Buying guide
Removable vs Fixed Bollards: Which Do You Need?
Removable vs fixed bollards comes down to one question: does the gap ever need to open? A fixed bollard bolts to the surface and stays put. A removable bollard sits in an in-ground socket and lifts out with a key. Here is how they compare on access, install, security and cost, and which suits your site.
Short answer: Choose fixed bollards where the barrier should never move. They bolt to the slab through a base plate and start from $80 each. Choose removable bollards where vehicles need access now and then. They sit in an in-ground socket, lock with a key and start from $120 each. On a mixed run, fix the line and put removable bollards only at the gaps vehicles use. Prices are SafeWise starting points, ex GST.
Side by side
Removable vs fixed bollards at a glance
The differences that matter on site, using SafeWise 90mm and 140mm steel bollards.
| Factor | Fixed (surface mount) | Removable (in-ground, key lock) |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Permanent. Stays up until someone unbolts it. | Unlock and lift out to open the gap. Refit and lock to close it. |
| Install method | Drill through the base plate holes and fix with M10 concrete anchors, typically 100–150mm long. | Core drill (about 130mm for the 90mm, 220–225mm for the 140mm) or set the socket in a new pour, then finish flush. |
| Install effort | Lighter: hammer drill and anchors. | Heavier: core drilling or a pour, backfill, and curing before use. |
| Security | No lock or keys to manage. Held by the base plate and anchors. | Key lock. Security depends on who holds the keys. |
| Maintenance | Check anchors and touch up paint now and then. | Keep the socket clear of grit. Keep track of keys. |
| Typical uses | Building corners, shopfronts, dock doors, racking. | Driveways, service lanes, reserved bays, gaps in a fixed line. |
| SafeWise price, ex GST | 90mm from $80. 140mm from $110. | 90mm from $120. 140mm from $140. Socket, cover plate, lock and keys included. |
Prices are indicative per-unit starting points, ex GST and ex freight, better in volume. Anchors, grout and fixings are not included. Neither type is crash-rated.
How they work
How fixed and removable bollards work
Both types are 3mm-wall carbon steel in safety yellow with a red reflective band. They differ in how they meet the ground. For size, see our 90mm vs 140mm bollard guide.
Fixed: surface mount
A fixed bollard has a base plate (Ø225 × 8mm on the 90mm, Ø250 × 8mm on the 140mm). Mark the plate holes, drill the slab and fix it down with M10 concrete anchors. There is no socket, no lock and nothing to lift. It only moves if someone unbolts it.
Anchor type matters. Mechanical anchors are quick and load straight away. Chemical (resin) anchors suit older or softer concrete and positions near a slab edge, but need a clean hole and cure time. Follow the anchor maker's datasheet. Steps are in our fixed bollard installation guide.
Removable: in-ground socket
Each removable bollard comes with its own in-ground socket, cover plate, key lock and keys. The socket is set in wet concrete, or core drilled into an existing slab and backfilled with non-shrink grout or concrete, finished flush with the surface. Unlock the bollard and lift it out to open the gap. Drop it back in and lock it to close.
With the bollard out, the cover plate sits flush with the finished surface, so there is no raised lip to trip on or catch a tyre. Keep the socket clear of grit so the bollard seats and the lock turns. Full steps are in our removable bollard installation guide.
Other options
Types of bollards: surface mount, in-ground and more
Surface mount vs in-ground bollards is about the foundation: bolted on top, or set into the slab. Removable vs fixed is about access. Removable bollards sit in an in-ground socket. Fixed bollards can be either.
- In-ground fixed (cast-in or core-drilled). Embedded in the slab, so the foundation is deeper than a base plate. Replacing a damaged one means breaking out concrete.
- Fold-down. Hinged at the base and tips flat when unlocked.
- Retractable or automatic. Sinks into the ground on a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric drive. Needs a pit, power and servicing. General price guides put these at $800–$1,500+ per unit plus servicing.
- Flexible or rebound. A polymer post that bends when clipped and springs back. Suits routine low-speed knocks.
- Stainless or decorative. Chosen for looks. Commonly around double the price of painted carbon steel.
- Crash-rated (PAS 68 / IWA 14). Tested against vehicle impact and installed on engineered foundations for high-risk sites.
SafeWise sells two types: fixed surface-mount and key-lock removable, in 90mm and 140mm. None are crash-rated or impact-tested to PAS 68 or IWA 14. They mark boundaries, keep vehicles off an area and guard against low-speed nudges. To stop a vehicle at speed, use a certified product from a specialist.
Decision guide
Which bollard do I need?
- If vehicles sometimes need through, choose removable. Deliveries, a tow truck, a skip bin or emergency access: fit a removable bollard at the access point.
- If the gap should never open, choose fixed. Building corners, dock doors, racking and meter boxes don't need a lock or a socket.
- If you can't core drill, or the budget is tight and nothing needs to move, choose fixed. Surface mounting needs only anchor holes, and the unit price is lower. Thin or old slabs need a qualified installer's assessment for either type.
- If it's a mixed run, choose fixed with removable bollards at the gaps. Match 90mm with 90mm: both stand 900mm. The 140mm fixed bollard is 1300mm tall, so it won't line up with a 140mm removable at 900mm.
- If several parties share access, choose removable, but settle key control first. If the gap opens many times a day, consider a fold-down or automatic bollard instead.
