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Rebar Calculator
Lay out a rebar grid for a slab: bar count, total feet with laps, number of bars to buy and weight.
Your result
Enter your numbers and press the button. Your result appears here.
Enter the slab size, bar spacing and edge cover. The calculator lays out a grid in both directions and adds laps where bars join.
How it works
Bars each way = (slab size − 2 × cover) ÷ spacing + 1. Each bar runs the slab less the cover; bars longer than the stock length get a lap of 40 bar diameters by default.
Example: a 20×20 ft slab with #4 bars 12 in apart and 3 in edge cover needs 20 + 20 bars, 780 ft of rebar (40 × 20 ft bars) weighing 521 lb.
At a glance
Same settings as the calculator above, changing only the spacing.
| Spacing | Rebar | 20 ft bars | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 in | 780 ft | 40 | 521 lb |
| 16 in | 585 ft | 30 | 391 lb |
| 18 in | 546 ft | 28 | 365 lb |
| 24 in | 390 ft | 20 | 261 lb |
Rebar sizes (ASTM A615)
| Bar | Diameter | Weight per ft | 20 ft bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| #3 | 0.375 in | 0.376 lb | 7.52 lb |
| #4 | 0.5 in | 0.668 lb | 13.36 lb |
| #5 | 0.625 in | 1.043 lb | 20.86 lb |
| #6 | 0.75 in | 1.502 lb | 30.04 lb |
| #7 | 0.875 in | 2.044 lb | 40.88 lb |
| #8 | 1 in | 2.67 lb | 53.40 lb |
All rebar calculators
Common questions
How far apart should rebar be in a slab?
Residential slabs commonly use #3 or #4 bars 12 to 18 inches apart each way, but the spacing should come from your plans or local code.
How much do rebar laps need to be?
Lap length depends on bar size, concrete strength and code. 40 bar diameters is a common rule of thumb: 20 in for #4 bar. Check your plans.
How heavy is rebar?
#3 weighs 0.376 lb/ft, #4 0.668 lb/ft, #5 1.043 lb/ft and #6 1.502 lb/ft under ASTM A615.
Sources
- ASTM A615 bar sizes and weights: https://www.astm.org/a0615_a0615m-22.html