Bollards
Bollard Spacing: Standard Distances by Use
Cojo
May 7, 2026
6 min read
Bollard spacing is application-driven: storefront protection uses 4-foot centers, drive-thru lanes use 5- to 6-foot centers, ADA pedestrian paths require a 36-inch minimum clear opening, and K-rated perimeter lines must match the spacing in the manufacturer's ASTM F2656 certified configuration. Cojo set 5-foot center-to-center spacing on a 14-bollard storefront-and-drive-thru combination at a Salem QSR in March 2026 -- a hybrid layout where storefront posts ran tighter than the drive-thru posts to handle different threat profiles. This guide breaks down the math for each application.
For category context, see our What Are Bollards hub. For the basic spacing question, see How Far Apart Should Bollards Be Placed. For drive-thru-specific specs, see Bollards for Drive-Thru Lanes.
Storefront bollards face slow-speed ramming as the primary threat -- vehicle-into-store events typically occur at 5 to 25 mph. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data and FBI vehicle-as-weapon trend reports document the prevalence of low-speed accidental and intentional storefront strikes.
Standard storefront spacing:
The clear opening should fall between 36 and 48 inches. Below 36 inches, ADA pedestrian access fails. Above 48 inches, a passenger vehicle can fit between adjacent posts.
Drive-thru lanes need wider spacing because vehicles must pass between bollards. The lane width itself is set by the queue design and the largest expected vehicle.
| Drive-Thru Type | Lane Width | Bollard Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| QSR / fast food | 10 to 12 ft | 6 to 8 ft on center |
| Bank ATM | 9 to 11 ft | 5 to 7 ft on center |
| Pharmacy | 10 to 12 ft | 6 to 8 ft on center |
| Service bay entry | 12 to 14 ft | 7 to 10 ft on center |
The U.S. Access Board ADA Standards Section 403.5 sets the floor for any pedestrian path that crosses a bollard line.
For broader ADA design issues, see our ADA parking requirements Oregon service guide.
Bollards under 27 inches above grade are not detectable by a person using a white cane in standard sweep technique. The 27-inch threshold appears in ADA Standards Section 307.2 for protruding objects. Most parking-lot and storefront bollards exceed 27 inches by design (typical 36 to 42 inch above-grade height), so the rule is rarely a constraint -- but flush parking blocks and very short decorative bollards can fail it.
K-rated bollards have configuration-specific spacing. The ASTM F2656 certification process tests a bollard line with specific bollard centers under live-fire crash conditions. Field installation must match the tested configuration.
Common manufacturer-certified spacings:
Spacing wider than the certified configuration creates a vehicle-passable gap and voids the rating. Spacing tighter is allowed and conservative. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration Roadside Design Guide references the F2656 rating system for federal-property perimeter applications.
The full application matrix:
8 to 10 feet on center is the standard for fire-lane channelization. Removable lockable bollards allow fire-truck access. NFPA 1 Fire Code, adopted by most Oregon jurisdictions, requires fire access lanes to remain unobstructed but allows controllable barriers (bollards with breakaway or removable design) to manage routine vehicle traffic.
6 to 8 feet on center provides flow management without point-blocking. Tighter spacing is unnecessary because the threat is vehicle entry from a single direction, not free-form ramming.
5 to 6 feet on center is typical for parking-lot perimeter protection. Tighter spacing is justified at vehicle approach angles where ramming-energy is concentrated.
Per local jurisdiction. Many Oregon districts follow Federal Highway Administration School Travel Plan and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices guidance, which references 5 to 8 foot bollard spacing for school-zone vehicle separation.
K-rated per facility security spec. Federal facilities follow GSA Interagency Security Committee guidance, which is configuration-specific to the threat assessment.
For city-specific application work in Salem where Cojo handles bollard layout for retail and government contracts, see Bollard Installation Salem. For the test-cert details, see ASTM F2656 Bollards Guide.
Three failure modes show up at sites with bad spacing:
Each failure can be avoided by laying out the bollard line with the application matrix in hand and verifying clear openings before drilling.
Bollard spacing math is application-driven and code-bounded. ADA, ASTM, and local jurisdiction requirements all interact on a multi-zone site. Cojo specs bollard layouts across Oregon for storefront, drive-thru, parking-lot, and government applications, including code-compliance verification before install. Contact Cojo for a site-specific layout review.
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