Quick summary
A removable bollard is a security post that blocks vehicles when it is up but can be taken out, lowered into the ground or folded flat when you need to let a vehicle through. There are three main types: lift-out bollards that sit in a lockable ground socket, telescopic (retractable) bollards that drop down inside the ground, and fold-down (hinged) parking posts that lie flat on the surface.
Quick answer: At Store Fittings Direct, removable and fold-down parking posts start from £53.99 ex VAT, lift-out steel bollards from £126.19 ex VAT (900mm, padlock included), telescopic posts from £104.32 ex VAT, and commercial telescopic bollards with a built-in 7-pin lock from £260.87 ex VAT. Lift-assist telescopic bollards for heavy 900mm posts start at £770.47 ex VAT. For pedestrian areas, government guidance says bollards should be at least 1000mm high with gaps no wider than 1200mm.
- ✓Fold-down posts suit single parking bays; telescopic and lift-out bollards suit forecourts, yards and access roads.
- ✓Telescopic bollards need the deepest hole: our best-selling heavy duty post needs an 800–900mm dig.
- ✓If fire engines may need to get through, the London Fire Brigade asks for one-point locking with a standard Fire Brigade padlock or GERDA key.
- ✓On a public pavement or verge you need the highway authority's agreement first.
- ✓Removable bollards control access. They are not hostile vehicle (anti-terror) barriers.
What is a removable bollard?
A fixed bollard stops vehicles all day, every day. That's great until a delivery lorry, a fire engine or your own van needs to get through. A removable bollard gives you both. Up and locked, it keeps cars off your forecourt, out of your reserved bay or away from a pedestrian area. Unlocked, it comes out, drops down or folds flat in a few seconds, and the route is open.
You'll also hear them called retractable bollards, drop-down posts or parking posts. If you want the bigger picture on fixed, plastic and crash-tested bollards, read our full UK bollards buying guide.
Types of removable bollard
Here are the options in plain English, from simplest to most heavy-duty.
Lift-out (socket) bollards
A full-size bollard drops into a socket set in concrete and is locked with a padlock or a built-in lock. To open the route you unlock it, lift it out and store it. The socket gets a lid so nobody trips. Good for occasional access. Browse removable bollards.
Telescopic (retractable) bollards
The post slides down into a deep sleeve in the ground and a flush lid closes over it, so there's nothing to carry or store. Best for gateways and forecourts that open and close regularly. See telescopic parking posts.
Fold-down (hinged) parking posts
A shorter post bolted to the surface that hinges flat when unlocked. Cheapest and quickest to fit, and the classic way to protect a single parking bay. See fold-down bollards.
Lift-assist telescopic bollards
A heavier 900mm telescopic bollard with a gas spring inside, so one person can raise it without straining and it lowers gently. Worth it where staff open the bollard every day.
Removable bollard prices (UK, 2026)
These are live Store Fittings Direct prices on 26 October 2026. All are ex VAT; the site shows both ex and inc VAT so you can see exactly what you'll pay. "From" is the cheapest option, so bigger diameters, stainless steel or colour coating will cost more.
Rough rule of thumb: £55–£135 gets you a solid fold-down or basic lift-out post for a parking bay; £200–£460 gets you a proper commercial telescopic or lift-out bollard with a built-in security lock; and £770+ buys lift-assist or crash-tested units. Remember to budget for concrete, cutting out paving and labour on top.
Spend more where the bollard is used most. A cheap post that staff struggle to lift every morning soon gets left down, and then it isn't protecting anything.
How to choose the right removable bollard
Seven questions will get you to the right product.
How often will it open?
A few times a year? A lift-out bollard is fine. Daily? Go telescopic so nothing needs carrying or storing. Several times a day by staff? Look at lift-assist.
Who will operate it?
Lift-out and telescopic posts have real weight; our heavy duty telescopic post has a 6kg lift-out weight, and 900mm stainless posts are much heavier. Match the product to the person.
What height do you need?
500–745mm posts suit parking bays and forecourts. In areas used by pedestrians, aim for at least 1000mm so people with sight loss can detect it (see UK rules below).
Padlock or built-in lock?
Padlocks are cheap and easy to replace. Integral 7-pin push-button locks are neater and harder to tamper with, and keyed-alike options are available on some models when you buy more than one.
