The Dimensions Order sets limits for width (2.55 m), height (4.10 m for buses), length and axle load. Here are the key figures — and which ones you need to look up precisely.
Introduction
A bus must stay within the limits of the Danish Dimensions Order (Dimensionsbekendtgørelsen) for width, height, length, total weight and axle load. The figures below are the most commonly used — but the exact weight/axle-load provisions should always be verified against the order in force before they are used in a legal context.
Target
| Target | Limit |
|---|---|
| Width (bus) | Max. 2.55 m |
| Height (bus/truck) | Max. 4.10 m |
| Length, 2-axle bus | Max. 13.5 m |
| Length, bus with more than 2 axles | Max. 15.0 m |
| Length, articulated bus | Max. 18.75 m |
Axle load & weight
| Ratio | Limit |
|---|---|
| Single axle | Max. 10,000 kg |
| Drive axle (twin tyres + road-friendly suspension) | Max. 11,500 kg |
| Axle group of 3 axles | Max. 24,000 kg total |
| Gross weight 2-axle bus | 19,500 kg |
| Gross weight, 3-axle bus | 24,000 kg (28,000 kg with twin tyres on the drive axle + road-friendly suspension or no axle load above 9,500 kg) |
| Gross weight, articulated bus (3-axle) | 28,000 kg |
Axle group, tandem and tridem
Det tilladte akseltryk afhænger ikke kun af den enkelte aksel, men også af afstanden til nabo-akslen. Sidder to eller tre aksler tæt sammen, kaldes de en akselgruppe (tandem = to aksler, tridem = tre aksler), og den samlede vægt fordeles på et mindre stykke vej. Derfor sætter Dimensionsbekendtgørelsen et loft for hele gruppen, der er lavere end summen af de enkelte akslers grænser — og loftet stiger, jo længere der er mellem akslerne.
- 01The shorter the spacing, the lower the total permitted pressure on the group (to spare the road).
- 02A tandem group on a bus typically has a combined limit dependent on axle spacing — look up the precise interval in the regulation.
- 03A 3-axle group has a higher combined limit than a tandem, but still lower than 3 × single axle.
- 04Lifting axle (liftable axle) does not count when raised — but then the weight is borne by the other axles, which may then exceed their limit.
Turning radius — the core requirement for bus geometry
A bus must be able to turn within a circle ring: it must be able to drive 360° around between an outer circle with radius 12.5 m and an inner circle with radius 5.3 m, without any part of the bus reaching beyond the ring (UNECE Regulation No. 107, reproduced in the Dimensions Regulation). It is this requirement that actually limits how long a rigid (non-articulated) bus may be, and why long buses have steerable rear wheels or are articulated. When entering the turn the bus's foremost, outermost point may at most swing 0.6 m beyond the outer circle.
Overhang front and back (overhang)
Overhang is the part of the bus that sticks out in front of the front axle (front overhang) and behind the rear axle (rear overhang). A long rear overhang makes the rear end swing out to the opposite side when you turn — 'fishtail' — which is a classic hazard when departing from a bus stop and when turning right. UNECE R107 limits the overhang in relation to the axle distance, so the bus can comply with the turning circle. This is also why the rear overhang cannot simply be made arbitrarily long to get more seats.
Members only
The rest of the article is locked
Create a free user account to unlock all articles, calculators, templates and range — and get access to quizzes and classes. It takes less than a minute: name, email and a password. No payment card.
Want to try something first? See what you can use without an account — the junior zone, the encyclopedia, the videos and more.