Solutions by facility
Parking Garage Safety Mirrors: Ramps, Turns, Exits, and Stairwells
A parking garage needs a convex mirror at every point where a driver has to commit to a turn without seeing what is around it: ramp turns, the exit onto the street, aisle corners at columns, and the stairwell and elevator doors where people step out into the drive lane. Use the largest diameter the location will take, rectangular convex mirrors where the ceiling is low, outdoor-rated backing at the street exit, and a DomeVex wide-view mirror where a ramp carries traffic both ways.
12″–48″
indoor convex diameters
1 ft per inch
of diameter, the manufacturer's sizing rule
180°
DomeVex view for two-way ramps
24″ × 36″
largest rectangular for low clearance
A parking structure is a series of blind turns stacked on top of each other. Every ramp ends in a 90-degree turn onto a level, every level has aisles that cross at columns, and the exit lane opens onto a sidewalk and a street that the driver cannot see until the hood is already over the curb. Drivers move faster than they think they do inside a garage, and pedestrians walk the drive lanes because there is nowhere else to walk.
The manufacturer's parking garage sheet gives four rules that are worth repeating. Put convex mirrors at strategic points. Use the largest diameter possible for the greatest vision distance. Use rectangular mirrors where the ceiling is low. And do not forget the stairways and elevators, which are just as important as the ramps because that is where people on foot enter the drive lane.
This page walks through each location, the size to order for the distance involved, and the backing to choose for the exposure. Everything here is acrylic or polycarbonate, made in the USA, and ships with the bracket.
Where the blind spots are
Where parking garage blind spots are, and what to mount there
Drive the garage once, slowly, and mark every spot where you had to guess. That is the mirror list.
Spot 1
Ramp turns between levels
- The problem
- The ramp climbs, turns 90 or 180 degrees, and opens onto the next level. A driver coming up cannot see a car crossing the top of the ramp, and a driver on the level cannot see one coming up.
- The mirror
- An indoor convex mirror on the outside wall of the turn, mounted high and angled so the driver on the ramp sees the crossing aisle. Use 26 or 30 inches for a typical ramp; the manufacturer's rule is to use the largest diameter the spot allows. Where the ramp carries traffic in both directions, a 180-degree DomeVex sees both from one mirror instead of needing a pair.
Spot 2
Exit lane onto the street
- The problem
- The exit opens onto a sidewalk and then a street, often between two buildings. The driver's sightline to the sidewalk is blocked by the garage wall until the front bumper is past it.
- The mirror
- An outdoor convex mirror on the building face or a post across the sidewalk, aimed back at the exit lane so the driver sees pedestrians and traffic before pulling out. Outdoor models use a heavy-duty plastic or galvanized steel back and telescoping brackets; 26 to 36 inches is typical. Galvanized steel backs are available for outdoor models where wind or vandalism is a concern.
Spot 3
Low-clearance aisles and column corners
- The problem
- Many garages have less than seven feet of clearance under beams and ductwork. A 30-inch round mirror does not fit, and aisle corners at columns still need a view.
- The mirror
- A heavy-duty rectangular convex mirror. The manufacturer designed them for lower-clearance areas that still need a view comparable to a standard convex, and lists parking garages, loading areas, and blind spots near machinery as the intended use. Sizes run from 12 × 18 up to 24 × 36 inches, with a hardboard back and reinforced vinyl trim; the outdoor version has a weatherable ABS back.
Spot 4
Stairwell and elevator doors
- The problem
- People come out of the stairwell or elevator directly into the drive lane. The door is usually at a column or in an alcove, so neither the pedestrian nor the driver sees the other.
- The mirror
- An 18- or 26-inch indoor convex mirror on the wall beside the door, angled so the person stepping out sees the drive lane, and a second one for the driver if the door is in a blind alcove. The manufacturer's sheet calls stairways and elevators equally important to the ramps.
Spot 5
Pedestrian crossings and pay stations
- The problem
- Marked crossings, the pay station, and the walkway to the elevator lobby put people on foot in the path of cars that are looking for a space, not for pedestrians.
- The mirror
- A safety-border convex mirror, which has a yellow and black striped rim, at each crossing. The stripes draw the driver's eye to the mirror and mark the crossing at the same time. Indoor 18 to 26 inches; outdoor versions on a heavy-duty plastic back for open-air decks.