Do emergency services need access?
If fire engines use the route, choose an FB (Fire Brigade) version or a lock your local fire service can open, and talk to them first.
What's the ground like?
Telescopic bollards need a deep hole and good drainage. Shallow ground, services underneath or a rooftop car park point to a fold-down, surface-fixed post.
Which finish?
Galvanised is tough and cheapest; yellow or black coating adds visibility; 304 stainless looks smart at shopfronts and offices. Read 304 vs 316 stainless for coastal sites.
UK rules and standards for removable bollards
There's no single "bollard law", but these rules and guidance affect what you buy and where it goes.
Height, gaps and visibility
The Department for Transport's Inclusive Mobility guide (2021) says bollards should be at least 1000mm high, gaps between them should be no more than 1200mm, tops should contrast in colour and tone, and bollards should not be linked with chains or ropes because they are a trip hazard. The DfT's Traffic Advisory Leaflet 02/13 uses the same 1200mm maximum air gap, and Surrey County Council's design guide recommends 1200mm between bollards to stop vehicles, with bollards at least 450mm back from the kerb face.
So short 500mm parking posts are fine inside a parking bay but wrong on a footpath or shop entrance. Our guide to where to use bollards covers spacing in more detail.
Fire and emergency access
Blocking a fire route is the big mistake to avoid. London Fire Brigade guidance (published in an LFB freedom of information response) says removable posts should be secured at one point only, using a standard Fire Brigade (FB) padlock or GERDA key, that folding bollards should not stick up more than 150mm when folded, and that nothing should block hydrants. In a separate LFB response the Brigade confirms all its fire engines carry a Fire Brigade key. Rules vary by area, so check with your local fire and rescue service before fitting bollards across an access route. Our Retractapost 745 FB (from £277.85 ex VAT) and fold-down FB post are built for this.
Permission on the public highway
On your own land you can usually fit bollards without asking anyone, though listed buildings, conservation areas and shared access rights can change that. On a public pavement or verge it's different: Essex Highways, for example, lists bollards among the items that need a licence before they go on the highway. Get it wrong and they can be ruled unauthorised, as one parish council found when it was told it had "technically contravened the Highways Act" by putting bollards on a verge (Shropshire Star, 2019). Ask your highway authority first.
Security ratings and crash testing
Some telescopic and lift-out bollards we sell are listed as tested by Sold Secure and with Secured by Design status. Secured by Design is the UK police crime-prevention scheme, and Sold Secure is an independent test house whose ratings it recognises (Designing Buildings). That's a good sign the lock and post resist tampering. It is not a crash rating.
If you need to stop a car hitting a shopfront or seating area, look at crash-tested products. The removable CrashCore S10 is tested to ASTM F3016, the US low-speed standard for vehicle impacts at 30mph and below, using a 5,000lb test vehicle. Proper hostile vehicle mitigation for Martyn's Law-type venues is a specialist job; see our crash-tested bollards and anti-ram bollards guide.
Rule of thumb: 1000mm high and 1200mm gaps where people walk, one-point Fire Brigade locking where fire engines drive, and highway authority permission before anything goes on a public pavement.
Removable bollards by site type
Shops & forecourts
Telescopic or lift-out bollards at 745–1000mm keep cars off the frontage after hours and drop for deliveries. Stainless suits smart shopfronts. See our storefront bollards guide.
Reserved parking bays
Fold-down posts from £59.28 ex VAT are the cheapest way to keep a director's, disabled or visitor bay free.
EV charging bays
A fold-down or telescopic post stops petrol cars hogging chargers. Pair with hoops and wheel stops from our EV charging protection range.
Schools, councils & NHS
Lift-out or telescopic bollards at 1000mm close pedestrian zones but let maintenance and emergency vehicles in. Use FB locks on fire routes.
Warehouses & yards
Heavier telescopic or lift-out bollards close gateways and yard entrances out of hours. Pair with arm barriers for daily traffic control.
Installation and maintenance
We supply the bollards; your own builder or groundworker fits them. Most are a straightforward job for someone handy with concrete, but get these bits right.
Before you dig
Check for buried cables and pipes first. The HSE says you should get the utility plans, trace the services with a cable locator used by a trained person, then hand-dig trial holes, digging alongside a service rather than on top of it. Its guide Avoiding danger from underground services (HSG47) has the detail.