- If you must stop a vehicle at speed, choose neither. You need a crash-rated product.
On site
Removable or fixed: six common situations
Driveway
Removable at the entry, fixed beside it. Lift it out to drive in, and lock it back to keep others off. Fixed bollards protect the gate, wall or meter box. See our driveway bollards guide.
Shopfront
Fixed. A row across the frontage guards glass and entries. Add a removable bollard only where deliveries need a way through.
Warehouse doors and loading docks
Fixed beside roller and dock doors and at corners, where forklift and truck knocks repeat. Removable where a lane is closed most of the day and opened for trucks.
Reserved car park bay
Removable. The key holder lifts it out to park and drops it back to hold the bay. A fixed bollard would block the bay for good, and a wheel stop only stops a car rolling forward.
Accessible parking shared area
Fixed. AS/NZS 2890.6 calls for a bollard in the shared area to stop it being parked in, commonly summarised as a minimum 1300mm installed height with a reflective or contrasting band. Our fixed 140mm is 1300mm tall. We make no compliance claim: check height, band and position against the current standard.
School, park or council path
Fixed along the path, removable at the maintenance or emergency access. Council guidance (Sunshine Coast Council, citing Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 6A) sets bollards at least 500mm off the path edge. Works on a footpath, nature strip or road reserve generally need council consent. See bollard spacing.
Cost and install effort
On unit price, fixed bollards are cheaper. SafeWise fixed bollards start from $80 (90mm) and $110 (140mm) each. Removable bollards start from $120 and $140, and that price includes the in-ground socket, cover plate, lock and keys. All prices are ex GST and ex freight.
The bigger gap is installation. A fixed bollard needs a hammer drill and anchors. A removable bollard needs a hole for its socket (core drilled, or formed in a new pour), then backfill, a flush finish and full curing before use. SafeWise supplies only, so anchors, grout and installation are extra.
General Australian price guides (ranges, not quotes) put surface-mounted steel safety bollards at around $150–$300 each retail, contractor installation at around $250–$700 per bollard, and extras such as concrete cutting, permits and traffic management at $200–$1,000+ per job. Bulk buying, or doing bollards alongside other concrete work, commonly saves 10–20%. Our bollard cost guide covers what drives the number.
Pricing a job with both types? Send the counts and your delivery postcode and we aim to reply with a written quote within one business day. Bollards are pre-order on the next container. Storage holders are in stock now. Request a quote.
Keys and storage
Security, keys and storing removed bollards
- Key control. A lockable bollard is only as secure as its key handling. Each removable bollard comes with its lock and keys. Decide who holds keys and what happens when a tenant or contractor leaves. For strata, make the manager the single point for keys and keep a written register.
- Fixed isn't tamper-proof. No lock to defeat, but hand tools can undo surface anchors. We don't supply anchors, so choose the fixing with your installer.
- Park the bollard. A removed bollard left lying about gets lost or driven over. A bolt-down storage holder gives it a fixed spot: internal Ø102mm for the 90mm (SW-SL90, $25) and Ø152mm for the 140mm (SW-SL140, $35), ex GST. It is not an in-ground socket and doesn't protect anything on its own. Mount it clear of traffic, ideally somewhere supervised or locked.
FAQs
Removable vs fixed bollards: common questions
What is the difference between removable and fixed bollards?
A fixed bollard bolts to the surface through a base plate and stays put. A removable bollard sits in an in-ground socket with a key lock and lifts out when you need to open the gap. Fixed suits permanent protection. Removable suits occasional access.
Are removable bollards as strong as fixed bollards?
Both SafeWise types are 3mm-wall carbon steel and neither is crash-rated. They differ in how they are held: a fixed bollard by its base plate and anchors, a removable one by its socket set in concrete. In both cases the slab and the install matter. Have an engineer assess anything beyond low-speed protection.
Can I swap a fixed bollard for a removable one later?
Not as a straight swap. You would unbolt the fixed bollard, make good the anchor holes, then core drill and set a socket. If you might need access later, fit a removable bollard at that spot from the start.
Where do I put a removable bollard when it is out?
A bolt-down storage holder gives it a fixed place to park. SafeWise holders are $25 for the 90mm and $35 for the 140mm, ex GST, and in stock now. A holder bolts to the floor. It is not an in-ground socket.
Which is cheaper, removable or fixed bollards?
Fixed. SafeWise fixed bollards start from $80 (90mm) and $110 (140mm), removable from $120 and $140, all ex GST and ex freight. Removable also costs more to install.
Can I mix removable and fixed bollards in one row?
Yes: fixed along the line, removable at the gaps. The 90mm fixed and removable bollards both stand 900mm tall, so they match. The 140mm fixed is 1300mm tall against 900mm for the 140mm removable, so they won't line up.
Related products
Shop by type
Keep reading
Related guides
- 90mm vs 140mm bollardsWhich size suits your site
- How to install removable bollardsCore drilling, sockets and curing
- How to install fixed bollardsBase plates and anchors
- Bollard cost in AustraliaWhat drives the price
- Bollard spacingGaps for people and vehicles
- Driveway bollardsProtecting and closing a driveway
Not sure which type suits your site?
Tell us the application and how often the gap needs to open. We'll suggest a mix and quote the quantities.