Delineator vs Bollard: Which to Install? (2026)

A delineator is a flexible, retroreflective post that visually guides drivers; a bollard is a rigid, impact-rated post that physically stops vehicles. The two products look similar but solve opposite problems. Choose a delineator when the goal is lane guidance and choose a bollard when the goal is to keep cars out of a pedestrian or asset zone. Federal Highway Administration (MUTCD Section 3F) governs delineator placement; ASTM F2656 governs security-bollard impact ratings.

This guide breaks down the spec, cost, and use-case differences using the same install playbook Cojo runs across Oregon parking-lot projects.

What is the core difference between a delineator and a bollard?

A delineator is visual. It is built to bend, recover, and tell the driver where the lane goes. A bollard is physical. It is built to absorb energy, stay vertical, and prevent vehicle intrusion.

Attribute	Delineator	Bollard
Primary function	Visual guidance	Physical barrier
Material	Polymer flex (most common), HDPE	Steel, concrete-filled steel, ductile iron
Behavior on impact	Bends and recovers	Stops the vehicle
Mounting	Surface anchor or removable base	Bolted or embedded in concrete footing
Governing standard	MUTCD Section 3F	ASTM F2656 (security), ASTM F3016 (low-speed)
Typical height	36 to 48 in	36 to 42 in
Typical cost installed	$40 to $200 per post	$300 to $3,500+ per post
Replacement after hit	Often none -- post recovers	Replace post and footing

The price gap is the fastest way to spot which product the project needs. A 36-inch flex-post delineator runs under $100 installed. A K12-rated security bollard with a steel core and a deep footing can run $3,500 or more.

When does a delineator win?

Choose a delineator when the goal is to keep cars in a lane, not out of a zone. Five high-frequency parking-lot scenarios:

• Drive-thru pickup queue edges -- the goal is to keep queued vehicles from drifting across the painted line, not to stop them.
• School car-line dividers -- two opposing-flow lanes separated by visual cue.
• ADA path-of-travel edge marking -- combine with painted parking lot striping for full ADA path definition.
• Lot-perimeter edge marking -- where there is no curb, a 30 to 50-foot delineator pattern defines the boundary.
• Construction-phase lane shifts -- temporary delineators during overnight work, swapped for permanent posts after cure.

If a 4,000-pound passenger car can drive over the line and the post bends and pops back up, the lot owner is fine. That is the delineator's job.

When does a bollard win?

Choose a bollard when the consequence of vehicle intrusion is unacceptable. Common patterns:

• Storefront protection -- glass entries, ATM lobbies, walk-up windows.
• Outdoor seating and pedestrian plazas -- restaurant patios, transit stops, pickup zones with people standing.
• Critical infrastructure -- transformer pads, gas meters, fire hydrants, electrical service.
• Building-corner protection -- where a turning car can shear a wall corner.
• Asset protection -- vehicle-charging cabinets, kiosks, refrigeration units.

The U.S. Department of State catalogs anti-ram bollard ratings (state.gov DSL Anti-Ram Vehicle Barriers). Most parking-lot retail installs do not need K-rated security bollards -- a low-speed ASTM F3016 rating is enough -- but the question still resolves to "should this stop a car." If yes, bollard.

Can a delineator and a bollard be combined?

Yes, and it is one of the most under-used patterns in parking-lot design. A bollard line protects the storefront, while a delineator line offset 6 to 10 feet outboard guides cars to stay in the drive aisle. The driver gets a soft visual warning before they ever reach the hard barrier. We use this layout on drive-thrus where cars routinely cut the entry geometry.

For a coffee-chain remodel in Tigard in March 2026, we set 4 K7-rated security bollards along the storefront and 12 white flex-post delineators 8 feet outboard along the queue edge. The delineators absorbed the steering correction; the bollards never had to.

What does code require for each product?

Delineators on public roads fall under MUTCD (fhwa.dot.gov MUTCD). Section 3F covers placement, color, spacing, and retroreflectivity. Type IV sheeting per ASTM D4956 is the parking-lot baseline.

Bollards have no single federal placement code. Spec depends on use case:

• Anti-ram security: ASTM F2656 / DOS K-ratings.
• Low-impact pedestrian protection: ASTM F3016.
• Hydrant or utility protection: NFPA 24 plus the local water authority's standard.
• ADA accessibility-route placement: 36 CFR Part 1191 (ADA Standards) for any bollard inside a path of travel; the U.S. Access Board maintains the standard.

State-highway-adjacent work in Oregon coordinates through Oregon DOT. Local jurisdictions in Salem, Eugene, Portland, and Bend each have separate sidewalk-adjacent permit rules.

How much does each option cost installed?

Industry Baseline Range

Product	Material	Installed Cost (per unit)
Flex-post delineator (36 in)	Polymer	$40 to $85
Flex-post delineator (48 in)	Polymer	$55 to $120
Base-mount removable delineator	Polymer	$80 to $200
Decorative bollard (non-rated)	Cast aluminum	$300 to $700
Steel pipe bollard (low-impact)	Steel + concrete fill	$400 to $900
ASTM F3016 rated bollard	Steel	$700 to $1,800
K7 to K12 anti-ram bollard	Steel core + footing	$1,800 to $3,500+

These figures reflect published industry averages. Current market pricing varies significantly and actual quotes may fall well outside these ranges based on site-specific conditions, material costs, and project complexity.

Current Market Reality

Steel pipe pricing rose roughly 14 percent across 2025. Anti-ram bollards run higher than the table because the embed footing is concrete and steel rebar -- per-unit footing cost on a K7 install often exceeds the bollard itself. A 6-bollard storefront line in 2026 Oregon typically lands at $9,000 to $18,000 turnkey when concrete saw-cut, footing pour, and traffic control are bundled. Delineator install bundles for a 50-post drive-thru typically land at $3,500 to $7,500.

Which is right for your lot?

Use this short test:

1. Will the post stop a car? If yes, bollard. If no, delineator.
2. Is there a person standing where the car would end up? If yes, bollard.
3. Are you marking the edge of a lane or the edge of a zone? Lane = delineator. Zone = bollard.
4. Will the post get hit more than once a year? Hit-and-recover = delineator. Hit-and-rebuild = bollard.

If two of the four answers point to "bollard," skip the delineator and spec the bollard directly. If three or four point to "delineator," skip the bollard.

For parking-lot edge marking and channelization across Oregon, Cojo installs delineators in 1 to 3 days depending on lot size. For storefront and asset-protection work, our crew also installs steel pipe bollards and footing systems. Contact Cojo for a walk-through of your site, or read our bollard curb stop painting guide for the maintenance side.

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