Cover the top and bottom of any column with your hands and look at what's left: a plain shaft that could belong to almost any building. Take your hands away, and the capital and base tell you instantly whether you're looking at a classical portico, a Craftsman porch or a modern entrance. They are the smallest parts of a column, and they set its whole style.
The short version: The capital is the top of a column, where it meets the beam above; the base is the foot, where it meets the floor. They are the smallest parts of a column, and they set its style. Pair them by family and weight: rounded with rounded on round columns, geometric with geometric on square columns and pilasters, and a heavier base under a heavier capital. Ours are decorative and non-load-bearing, and any base can be paired with any capital.
This guide explains what column capitals and bases do, the shapes you'll see most often, and how to match them to round columns, square columns and pilasters on homes and commercial buildings.
What capitals and bases are for
On a traditional masonry column, the capital is the widened top where the shaft meets the beam above, and the base is the foot that spreads the column's weight onto the floor or pedestal. Over centuries, those working parts became the most decorated parts of the column, because they sit exactly where the eye stops.
On most buildings today, the column you see is a decorative wrap around a structural post, and the capital and base are finishing pieces. Ours are decorative and non-load-bearing: a structural post carries the load, and the capital, shaft and base give it its architecture. That frees you to choose them purely for proportion and style.
The vocabulary in two minutes
A handful of terms describe almost every capital and base you'll come across:
- Torus: a convex, rounded band, like a half-round cushion. The most common base moulding.
- Fillet: a small flat band or step that separates curves and sharpens shadow lines.
- Ogee: an S-shaped curve, convex at one end and concave at the other.
- Cove: a simple concave curve that flares outward.
- Chamfer: a flat, angled cut across an edge.
- Plinth: the plain square block at the very bottom of a base.
- Attic base: a classic base with two stacked rounded tiers, one of the oldest and most widely used base forms.
The classical orders (Tuscan, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian) are mostly told apart by their capitals, from the plain Tuscan cushion to the leafy Corinthian. Most modern porches, entrances and storefronts use the simpler end of that range: rounded rolls, ogees, coves and clean geometric profiles.
Capitals in classical architecture
The classical orders grew out of Greek temple design and were refined by the Romans. Each order pairs a capital with its own base and column shaft proportions:
- Tuscan: the plainest order, with a simple cushion capital and a plain base.
- Doric: a rounded cushion under a square slab, the capital of the Parthenon.
- Ionic: recognised by the scrolls, called volutes, at each side of the capital, usually over an Attic base.
- Corinthian: the most ornate, with a capital wrapped in carved acanthus leaves and a slender column shaft.
That's why a heavy Doric column and a tall Corinthian column look so different even before you notice the capital. Our range focuses on the simpler types: rounded, ogee, cove and geometric profiles that suit porches, entrances and storefronts, rather than carved Ionic or Corinthian capitals. For a different profile, ask us about custom options.
Round column capitals and bases
Round columns read as classical, so their capitals and bases are usually built from rounded rolls. Our round column capitals and bases come in two weights:
- Single Round Column Capital: a single rounded roll, for a clean, understated transition at the top of the shaft.
- Double Round Column Capital: stacked rounded tiers that flare out, for a fuller, more ornate look.
- Single Round Column Base: one crisp torus curve, a simple, sturdy anchor at the foot.
- Double Round Column Base: the Double Round Column Base uses Attic-style geometry, two stacked rounded tiers that play light against shadow.
A good rule of thumb is to match the weight at both ends: single with single for a restrained porch or a modern colonnade, double with double for a grand entrance, hotel portico or traditional facade.
Square capitals and bases
Square columns and pilasters feel more architectural and more varied, from Craftsman to contemporary. The square column and pilaster capitals and bases cover that whole range, and every one of them works on both square columns and pilasters.