Recommended mirrors
Mirrors we recommend for parking garages
These are the catalog items behind the manufacturer's parking garage sheet, from the indoor convex line up to the outdoor and rectangular models.
Indoor · Acrylic · Hardboard
Best for warehouse blind corners
Indoor Acrylic Convex Mirror — Hardboard Back
- 160° view
- 12″–36″ sizes
- Z-bracket included
Why for parking garages: The ramp turn and aisle corner mirror. Acrylic on a hardboard back, 12 to 36 inches, Z-bracket on the smaller sizes and telescoping brackets on the larger ones.
Outdoor · Acrylic · Heavy-duty plastic
Best for driveway exits
Outdoor Acrylic Convex Mirror — Heavy Duty Plastic Back
- Weather-resistant
- 12″–36″
- Telescoping bracket
Why for parking garages: For the street exit and open-air decks. Heavy-duty plastic back and telescoping brackets handle rain and sun.
Outdoor · Acrylic · Galvanized steel
Best for driveway exits
Acrylic Convex Security Mirror with Galvanized Steel Backing
- Heavy-duty steel back
- 18″–36″
- High-wind ready
Why for parking garages: The metal-back outdoor option the manufacturer lists for outdoor models. For exposed exits, windy upper decks, and anywhere the mirror might be hit.
Rectangular Convex Mirror
Best for warehouse blind corners
Indoor Rectangular Convex Mirror - Rounded Edges
- Hardboard
- Acrylic
- 12x18
Why for parking garages: For low-clearance aisles and beams. Hardboard back with reinforced vinyl trim, 12 × 18 to 24 × 36 inches.
Driveway Mirror & Traffic Mirrors · Garage Mirror · Rectangular Convex Mirror
Best for driveway exits
Outdoor Rectangular Convex Mirror - Rounded Edges
- 12x18
- 18x26
- 20x30
Why for parking garages: The same rectangular mirror with a weatherable ABS back for open-air decks and the exit apron.
Outdoor · Wide-angle · Acrylic
Best for driveway exits
DomeVex Outdoor Wide Angle Mirror
- Weather-resistant
- Broad sightlines
- Drive aisle ready
Why for parking garages: For two-way ramps and the entry-exit throat where one mirror has to show both directions. A full 180 degrees, 16 to 42 inches, indoor or outdoor.
Indoor · Acrylic · Safety border
Best for warehouse blind corners
Indoor Safety Border Warning Convex Mirror
- High-visibility rim
- 12″–26″
- Pedestrian warning
Why for parking garages: For pedestrian crossings and pay stations. The striped rim marks the crossing and draws the driver's eye.
Indoor · Polycarbonate · Hardboard
Best for high-impact areas
Polycarbonate Convex Mirror — Hardboard Back (Indoor)
- 250× stronger than glass
- 12″–30″
- Anti-vandal
Why for parking garages: For garages with a history of vandalism or where mirrors get clipped by trucks. Polycarbonate does not shatter.
Sizing
Sizing garage mirrors
The manufacturer's rule for its wide-view line is that one inch of diameter equals one foot of viewing distance. Measure from the mirror to where the driver needs to see it, and buy the largest mirror the location will take.
| Distance from driver to mirror | Round convex | Rectangular (low clearance) | DomeVex (two-way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 18 ft (stairwell door, tight corner) | 18″ | 12″ × 18″ | 16″ |
| 18 to 26 ft (aisle corner at a column) | 26″ | 18″ × 26″ | 24″ |
| 26 to 36 ft (ramp turn) | 30″ or 36″ | 24″ × 36″ | 32″ |
| 36 ft and up (exit lane, long ramp) | 36″ or 48″ | 24″ × 36″ | 42″ |
The 48-inch convex and the 42-inch DomeVex ship by truck rather than parcel. Everything 36 inches and under ships UPS.
Mounting
Mounting in a parking structure
Garage surfaces are concrete: walls, columns, and beams. Every mirror here ships with a bracket; the anchor is your choice.
- 1
Anchor into concrete
Use sleeve or wedge anchors sized for the bracket holes. Z-brackets on mirrors up to 18 inches take two anchors. Telescoping brackets on 26 inches and up take two or three, and the third bracket on the largest sizes is there to stop the mirror from vibrating in the wind on an open deck.
