare parts — within one working day. Batch test reports are supplied at tender stage on request.
Materials, coating and quality control
The same four stages apply to every model in this range, whether it is a catalogue item or a bespoke project — which is why a bench, a bin and a planter from one order will still match after five years outdoors.
Steel
Mild steel sheet and tube, laser-cut and MIG-welded; gauge selected per load path rather than a single house gauge.
Corrosion protection
Hot-dip galvanizing to ISO 1461 on request, or a zinc-rich primer where hollow sections make dipping impractical.
Powder coating
Outdoor-grade polyester powder coat over a conversion coating, cured to the coating supplier's schedule; any RAL colour.
Quality control
Incoming material check, weld inspection, coating thickness and adhesion, pre-shipment inspection with photo record.
Test reports (salt spray, coating thickness, material certificates) are issued with the shipment when requested and can be supplied at tender stage. We do not publish test figures for a product until the report for that specific build exists.