We get this question a lot from contractors, facilities managers, and city planners, so let’s clear it up.
The short answer is yes, most of our commercial street benches arrive with pre-drilled mounting holes. If the bench is designed for surface mounting, the base plates or feet usually come with pre-drilled holes and matching stainless steel or zinc-plated hardware. That means you won’t need to measure and drill every anchor point in the bench itself from scratch.
That said, “pre-drilled” can depend on the bench style and the type of installation you choose. Here’s how it works by mounting type.
Surface-mounted benches:
These are the most common. The legs or frames have steel base plates with pre-drilled holes, typically 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch in diameter, ready for concrete wedge anchors, sleeve anchors, or drop-in anchors. You will still need to drill holes into the concrete or paver surface using the base plate as a template. The bench is pre-drilled; the ground is not.
In-ground benches:
If you choose an in-ground mounting option, the benches usually do not require pre-drilled base plates. Instead, the legs are designed to be set into concrete footings. You may need to dig and pour concrete, but there are no holes to drill in the bench frame. This gives a clean look and works well in open public spaces.
Freestanding or portable benches:
Some lighter benches and movable models do not include mounting holes because they are meant to be relocated. If you want to secure them later, you may need to drill your own holes in the base feet or add surface-mount brackets.
What hardware is included?
For most pre-drilled surface-mount benches, we include the required bolts, washers, and sometimes anchor sleeves. You will generally need the drill, correct masonry bit, and a wrench. Installation instructions show the exact hole spacing, drill bit size, and recommended anchor depth.
When would you need to drill yourself?
You may need to do your own drilling if:
- You choose a custom bench without pre-drilled bases.
- The mounting surface is uneven and the standard hole pattern doesn’t line up.
- You are retrofitting an older bench or using a non-standard anchor system.
- You need to mount on a wall, plinth, or unusual surface where a base plate isn’t used.
Our recommendation:
Before ordering, confirm whether your installation will be surface mount, in-ground, or freestanding. If surface mounting is required, let our team know the exact model and surface type. We can confirm the base plate dimensions, hole spacing, and whether pre-drilled holes are included. In most cases, the bench arrives ready to set in place and mark the holes.
So, to answer directly: yes, the steel benches usually come pre-drilled for mounting. You won’t need to drill the bench itself, but you will need to drill the concrete or substrate. If you have a special site condition, we can also ship benches without pre-drilled holes for full customization on site.