Application guide

Car park bollards: where they go and what to order

A wheel stop in every bay, bollards wherever a slow car could reach something that matters. Here is each position, the product for it and a worked order for 40 bays.

Updated 28 October 2026

Short answer: Put a wheel stop in every bay, then add bollards at row ends, pedestrian crossings and walkway edges, plant, meters and switchboards, accessible bays, entry and boom-gate islands and loading doors. SafeWise has fixed 90mm bollards (from $80), fixed 140mm bollards at 1300mm tall (from $110), removable 90mm bollards (from $120) and a 1650mm wheel stop (from $50), per unit ex GST and freight, as at October 2026. Safety and delineation bollards: not impact-tested or certified to hostile-vehicle standards such as PAS 68 or IWA 14.

Figures: SafeWise product data. Standards are quoted as commonly cited guidance, so check the current edition. How we check

On this page: Where they go · Wheel stops or bollards · Spacing · Approvals · 40-bay example · FAQs

Three 1650mm rubber car park wheel stops, black with reflective yellow panels, on concrete

Placement

Where bollards go in a car park, and which one

Bollards go where a car at parking speed could reach something that matters or somewhere people walk. Prices are per unit, ex GST and freight, as at October 2026.

Where bollards go in a car park, the job each does and the SafeWise product for it
LocationThe jobSafeWise productFrom (ex GST)
Row endsMark the end of the row and the corner of the aisleFixed 90mm, SW-FB90$80
Pedestrian crossings and walkwaysShow where the path starts and keep a mistaken car off itFixed 90mm, SW-FB90$80
Plant, meters and switchboardsMark the fixture off from low-speed knocks, front kept clearFixed 90mm, SW-FB90$80
Accessible baysMark the shared area beside the bayFixed 140mm, SW-FB140, 1300mm tall$110
Entries and boom gatesMark the gate housing and the island edgeFixed 90mm, SW-FB90$80
Loading areasMark a door edge or pedestrian route at low speedFixed 90mm, SW-FB90$80
Reserved bays and access gapsLock a space, lift out for accessRemovable 90mm, SW-RB90, plus storage holder SW-SL90$120, holder $25

Fixed bollards for most positions

A fixed bollard is bolted through its base plate to the slab (Ø225mm for the 90mm, Ø250mm for the 140mm), so it suits any spot that never needs to open. Row ends, crossings, plant and gates are all fixed positions. See fixed bollards.

Accessible bays and the 1300mm note

AS 2890.6 (2022 edition, which replaced AS/NZS 2890.6:2009; check the edition your certifier uses) is commonly summarised as a 1300mm bollard beside the bay; SW-FB140 is 1300mm tall; check the current edition and your site drawings. We don't claim compliance, and your certifier decides what the bay needs. Our 90mm bollards stand 900mm, so they don't match that height.

Entries, boom gates and loading areas

At an entry, a bollard marks the edge of the island or the gate housing so a driver sees it. At a loading door it marks the door edge or a pedestrian route. Neither is a barrier against a truck or forklift: that needs engineered equipment we don't supply.

Reserved bays and access gaps

If a space must open and close, a removable bollard lifts out of its own in-ground socket with a key lock. A bolt-down storage holder gives the removed bollard somewhere to stand. Holders are in stock. For the bay-by-bay detail see reserved parking bollards.

Pricing a job like this? Send sizes, quantities and your postcode.

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Wheel stops or bollards

Where the wheel stop stops and the bollard starts

A wheel stop positions the car inside its bay. A bollard marks something beyond the bay. Our 1650mm stop (SW-WS1650) is black rubber with yellow reflective strips, 100mm high, and one per bay is the usual layout. For a per-bay price see what a wheel stop costs per bay, and for size, fixing and material see the rubber wheel stops buying guide.

The simple test: if the problem is a car stopping in the wrong place inside a bay, fit a wheel stop. If it is a car going somewhere it shouldn't, such as a path, door or meter box, fit a bollard. Many bays need both. The wheel stops vs bollards guide sets this out situation by situation, and the wheel stop installation guide has the setbacks.

Three rubber wheel stops with yellow reflective strips laid out on a concrete surface

Spacing

Spacing and clearances

There is no single rule for how many bollards a car park needs or how far apart they sit. A clear gap of about 1000–1200mm is a common starting point where people must walk through, and 1200mm on a wheelchair route. To keep a car out, stay under about 1500mm clear, since cars are roughly 1.7–1.9m wide.

