The increase in bleed with longer columns is not large and should not be a deterrent to using a longer column when one is necessary. Column costs directly related to column length. Doubling column length nearly doubles the price of the column. When efficiency is increased by lengthening the column, there is a significant increase in column cost. When considered in conjunction with the increase in analysis time, lengthening the column should be the last reasonable option for increasing efficiency.
Shorter columns cost more per meter than longer columns.
Cutting longer columns into shorter lengths seems like a good method to save money, but it is not recommended. The quality of the smaller pieces cannot be guaranteed and may not be the same as the original, intact column. Theoretically, each piece should provide satisfactory and consistent results. In practice, this does not always occur. The probability of individual piece variation is higher when shorter pieces are cut from the original column.