How Much Does Rebar Cost? Per Foot & Ton (2026)

Standard carbon steel rebar costs about 0.40 to 2.00 dollars per linear foot in 2026, depending on the bar size, or roughly 1,000 to 2,000 dollars per ton. A #4 bar, the half inch size used in most residential slabs, runs about 0.55 to 0.95 dollars per foot. Here is the full price breakdown by size, grade and coating, plus how to turn your slab dimensions into a real total.

Rebar cost per foot by size

Rebar is priced per linear foot, and the foot price climbs with the bar diameter because a thicker bar holds more steel. The numbers below are typical US material prices for plain black (carbon steel) Grade 60 bar in early 2026.

Size	Diameter	Weight per ft	Cost per ft (2026)
#3	3/8 in	0.376 lb	$0.40 to $0.60
#4	1/2 in	0.668 lb	$0.55 to $0.95
#5	5/8 in	1.043 lb	$1.00 to $1.45
#6	3/4 in	1.502 lb	$1.40 to $2.00
#7	7/8 in	2.044 lb	$1.90 to $2.70

For most patios, walkways and light residential slabs you are buying #3 or #4 bar, which is the cheap end of the table. Driveways and slabs taking vehicle loads step up to #4 or #5.

Rebar price per ton and per pound

Contractors buying in bulk price rebar by the ton (2,000 lb), and in 2026 that lands at roughly 1,000 to 2,000 dollars per ton for standard carbon steel, or about 0.50 to 1.00 dollars per pound. Per ton pricing is usually cheaper foot for foot than buying loose sticks at a yard.

Because rebar is sold by weight, you get very different lengths per ton by size. A ton holds about 266 twenty foot sticks of #3, 150 of #4, or 96 of #5. If you know your total footage, the rebar weight per foot figures let you convert straight to tons.

What drives rebar prices up in 2026

Rebar is steel, so its price tracks the steel commodity market and moves week to week. In early 2026 the reinstated and raised Section 232 steel tariffs (up to 50%) cut cheap imports and pushed domestic rebar prices up roughly 5 to 8%.

That means a quote is usually only valid for 14 to 30 days. Pull a current price from your local supplier shortly before you order, rather than budgeting off a number you saw months ago.

Grade matters too. Grade 40 suits patios and light slabs, while Grade 60, the structural standard set by ASTM A615, costs more but is what most driveways and footings call for.

Coated and stainless rebar cost more

Plain black steel is the cheapest option, but corrosion resistant bar costs a premium that matters near salt water, on bridges and in de icing zones. Epoxy coated rebar adds about 30 to 40% to the foot price, or roughly 0.10 dollars per pound.

Galvanized (zinc coated) bar runs anywhere from 10 to 70% more depending on the supplier, often landing around 1.20 to 1.60 dollars per foot for #4. Stainless steel is the premium choice at 6 to 8 times the price of black steel, about 4.50 to 6.50 dollars per foot for #4 in common 304 or 316 grades.

For an ordinary residential slab or footing, plain black bar is almost always the right call. Save the coated and stainless options for marine, structural or exposed work where rust would shorten the life of the pour.

A worker tying a grid of half inch rebar with wire over a prepared slab subgrade before pouring concrete

Don't forget waste, laps and delivery

The sticker price per foot is not your final cost. Add about 5 to 10% for waste, since bars get cut and offcuts are rarely reusable. Then add roughly 10% extra footage for lap splices, the overlaps where two bars join and share load.

Delivery is the other surprise on small jobs. Suppliers set order minimums and freight surcharges, which can push the effective price per foot up 20 to 60% if you are only buying a few sticks. Buying full 20 or 40 foot lengths and avoiding per cut charges (often 1.50 to 3.00 dollars each) keeps the number down.

How to budget your rebar job

To get a real total, work out the grid first: the slab dimensions, the bar spacing (commonly 12 to 18 inches on center), and how many bars run each way. Multiply the bar count by their length to get total linear feet, then apply the foot price for your chosen size.

Doing that by hand is fiddly and easy to slip. Enter your slab size and spacing in the rebar calculator and it returns the bar count, total linear feet, weight and an estimated cost, with waste and laps factored in.

If you are still choosing a bar size, the rebar size chart lines up each number with its diameter, weight and typical use so you can match the bar to the slab before you price it.

How we check this

Every formula is shown in full and verified with automated tests against manufacturer spec sheets and ASTM and ACI standards. We show our work so you can check it.

Cost estimate, not a quote. The prices here are ballpark figures for planning only. Real costs vary by region, supplier, season, site access and project size. Always get written quotes from local contractors before you set a budget.

Frequently asked questions

How much does rebar cost per foot?

Standard carbon steel rebar costs about 0.40 to 2.00 dollars per linear foot in 2026, depending on size. A #3 bar runs about 0.40 to 0.60 dollars, a #4 about 0.55 to 0.95 dollars, and a #5 about 1.00 to 1.45 dollars per foot.

How much does rebar cost per ton?

Rebar costs roughly 1,000 to 2,000 dollars per ton for standard carbon steel in 2026, which works out to about 0.50 to 1.00 dollars per pound. Buying by the ton is usually cheaper foot for foot than loose sticks.

How much does it cost to install rebar?

Installed, including material and labor, rebar runs about 0.90 to 1.60 dollars per linear foot, or roughly 1.20 to 1.80 dollars per square foot for a residential slab grid. Skilled ironworker labor is about 40 to 75 dollars per hour in 2026.

Is epoxy coated rebar worth the extra cost?

Epoxy coated rebar adds about 30 to 40% to the price and is worth it in corrosive settings like marine zones, bridges and de icing areas. For an ordinary residential slab or footing, plain black steel is almost always the better value.

How much rebar do I need for a slab?

It depends on the slab size and bar spacing, commonly 12 to 18 inches on center each way. Multiply the bar count by their length for total linear feet, then add about 10% for lap splices and 5 to 10% for waste.

How Much Does Rebar Cost?

Key takeaways