# Standard bollard sizes: diameter and height

> Standard bollard sizes: most are 4 to 6 in across and 36 to 42 in tall above grade, with bigger posts for heavy traffic. What each size is for, from manufacturers’ published guides.

Canonical: https://safetybollards.ca/guides/bollard-sizes
Last updated: 2026-10-26

Most bollards on Canadian sites are 4 to 6 inches across and stand 36 to 42 inches above the ground. Here’s what moves a site off that default.

## Diameter

Delta Scientific puts standard bollards at **4 to 6 in** across, measured at the core without decorative sleeves, with the largest at **12 in or more** for heavy, high-speed traffic. Steel pipe bollards are sold by pipe size, so a “6 in” bollard is usually 6 in nominal pipe (about 6⅝ in outside), which is why covers are sold to fit specific outside diameters.

| Diameter | Typical use |
| --- | --- |
| 4 to 4½ in | Marking edges, sidewalks, light knocks; the common removable size |
| 6 in | The everyday impact bollard: storefronts, gas meters, building corners, docks |
| 8 in and up | Truck traffic, loading areas; crash-rated bodies are often in this range |

## Height

Most bollards stand **36 to 42 in** above grade, within an overall range of about 30 to 44 in, with taller posts for high-risk areas (Delta Scientific). TrafficGuard’s install guide sets surface-mounted fixed bollards at about 36 in above the finished surface. Taller posts are easier to see from a pickup or a forklift.

## Below the ground

An embedded bollard has as much going on below grade as above it. How deep it goes and how big the footing is depends on the mounting and the load: see [core-drilled](https://safetybollards.ca/installation/core-drilled-bollards) and [embedded](https://safetybollards.ca/installation/embedded-bollards) installation, and for crash-rated systems, the manufacturer’s tested foundation on the [crash ratings](https://safetybollards.ca/crash-ratings) page.

## Sources

1. [Delta Scientific, An Explanation of Bollard Dimensions (2025)](https://deltascientific.com/2025/05/21/bollard-dimensions/) (checked 2026-10-26)
2. [TrafficGuard, Bollard Installation Guide: placement considerations](https://www.trafficguard.net/blog/placement-considerations-for-bollard-posts) (checked 2026-10-26)

To get a written quote for this, use the site-plan builder: [Build a site plan](https://safetybollards.ca/quote?item=steel-bollard).

## Related

- [How far apart should bollards be?](https://safetybollards.ca/guides/bollard-spacing)
- [Steel bollards](https://safetybollards.ca/steel-bollards)
- [Bollard covers](https://safetybollards.ca/bollard-covers)
- [Crash-rated bollards](https://safetybollards.ca/crash-rated-bollards)