Square capitals
| Capital | Profile | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | Traditional S-curve that flares to a commanding depth | Stately, traditional |
| Blackburn | Classic ogee curve | Traditional, refined |
| Danforth | Cove-style flare with precise stepped fillets | Streamlined, a modern take on classical |
| Avant | Powerful diagonal chamfer, 3.875 in projection | Bold, geometric, contemporary |
The Edinburgh is the one to reach for when a column carries a heavy beam or cornice visually, because its deep S-curve gives a strong transition between column and beam. The Avant does the opposite job on modern buildings, replacing curves with a single sharp angle.
Square bases
| Base | Profile | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Cavallo | Rounded torus top over a tall, expansive plinth | Stately entrances that need a substantial foundation |
| Banbury | Tiered top with stepped fillets and a torus | Traditional porches and facades |
| Aston | Rounded torus top over a clean vertical fascia | A grounded, versatile masonry look |
| Deverall | Near-flush profile, only 1/8 in top depth | Tight spaces and minimalist designs |
Any base can be paired with any capital, so you can tune a column's character without changing the shaft.
Matching capitals and bases to the building
- Custom homes and porches: a single round capital and base on smooth round columns for a colonial porch, or the Aston base with a Blackburn or Danforth capital on square porch columns.
- Craftsman and transitional homes: square columns with a substantial base such as the Cavallo or Banbury, and a simple capital.
- Modern homes and townhouses: the Avant capital over the Deverall base for crisp, minimal lines.
- Hotels, restaurants and offices: double round capitals and bases on round columns, or the Edinburgh capital over the Cavallo base on square columns, for an entrance with real presence.
- Storefronts and multi-family: pilasters with matching square capitals and bases to frame bays and entrances across a long facade.
Capitals and bases on pilasters
A pilaster is a flattened column set against a wall, and it uses the same capital and base vocabulary as a freestanding square column. That's why each square capital and base doubles as a pilaster capital and base. Use the same pair on your exterior pilasters and on any freestanding square columns nearby, and the whole facade reads as one design. For more on how pilasters frame an entrance, see how pilasters give a front door its presence.
Getting the proportions right
- Scale to the shaft. A capital or base that projects too little looks timid; too much looks top-heavy. Choose the projection with the shaft width and viewing distance in mind.
- Keep both ends in the same family. Rounded with rounded, geometric with geometric, unless you deliberately want contrast.
- Think about the beam above. A deep capital suits a column that visually supports a heavy cornice or beam; a slim one suits a light porch roof.
- Repeat across the facade. Use the same capital and base on columns and pilasters together.
If you're replacing tired wood porch columns, start with the shafts: our guide to wrapping porch posts covers the column itself, and the capitals and bases here finish it. Round and square shafts are in our exterior column wraps.
Column capitals and bases FAQ
What is the difference between a column capital and a column base?
The capital is the top of the column, where it meets the beam or roof above. The base is the foot of the column, where it meets the floor or pedestal. Together they frame the shaft and set the column's style.
Are decorative column capitals and bases load-bearing?
Ours are not. They are decorative, non-load-bearing pieces that finish a column wrap around a structural post, which carries the load.
Can I use a square capital on a pilaster?
Yes. Each of our square capitals and bases works on both square columns and pilasters, and any base can be paired with any capital.
Should the capital and base match?
They don't have to be the same profile, but they should be the same family and weight: rounded with rounded, geometric with geometric, and a heavier base under a heavier capital.
What is an Attic base?
An Attic base is a classic column base with two stacked rounded tiers. Our Double Round Column Base uses Attic-style geometry.
What are the main types of column capitals?
In classical architecture the main types follow the orders: Tuscan and Doric capitals are plain cushions, Ionic capitals have scrolls, and Corinthian capitals are carved with leaves. Modern options add simplified profiles such as rounded rolls, ogees, coves and chamfers, which is where our range sits.
What size column base do I need?
Column bases should be a little wider than the shaft so the column looks grounded. Taller columns and heavier capitals call for a taller, more substantial base, such as the Cavallo, while slim columns suit a low base like the Deverall.
Ready to finish your columns? Browse the square and round capitals and bases, order a free sample kit or send us your project.
