The standard height for a bollard in the UK is 900mm to 1000mm (90cm to 100cm) above ground level for pedestrian and general access control applications. Highway bollards on A-roads and motorways are typically taller at 1000mm to 1200mm. Security (HVM) bollards are commonly 1000mm to 1200mm in height. Parking post bollards may be as short as 600mm.
Bollard Heights in the UK — Complete Specification Guide
Bollard height is one of the most important specifications when selecting and procuring bollards, but it is rarely a simple one-size-fits-all decision. The appropriate height depends on the bollard's purpose — pedestrian routing, vehicle exclusion, security or wayfinding — as well as the specific guidance or standard that applies to the installation location.
Standard Bollard Heights by Application
Pedestrian Area and Town Centre Bollards
For most pedestrian area and town centre applications, bollards are installed at 900mm to 1000mm (90cm to 100cm) above finished ground level. This height places the bollard within the natural field of vision for pedestrians, makes the bollard visible to drivers approaching at low speeds, and provides a meaningful physical barrier to inadvertent pedestrian or vehicle encroachment. Many local authority and highway design guides reference 900mm as the standard minimum height for pedestrian area bollards, with 1000mm being increasingly preferred for improved visibility.
Highway Bollards
Bollards installed on or adjacent to highways — including central island bollards, pedestrian refuge islands, signal heads and warning bollards — are typically 1000mm to 1200mm (1.0m to 1.2m) above ground level. The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2016 and associated guidance specify minimum heights for road-related bollards to ensure they are visible to vehicle drivers at appropriate sight distances. The higher height accounts for the greater travel speeds and corresponding longer sight lines required on road environments.
Delineator bollards (also called channel islands or lane separator bollards) are a specific type used on the highway to separate lanes or guide traffic — these are typically 900mm to 1000mm in height, constructed from flexible plastic, and compliant with BS EN 12899-2 (permanent vertical road signs).
Car Park Bollards
In car park environments where vehicle speeds are low (typically 5–10mph) and bollards are used primarily to define parking bays and protect structures, bollard heights of 600mm to 900mm are common. The lower height is functional — it is visible to car drivers above the engine bonnet line — and reduces the risk of pedestrians tripping in low-light car park environments. Parking post bollards (used to mark bays or restrict parking) are often as short as 500mm–600mm.
Security (HVM) Bollards
Security bollards — including those rated to PAS 68 or IWA 14-1 for hostile vehicle mitigation — are typically 1000mm to 1200mm in height above ground level. The height of an HVM bollard is carefully calculated in its security design: it must be sufficient to engage with the bumper, bonnet or lower chassis of an attacking vehicle, preventing the vehicle from riding over the bollard on impact. Different vehicle types (cars vs vans vs trucks) require different engagement heights, and this should be considered when specifying HVM bollard heights. Many certified HVM bollards are specified at exactly 1000mm (1m) height, which provides effective engagement with the majority of vehicle types likely to be used in a vehicle attack.
Warehouse and Industrial Bollards
For forklift truck and heavy vehicle protection in warehouses and industrial sites, bollard heights are typically 600mm to 1000mm. The primary purpose of these bollards is to protect rack systems, structural columns, pedestrian routes and machinery from vehicle impact — the height must be sufficient to intercept the vehicle body (not just the bumper) at the likely impact angle and speed. Yellow painted finish is standard for industrial bollards (in accordance with Health and Safety Executive colour coding guidance for workplace hazards).
Does Bollard Height Affect Performance?
Height affects bollard performance in important ways:
- Vehicle engagement height — for security and anti-ram-raid applications, the bollard must be tall enough to engage with the attacking vehicle's bumper or chassis. A bollard that a vehicle rides over provides no protection.
- Visibility — taller bollards are more visible to approaching drivers and pedestrians, reducing inadvertent collisions in poorly lit or low-visibility conditions.
- Ground lever arm — taller bollards, if subjected to vehicle impact, generate a greater bending moment at the base. This means the foundation design for taller bollards must account for increased overturning moment — generally requiring deeper or wider concrete foundations.
Bollard Diameter and Height Relationship
Standard UK steel bollard dimensions (diameter × height above ground):
- 76mm (3") diameter × 900mm height — pedestrian area, lower security applications
- 102mm (4") diameter × 1000mm height — most common commercial specification
- 114mm (4.5") diameter × 1000mm height — higher-visibility and moderate security applications
- 168mm (6") diameter × 1000mm–1200mm height — structural, high-impact applications
- 219mm (8.5") diameter × 1000mm–1200mm height — maximum duty bollards, near-certification security
As a general rule, bollard diameter increases with required security level — a 219mm diameter concrete-filled steel bollard is substantially more resistant to vehicle impact than a hollow 76mm tube of the same height.
Bollards at the Correct Height — Compliance Considerations
On public highways, bollard height may be specified by the relevant Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) or TfL Streetscape Guidance provisions. Deviating from specified heights without approval can create compliance issues. For access control bollards on private land, the primary consideration is function — is the bollard visible and effective at its intended purpose? — rather than regulatory compliance.
Standard Height Bollards from Barriers Co
Barriers Co stocks steel bollards in standard heights of 600mm, 750mm, 900mm, 1000mm and 1200mm above ground level, in 76mm, 102mm and 114mm diameters. Hot-dip galvanised or powder coated to specified colour. Custom heights and diameters available on request. UK-wide delivery. Contact us for a free quote.