Construction Calculator - Concrete and Masonry

Rebar Calculator

Estimate rebar linear feet and 20-foot sticks for slabs.

Reviewed: August 26, 2026

Calculate Rebar

For the Rebar Calculator, enter slab length, slab width, bar spacing, and waste/lap allowance. It counts grid lines in both directions, totals their lengths, applies the lap/waste allowance, and rounds the result to 20-foot sticks.

Construction measuring tools arranged beside a residential building project

Formula and input notes

Grid length = bars across width × slab length + bars across length × slab width, then add lap and waste allowance

InputPractical note
Bar spacingThis is the Rebar Calculator layout value for bar spacing; confirm whether the drawing specifies clear or on-center spacing.
Rebar Calculator measurement plan showing Slab length feet, Slab width feet, Bar spacing inches

Worked rebar example

Rebar Calculator example: The grid uses 9 bars running 21.4 ft and 16 bars running 10.9 ft. After 15% lap/waste allowance, total length is 422.05 ft, or 22 20-ft sticks.

Read total bar length and 20-foot stick count

Use linear feet and 20-ft-stick count as a rough purchasing check only; a bar bending schedule should control fabricated reinforcement.

Laps, supports, edge bars, and reinforcing design

Cover, exact edge offsets, laps, hooks, dowels, openings, chairs, bar mark lengths, stock-length optimization, and multiple mats affect the final schedule.

Questions specific to this calculation

Does the grid total include laps, supports, or edge bars?

Enter slab plan dimensions and the maximum on-center spacing for an orthogonal grid. The calculation includes a bar at both limits of each direction.