Where should garden bollard lights be positioned?
Garden bollard and post lights work best when positioned along the edges of pathways, driveways and garden borders where they can cast light evenly across the surface without creating glare or obstruction. As a general guide, spacing bollard lights at around 2 to 3 metres apart along a pathway gives consistent, even illumination throughout. For wider driveways or larger commercial garden spaces, positioning bollards on both sides of the path creates a more defined, balanced effect. For trade buyers specifying across a large residential development or hotel grounds, our trade team can help you calculate the right number and spacing for any outdoor layout.
What is the difference between a bollard light and a post light?
Bollard lights are short, squat fittings that sit close to the ground, typically between 50 and 100cm tall, and are designed primarily for pathway and border lighting. Post lights are taller fittings mounted on a longer post, typically between 100 and 200cm tall, and provide a wider spread of light that suits larger garden spaces, driveways and entrances. Both serve a similar purpose but differ in scale and visual presence. For trade buyers working across developments with both pathways and larger open garden areas, using a combination of bollard and post lights at different heights creates a more layered and effective exterior lighting scheme.
Should I choose mains powered or solar bollard lights?
The right choice depends on the location and how the lights will be used. Mains powered bollard lights offer consistent, reliable performance regardless of weather conditions and are the better choice for high traffic areas where dependable illumination is essential. Solar bollard lights are a great option for locations where running cables would be costly or impractical and are increasingly popular for developments where energy efficiency and sustainability are important to buyers or end users. For larger developments, many trade buyers opt for a combination of both, using mains powered lights at key entry and exit points and solar options along secondary pathways and garden borders. Explore our
outdoor security lights for mains powered alternatives where consistent performance is a priority.
What IP rating do outdoor bollard lights need?
For most outdoor garden and pathway applications, a minimum IP44 rating is required, which protects against splashing water from any direction. This covers the vast majority of residential and commercial exterior locations in the UK climate. For bollard lights installed in particularly exposed locations such as coastal developments or areas prone to standing water, a higher IP65 rating provides additional protection against more direct water exposure. All of our wholesale bollard lights carry an IP44 rating as standard, making them a reliable and compliant choice for most exterior lighting specifications. For more exposed locations, browse our
outdoor bulkhead lights for IP65 rated alternatives.
How many bollard lights do I need for a pathway?
As a general rule, bollard lights spaced at around 2 to 3 metres apart along a pathway will give consistent, even illumination throughout. For a 10 metre pathway, four to five bollard lights evenly spaced will typically provide good coverage without creating overly bright or uneven pools of light. For wider driveways or larger commercial garden spaces, positioning bollards on both sides of the path creates a more defined and balanced effect. For trade buyers lighting pathways across a large residential development or hotel grounds, our trade team can help you calculate the right number and positioning for any outdoor layout.
