Bollard cost: why is there such a wide range?

Buying a bollard? Price is just one factor to consider.

Buying affordable bollards

Bollards come in a wide variety of materials and designs, each offering unique advantages and disadvantages depending on their intended use. Spending some time considering the type of functionality you’re looking for is key when budgeting for bollard cost.

Choosing the right bollards

Choosing the right kind of bollard for your project is essential to managing your bollard cost. There’s a world of bollards out there, from plastic to concrete, so how do you decide? Begin by asking the service your bollard needs to provide. Are you trying to improve security or simply manage traffic flow? Do you need to protect infrastructure? Do your bollards need to add aesthetic appeal to an area? Will your bollard be installed in a high or low vehicle traffic area? Will a single purpose bollard work, or do you want your bollards to add value to your project, perhaps through improved pedestrian lighting or increased bike parking? How durable do you need your bollard to be? How will your bollards affect your landscaping?

Ideally, you’ll want your bollards in place for years to come, so it’s important to spend some time answering these questions when planning your project’s total cost. Your answers will inform the material and design of the bollard you need, and how each factor will impact the bollard’s performance once installed. Once you’ve settled on a bollard that meets your needs and works with your budget, you’ll also want to think about maintenance options that can reduce your total outlay over time, including bollard caps, covers, and coatings. Finally, don’t forget to consider the installation choices available for your bollard.

Even this fairly extensive list of bollards misses some types. On the inexpensive side, traffic delimiters, those orange polyethylene poles often on spring hinges, are sometimes called bollards. On the more pricey side are functional bollard barrier systems run remotely on hydraulics, or ultra-shallow-mount crash-rated bollards that tie many bollards together under the pavement to offer protection against vehicle attack.