- 2
Mount above vehicle height
The bottom edge of the mirror should clear the tallest vehicle that uses the garage, usually seven feet or more. Where the beam is lower than that, switch to a rectangular mirror mounted flat under the beam.
- 3
Aim from the driver's seat
Have someone sit in a car at the point where the driver has to decide, and adjust the mirror until the hidden lane shows. Telescoping brackets let you angle the mirror away from the wall to get the right view around a column.
- 4
Outdoor exits
At the street exit, mount to the building face or to a post across the sidewalk. Use the heavy-duty plastic or galvanized back, and the telescoping bracket that comes with the outdoor models.
In place
What the mirror sees in a parking garage
Questions
Questions we get about parking garages
What size convex mirror does a parking garage ramp need?
Use the largest diameter the location allows. The manufacturer's rule is one inch of mirror diameter per foot of viewing distance, so a ramp turn where the driver needs to see 30 feet takes a 30-inch mirror. Most ramp turns use 26 to 36 inches; the exit lane onto a street often takes 36 inches or the 42-inch DomeVex.
What mirror fits under a low garage ceiling?
A heavy-duty rectangular convex mirror. It gives a view comparable to a round mirror of the same width while taking up less height, and the manufacturer designed it for parking garages and loading areas with low clearance. Sizes run from 12 × 18 to 24 × 36 inches.
Do I need an outdoor mirror at the garage exit?
Yes, if the mirror is mounted outside the structure or on an open-air deck. Outdoor models use a heavy-duty plastic or galvanized steel back and telescoping brackets. The indoor hardboard back will swell if it gets wet.
Convex or DomeVex for a two-way ramp?
DomeVex. A standard convex is aimed in one direction, so a two-way ramp needs two of them. A DomeVex sees a full 180 degrees from one vertically mounted mirror, up to 100 feet in all directions on the 42-inch size, so one unit covers both directions of the ramp.
Where do pedestrians get hit in garages, and what helps?
At stairwell and elevator doors that open into the drive lane, and at marked crossings near the pay station. Mount a convex mirror beside each door so the person stepping out sees the lane, and a safety-border convex with the striped rim at each crossing so drivers notice both the mirror and the crossing.
How are large garage mirrors shipped?
Mirrors up to 36 inches ship UPS. The 48-inch convex and the 42-inch DomeVex ship by truck freight. Freight orders are quoted at checkout or by phone.
Other facilities
Mirrors for other kinds of buildings
Convenience Stores
A convenience store needs two kinds of mirror: a dome mirror or DomeVex wide-view mirror mounted where the clerk can see the whole sales floor from the register, and smaller convex mirror…
See the mirrors
Hospitals & Healthcare
Hospital corridors are where beds, meal carts, wheelchairs, and staff in a hurry meet at right angles with no line of sight.
See the mirrors
Schools
The manufacturer's school brochure names three places a mirror belongs: hallways, entrance and exit areas, and classrooms.
See the mirrorsRelated guides
Guides that go with this page
Convex mirror mounting guide
Z-bracket versus telescoping bracket, and anchoring into concrete walls and columns.
Backing type guide
Hardboard, heavy-duty plastic, or galvanized steel for indoor levels versus open decks and exits.
Lens material guide
Acrylic versus polycarbonate for garages with vandalism or truck-strike risk.
Shop the categories
Every mirror on this page, by category
Garage mirrors
The garage category: convex, rectangular, and DomeVex mirrors for structured parking.
Rectangular convex mirrors
Low-clearance mirrors for beams, ductwork, and column corners.
Traffic mirrors
Outdoor mirrors for the street exit and open-air decks.
DomeVex mirrors
180-degree mirrors for two-way ramps and entry throats.
Placement and sizing on this page follow the application sheets published by the manufacturer of our mirrors, Se-Kure Domes & Mirrors, and the specifications of the products in our catalog. Sizes and materials named here are the ones we stock; if your building needs something the sheet does not cover, call and we will work it out with you.
Free sizing help
Send us a photo of the corner and we will tell you what fits
A picture from where the person stands, plus a rough distance to the spot you cannot see, is usually enough for us to name the mirror, the size, and the bracket.