What is a steel bollard?
A bollard is a short, sturdy steel post set in a base plate, used to stop or slow vehicle contact with buildings, equipment, and pedestrians. They’re a low-cost way to protect high-value or high-risk points on a property without building a wall or barrier.
Available sizes
Our bollards are available in seven diameters, selected by outside diameter (OD):
| Nominal size | Outside diameter |
|---|---|
| 3″ | 3.5″ OD |
| 4″ | 4.5″ OD |
| 5″ | 5.563″ OD |
| 6″ | 6.625″ OD |
| 7″ | 7.625″ OD |
| 8″ | 8.625″ OD |
| 10″ | 10.750″ OD |
Heights run from 1ft to 8ft in half-foot increments, so you can match the post to the vehicle clearance and visibility your site needs.
Matching size to application
As a general pattern:
- 4″ bollards — common for lighter-duty protection: storefront corners, pedestrian walkway separation, low-speed parking areas
- 6″ bollards — a frequent choice for loading docks, drive-through lanes, and general commercial vehicle traffic
- 8″ bollards — suited to higher-impact zones: warehouse dock entrances, forklift aisles, and sites with heavier vehicle or equipment traffic
This is a general sizing pattern, not an engineering guarantee — confirm against your site’s specific traffic and impact requirements.
Bare vs. galvanized
Every bollard is available bare steel or hot-dip galvanized:
- Bare steel costs less and suits indoor or covered installations where corrosion isn’t a major factor
- Galvanized adds a zinc coating for long-term corrosion resistance — the better choice for outdoor, coastal, or high-moisture sites
Standard vs. Extra Strong
We carry two wall-thickness tiers:
- Standard (STD) — general-duty protection for routine, low-to-moderate impact
- Extra Strong (XS) — heavier wall construction for sites with higher-speed traffic or frequent heavy-vehicle contact
Installation and mounting
Bollards ship with a base plate for surface mounting. Add-on options at checkout include:
- Sleeve ($120/unit) — for embedded or in-ground style installations
- Priming/finishing ($10/unit) — surface prep before paint
- Nelson studs ($15 each) — for permanent, welded-style anchoring
Ordering
Select diameter, height, finish, and any add-ons directly on the product page — pricing is by the foot and the subtotal updates live as you choose options, so you see your total cost before adding to cart.
Southern California delivery and fulfilment
Ships in 1–2 business days. Delivery method is based on total order weight — lighter orders ship parcel, heavier orders ship freight with liftgate or forklift-unload as needed, across the Southern California service area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wall thickness — Extra Strong uses heavier-gauge pipe for greater resistance to bending on impact, at a higher price point than Standard.
 Bare costs less and works well indoors or under cover. Galvanized costs more upfront but resists corrosion much longer outdoors — worth it for permanent exterior installations.
Only if you’re installing the bollard in-ground rather than surface-mounting it on the base plate — check with your installer if you’re unsure which method your site uses.
Standard lead time is 1–2 business days before shipping, with delivery time depending on your location within our Southern California service area.
Steel bollard size selection sheet
Picking the wrong bollard size or finish is expensive to fix after installation. This free sheet compares our 4″, 6″, and 8″ bollards side by side, walks through bare vs. galvanized and Standard vs. Extra Strong, and gives you the questions to answer before you order.