# Steel vs concrete bollards

> Concrete-filled steel pipe bollards vs precast concrete bollards: footprint, installation, delivery, ratings and looks, with Canadian makers of each.

Canonical: https://safetybollards.ca/vs/steel-vs-concrete-bollards
Last updated: 2026-10-26

Most “concrete bollards” on Canadian sites are actually steel pipes filled with concrete. Solid precast concrete bollards are a different product with different strengths.

|  | Steel pipe (concrete-filled) | Precast concrete |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Footprint | Slim: 4½ to 10¾ in posts | Bulky |
| Installation | Core-drilled, embedded or bolted | Usually set on the surface or a pad; no coring |
| Delivery | Parcel or LTL freight for most posts (Uline ships its pour-in-place posts by parcel carrier) | Heavy: needs a crane truck or forklift |
| Crash ratings | Many tested systems (see crash-rated bollards) | None found in our research |
| Specs online | Widely published | Mostly quote-only (Sanderson, AE Concrete, NorthWest Precast) |
| Looks | Covers, stainless, powder coat | Architectural finishes from the precaster |

## Pick steel if

- Space is tight or the line is long.
- You need a crash rating.
- You can dig or core.

## Pick precast concrete if

- You can’t dig (a finished plaza, a lease) and there’s room for a heavy block.
- The look matters and the precaster’s finishes suit it.
- You want something that can be moved later with a forklift.

## Sources

1. [Uline Canada, pour-in-place safety bollards](https://www.uline.ca/BL_2545/Pour-in-Place-Safety-Bollards) (checked 2026-10-26)
2. [Sanderson Concrete](https://www.sandersonconcrete.ca) (checked 2026-10-26)
3. [AE Concrete Products](https://www.aeconcrete.com) (checked 2026-10-26)
4. [NorthWest Precast](https://northwestprecast.ca) (checked 2026-10-26)
5. [Reliance Foundry, R-1007-06 6 in steel pipe bollard](https://www.reliance-foundry.com/shop/bollard/pipe/6-inch/steel-pipe-bollard-6-inch-dia) (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

- [Steel bollards](https://safetybollards.ca/steel-bollards)
- [Concrete bollards](https://safetybollards.ca/concrete-bollards)
- [Crash-rated bollards](https://safetybollards.ca/crash-rated-bollards)
- [Concrete jersey barriers](https://safetybollards.ca/jersey-barriers)