How tall should bollards be?

You can do a lot with bollards. For example you can install them to protect a driveway, parking spaces, private roads, and much more. They are also great for preventing ram raids on various properties. Whether you choose a single bollard or a row of them, they can limit access and provide protection.

However, before you choose products you need to think about the size you need. This will have an impact on the amount of stopping power and the visibility. Plus, it will make a big impression on the aesthetics of the site.

How tall should they be?

Bollard heights can vary greatly. Some can be 12 inches or less and others can be several feet tall. So how do you decide which to choose?

What you need to think about first is the kind of vehicles and the ride height. Shorter bollards may be perfectly fine if you are only dealing with standard family cars. Here they could still successfully connect with the bumper or undercarriage of the vehicle to stop it from continuing on. However, if it is larger commercial or industrial vehicles, you will need taller bollards to make sure people can't drive over them without an impact.

You also need to think about how much visibility you need. Naturally shorter bollards won't be as visible. If there is a risk of a collision because the driver can't see them, they are a serious hazard. In this case you need to make them taller.

Maximising visibility does not automatically mean you just make the bollards as tall as possible though. If they are too tall they become an eyesore, especially if you need to paint them bright colours for safety reasons. This can really detract from the environment, causing issues in various public areas. The excess height may also make them dangerous if a vehicle hits one at speed as it could flip.

So, what you need to do is get the height right. Typically bollards around two or three feet in height will be great for most settings. If visibility is an issue you can paint them a bright colour or choose a reflective finish. This can be a better option than increasing the height.

Ask us for recommendations for bollards

At Barrier Mart we work hard to ensure we can provide products for almost any kind of client. You could be a business with a car park or shop front to protect. Or you could be a private individual who wants to stop people parking on your drive. You could even be a local authority looking for products for a park or town centre. Whatever the case, we are confident we can work with you.

You can browse our website to view a selection of our products. Or, you can contact us for info and recommendations. Whatever you choose, we can provide great bollards and installation.