What is the Difference Between Pillars and Columns? (2024)

The terms pillar and column are often used interchangeably to describe a vertical standing architectural structure. They both serve as functional and attractive design elements to add to homes or buildings, but actually have different purposes and reasons for their construction. Let’s take a look at those differences:

What is a Pillar?

A pillar is a large, typically cylindrical or square, solid structure that stands upright as support in a home or building, either structurally or aesthetically. Pillars can be designed to hold weight from roofs, second floors, or ceilings to help make the building or home structurally safe and sound. These can be made of marble, stone, brick, wood, or metal and designed to match the surrounding architecture and decor. Pillars can also be free-standing as a stand-alone piece for design and attractiveness.

What is the Difference Between Pillars and Columns? (1)

What is a Column?

A column is a specific type of pillar that plays an integral part in the design and structure of the home or building. They have solid bases and can be constructed in varying shapes such as rectangular, circular, square, hexagonal, etc. Columns can hold an incredible amount of weight and are designed to be load-bearing as part of the architectural design. Unlike pillars, columns are solely used and constructed to support substantial amounts of weight that otherwise couldn’t stand up on its own.

What is the Difference Between Pillars and Columns? (2)

Contact Us for A Landscape Transformation

If you are interested in having a pillar installation for a new design element to your landscape, give Ambrosio Landscaping Solutions a call at (203) 762-5167. We’re here to transform your home’s landscape to help you enjoy outdoor living.

What is the Difference Between Pillars and Columns? (2024)

FAQs

What is the Difference Between Pillars and Columns? ›

All pillars are columns, but not all columns are pillars. This is because all pillars must serve a structural purpose in addition to any aesthetic purpose it maintains. In contrast, a column can only serve aesthetic purposes if they are not needed for weight-bearing purposes.

What is the difference between pillars and columns? ›

Difference between Pillar & Column - Civil All About Engineering. The pillar & column are structures where pillar is used for decorative purposes but sometimes to bear building roof's load while the columns are used for transmitting load to the foundations.

What is a column as in a pillar? ›

A column is a specific type of pillar that plays an integral part in the design and structure of the home or building. They have solid bases and can be constructed in varying shapes such as rectangular, circular, square, hexagonal, etc.

What is the main difference between beams and pillars? ›

Columns and beams differ through their uses. Columns transfer loads vertically into a foundation whilst beams transfer loads horizontally into columns. It could be argued that columns are more integral to construction than beams, but they often can't coexist without one another.

What is the difference between a pillar and a column a pillar has a square shaft a column has a cylinder shaft? ›

A pillar is a large, cylindrical support structure used in architecture, while a column is a similar support structure that is typically more decorative and has a different shape, such as a circular or rectangular cross-section.

What is the biblical meaning of pillars? ›

The pillar is the bridge between HEAVEN and EARTH, the vertical axis which both unites and divides these two realms. It is closely connected to the symbolism of the TREE; it also represents stability, and a broken pillar represents death and mortality.

What are the pillars according to the Bible? ›

Pillars are foundation elements; the expressions pillars/foundations of earth/heaven appear throughout scripture, and denote the usual stability of these elements (after all, the earth doesn't usually crumble or shake underneath one's feet, nor does the heaven come crushing down on one's head).

What is considered a pillar? ›

a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure. support column.

What's the definition of a pillar? ›

a strong column made of stone, metal, or wood that supports part of a building: A row of reinforced concrete pillars supports the bridge.

What does it mean to be called a pillar? ›

If you describe someone as a pillar of society or as a pillar of the community, you approve of them because they play an important and active part in society or in the community. [approval] My father is a pillar of the community. Synonyms: supporter, leader, rock, worthy More Synonyms of pillar.

What is the difference between pillar and column in civil engineering? ›

Pillar can be stand alone or support the roof of building. The main objective of this article “Differences between Pillar & Column” is that the pillars are mostly used of decoration & some times for bearing the load of building roof. While, the columns is only used for bearing the load of beam, & slab etc.

What is the purpose of a column? ›

Columns are frequently used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceilings rest. In architecture, "column" refers to such a structural element that also has certain proportional and decorative features.

What is pillar vs column vs pier? ›

It may be that direct connection with the earth that sets piers apart from the smaller, more refined cousins of columns, posts and pillars. Again, the piers are doing the same work as their smaller relations, but there is no clearly defined threshold beyond which a pillar or post becomes a pier.

What is the strongest pillar design? ›

The strongest column has an equilateral triangle as cross section, and it is tapered along its length, being thickest in the middle and thinnest at its ends. Its buckling load is 61.2% larger than that of a circular cylinder.

What are the different types of pillars? ›

Architectural pillars come in different styles, such as Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, each with distinctive design elements. The materials commonly used for architectural pillars include: a) Marble: Marble is popular for architectural pillars due to its elegance and beauty.

What is the top part of a pillar or column? ›

In architecture the capital (from the Latin caput, or "head") or chapiter forms the topmost member of a column (or a pilaster). It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface.

What are the three types of pillars? ›

The first three orders, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, are the three principal architectural orders of ancient architecture. They were developed in ancient Greece but also used extensively in Rome. The final two, Tuscan and Composite, were developed in ancient Rome.

What does pillars of the church mean? ›

The Roman Catholic Church which is arguably one of the most stable Churches in the world, has own system that is based on Pillars which are:  The Apostles Creed.  The Seven Sacraments (Celebration of the Christian Mystery)  The Ten Commandments (Christian Morality)  The Lord's Prayer (Christian Prayer)

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