Hole depth and concrete
Depth depends on the type, so always check the spec on the product page:
- ✓Fold-down posts mostly bolt to the surface, so there's no deep hole. Some, like the Autolok Compact, also come in a version set 300mm into concrete.
- ✓Lift-out bollards need a socket set in concrete; the 900mm removable parking post socket is 220mm below ground.
- ✓Telescopic bollards need the deepest hole, because the whole post disappears. The heavy duty telescopic post is 740mm below ground and needs an 800–900mm dig.
- ✓Drainage matters most on telescopic sleeves: a free-draining base stops water and silt sitting in the bottom and freezing in winter.
Keeping them working
- ✓Sweep grit and leaves out of sockets and sleeves every few weeks, more often in autumn.
- ✓Put a drop of lock lubricant in padlocks and integral locks before winter.
- ✓Label spare keys and keep a log of who holds them, including any copies given to the fire service.
- ✓Check lids close flush. A lid sticking up is a trip hazard and a liability.
Want step-by-step fitting help? Read how to install different types of bollards.
Why buy removable bollards from Store Fittings Direct
- ✓A wide range of removable, telescopic and fold-down bollards, plus fixed, plastic and crash-tested options, all in one place.
- ✓Prices shown both ex VAT and inc VAT, so there are no surprises.
- ✓Free delivery on over 90% of our products.
- ✓Over 30 years' experience supplying retailers, the NHS, councils, warehouses and construction.
- ✓ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and a SEDEX member.
- ✓Every one of our Google reviews is five stars.
- ✓Not sure which bollard fits your site? Call our advice line on 0116 318 4182.
Find the right removable bollard for your site
Telescopic, lift-out and fold-down bollards from £53.99 ex VAT, with free delivery on most of the range. Tell us how the route is used and we'll point you to the right one.
Shop removable bollardsCall 0116 318 4182Removable bollards: frequently asked questions
How much do removable bollards cost in the UK?
At Store Fittings Direct, fold-down and compact removable parking posts start from £53.99 ex VAT, lift-out steel bollards from £126.19 ex VAT, telescopic posts from £104.32 ex VAT and commercial telescopic bollards with an integral lock from £260.87 ex VAT. Lift-assist telescopic bollards start at £770.47 ex VAT. Installation, concrete and any paving work are extra.
What is the difference between telescopic and removable bollards?
A telescopic (retractable) bollard slides down into a sleeve in the ground and a lid closes over it, so nothing has to be carried away. A lift-out removable bollard comes out of its ground socket completely and has to be stored somewhere.
How deep do you need to dig for a telescopic bollard?
Deep enough for the whole post to drop below ground plus a drainage base. For example, our heavy duty telescopic parking post stands 550mm high, sits 740mm below ground and needs an 800 to 900mm hole. Taller 900mm bollards need more, so always check the product spec.
How far apart should bollards be?
UK Department for Transport guidance says gaps between bollards should be no more than 1200mm, and bollards in pedestrian areas should be at least 1000mm high with a contrasting top. Bollards should not be joined with chains or ropes because they are a trip hazard.
Do I need permission to install bollards?
On your own private land you usually do not, unless planning restrictions such as a listed building or conservation area apply, or other people have rights of access. On a public pavement, verge or road you need the agreement of the highway authority first.
Can fire engines get through removable bollards?
They can if you plan for it. London Fire Brigade guidance says removable posts on access routes should be locked at one point only with a standard Fire Brigade padlock or GERDA key, and folding bollards should not stand more than 150mm high when folded. Check with your local fire and rescue service and choose an FB version where needed.
Are removable bollards anti-ram or crash rated?
Most are not. Standard removable, telescopic and fold-down bollards are designed for access control and theft deterrence. Some carry Sold Secure or Secured by Design status, which relates to resisting tampering, not vehicle impact. For impact protection choose a crash-tested product such as one tested to ASTM F3016.
What is the best removable bollard for a single parking bay?
A fold-down lockable parking post is usually best: it bolts to the surface, needs no deep hole and starts from £59.28 ex VAT. If you want nothing left on the surface when the bay is in use, a telescopic post that sits flush with the ground is the next step up.