Measure between bollard edges, not centres. A 1200mm clear gap between two 90mm bollards is 1290mm from centre to centre. The bollard spacing guide has the full table and a calculator. Keep every bollard clear of door swings, emergency exits and any right-of-way, and keep the front of meters and switchboards open for access.

Approvals

Who has to say yes

Sort these before the order, not after the drill.

  • Owners corporation or landlord. A strata car park is usually common property, so work generally needs approval through the committee or manager. See the strata and owners corporation bollard guide.
  • Council. Anything on a footpath, nature strip or road reserve generally needs council consent. The council approval guide sets out who to ask by location.
  • Designer or certifier. Accessible bays, layouts and clearances that must comply are their call.
  • Services. Locate underground services with Before You Dig Australia (byda.com.au) and a scanner before any drilling.

Worked example

Ordering for a 40-bay car park

An illustrative layout, not a design: a wheel stop in each of 40 bays, plus 10 bollards.

Say the plan shows six fixed positions (two row ends, two at a pedestrian crossing, one at a meter board and one at the entry island), two accessible bays with one 1300mm bollard each, and two reserved bays that lift out for access.

Worked order for a 40-bay car park with working and ex GST cost
ItemWorkingEx GST
Rubber wheel stops, SW-WS165040 × $50$2,000
Fixed 90mm bollards, SW-FB906 × $80$480
Fixed 140mm bollards, SW-FB1402 × $110$220
Removable 90mm bollards, SW-RB902 × $120$240
Storage holders, SW-SL902 × $25$50
Supply total, ex GST$2,000 + $480 + $220 + $240 + $50$2,990
Total inc GST$2,990 + $299 GST$3,289

That is product only, before freight to your postcode, anchors (not included) and installation. General Australian cost guides put bollard installation at roughly $250–$700 each, which for 10 bollards is about $2,500–$7,000, so see the bollard cost guide before you budget. There is no hard minimum order, and volume prices better.

The bollards and wheel stops are pre-order for the next container, and the holders are in stock. Quotes are in writing, and nothing is committed until you confirm the quote. Request a quote for this order.

FAQs

Questions about car park bollards

What bollards do I need for a car park?

A wheel stop in every bay, plus bollards wherever something other than a bay needs marking or keeping clear. For most spots a SafeWise fixed 90mm bollard (SW-FB90, from $80 ex GST) is enough. Use the fixed 140mm (SW-FB140, 1300mm tall, from $110) beside accessible bays and a removable 90mm (SW-RB90, from $120) for reserved bays or access gaps. All are pre-order, priced as at October 2026.

Where should bollards go in a car park?

Common positions are the ends of rows, either side of pedestrian crossings and walkway edges, in front of meters and switchboards, beside accessible bays, at entry and boom-gate islands, and at loading doors. They mark and delineate at parking speed. Your designer, certifier or council decides the final layout, and the owners corporation approves work on common property.

Do I need bollards if I already have wheel stops?

Often yes, because they do different jobs. A wheel stop (SW-WS1650, from $50 ex GST) stops the wheels at a set point inside the bay, usually one per bay. A bollard marks a path, door, meter box or accessible shared area and keeps a slow car out of it. Many car parks need both.

How many bollards does a 40-bay car park need?

There is no single rule: your designer, owners corporation and council conditions set the number. In our illustrative 40-bay example we use 10 bollards (6 fixed 90mm, 2 fixed 140mm and 2 removable 90mm) with 40 wheel stops, which comes to $2,990 ex GST, before freight, anchors and installation. Your layout will differ.

Can I use removable bollards in a car park?

Yes, where a space must open and close, such as a reserved bay or an access gap. A removable 90mm bollard (SW-RB90, from $120 ex GST) lifts out of its own in-ground socket with a key lock. Add a bolt-down storage holder (SW-SL90, $25, in stock) so a removed bollard has somewhere to stand.

Will a car park bollard stop a car or forklift hitting a wall or switchboard?

No. SafeWise supplies safety and delineation bollards: not impact-tested or certified to hostile-vehicle standards such as PAS 68 or IWA 14. They mark, delineate and deter at parking speed. If a heavy vehicle, forklift or deliberate impact is the risk, ask an engineer about crash-rated equipment, which SafeWise does not sell.

Related products

Bollards and wheel stops for the job

Bollards and wheel stops are pre-order for the next container: factory production typically takes 15–20 days, plus sea freight and customs clearance. The expected landing date is on your written quote. Storage holders are in stock now.

Fitting out a car park?

Send us the number of bays, the bollards you need and your delivery postcode. We aim to reply within one business day.

Request a quote

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