Rebar Prices & Costs | Rebar Cost Per Foot, Ton & Pound

Anytime that you look at a concrete structure, there is rebar giving it support. By definition, rebar is supportive, and its steel construction is specifically designed to support concrete. Rebar may be everywhere we look and commonly used but finding out how much it costs can be tricky.

Rebar prices average about $0.70 to $0.80 per foot. However, if you have a larger project, it’s best to buy rebar in bulk. You can buy rebar for $600 to $700 for 1 ton. It could cost as little as $400 to $500 for one ton of rebar depending on the seller.

You can’t build with concrete without using rebar and still be confident in its structural integrity. Luckily, rebar is easy to buy and won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Follow along, and we will explore the cost of rebar and what affects the prices.

Related Guide: How Much Does Rebar Cost?

Rebar is essentially a steel bar used to provide reinforcement and stability to concrete structures. Sure, concrete is strong itself, however, it cannot handle the stress of tension or stretching.

More often than not, rebar is a carbon stell bar, but sometimes it is made of steel wires. The reason that rebar is so effective is that the steel experiences thermal expansion and concrete does as well. Your concrete will expand slightly due to the heat, and so will your rebar.

Buying bulk is the best value, and 1 ton of rebar costs $600-$700 on average. You may not need that much, and in that case, you can buy the exact amount of rebar that you want at $0.70-$0.80 a foot.

Most manufacturers sell rebar in 2-foot measurements at $1.40-$1.60. The cost of rebar can vary based on thickness, length, volume, and type. When you shop for rebar, make sure you know whether you need primary or secondary rebar.

Primary rebar is necessary for heavy-duty structural support. Secondary rebar is perfect for concrete that will experience swelling and shrinkage, and if found in many homes and freeway overpasses.

You can buy rebar by the pound, and it only costs between $0.70 and $1.25 per pound. Not all manufacturers sell rebar by the pound, and that is because of how confusing it can get.

For example, depending on the thickness, density, and size of the rebar, 1 foot may equal 1 pound. However, for small or thin rebar, it may take 1 ½ feet to 2 feet to equal 1 pound of rebar.

The difficulty of selling rebar by the pound is why most manufacturers sell it in larger increments and different measurements entirely.

Many builders buy rebar by the ton for large projects, or to simply have enough around for a while. When you buy a ton of rebar, it comes in 20-foot lengths and you can cut them to the size that you need.

Generally, 1 ton of rebar costs between $600 and $700 from American manufacturers. Sometimes, buying rebar from Chinese manufacturers can save money, a 1 ton may cost as little as $400-$500.

If you need to buy some serious bulk, upwards of 10-20 pounds, you’ll need to buy directly from a manufacturer. When you buy rebar in 10-20 pound increments, some manufacturers lower the cost per ton by $50-$100 or more.

Some rebar options come with a special coating. The most common coating is epoxy, and it can be almost 2,000 times more durable than standard black-bar rebar. Most of the added durability that epoxy-coated rebar offers comes by way of resistance to corrosion, and not necessarily in support.

As far as strength and support goes, coated rebar only varies in that corrosion weakens rebar and concrete. Because of that, choosing rebar with a coating ensures that your rebar won’t lose its strength due to corrosion.

The added bonus of corrosion-resistance comes at a slightly higher cost. Most manufacturers charge you an additional $0.10-$0.20 per pound of coated rebar. However, it is worth the added cost if your rebar and concrete is exposed to rain and snow.

The cost of installing rebar itself is not that expensive. It is all of the other work, such as removing old concrete, excavation, and any preparation that adds up.

It only costs $1-$2 per square foot to install rebar, so a 1,000 square foot installation will cost you between $1,000 and $2,000. Seems like that number is pretty low, right? Well, that is because that does not account for all of the work surrounding rebar installation.

For example, if you are installing rebar for a foundation, it may only cost $500-$1,000 out of the $8,000 or more than the foundation could cost. Installing rebar is typically much less common than the structural work that comes before or after the rebar.

Related Questions

What rebar should I use in a footing?

When you install a foundation, the best kind of rebar for a footing is 3/8” rebar. You must install 1 stick of rebar for every 8”-10” of width.

Is wire mesh better than rebar?

No, wire mesh is not as durable or corrosion-resistant as rebar. Both materials are susceptible to damage, but between the two, rebar is much more durable. However, wire mesh is great for preventing cracks throughout the concrete.

Which rebar is weldable?

There is a specific type of rebar known as ASTM A706 that is weldable. You can find ASTM A706 in multiple grades, and it is perfect for foundation work, and even larger structures so long as it meets structural requirements. Generally, weldable rebar must contain less than 0.5% carbon.

Rebar only costs $0.70-$0.80 per foot, or roughly $0.70-$1.25 per pound. However, most builders buy rebar buy the ton, and that costs $400-$700 or more. Sometimes, all that you can find is bulk suppliers for rebar, and you may need to buy 5-10 tons at a time.

If you don’t need bulk but still need 1 ton of rebar or more, try a Chinese supplier. Sometimes, Chinese manufactured rebar can sell for closer to $400-$500 a ton. Luckily, installing rebar is cheap and costs $1-$2 per square foot.

Whether you are doing a project at home, foundation work, or serious construction, rebar is necessary. If your project is somewhere with a lot of elemental exposure, try coated rebar for corrosion resistance. Good luck getting your hands on some rebar, and you’ll be glad you did.