Sizes and grades

U.S. sizes
Imperial bar sizes give the diameter in units of ⅛ inch, so that #8 = 8⁄8 inch = 1 inch
diameter. The cross sectional area, as given by πr², works out to (bar size/9.027)², which is
conveniently approximated as (bar size/9)² square inches. For example, the area of #8 bar is
(8/9)² = 0.79 sq.inch.

Larger bar sizes are based on the cross-sectional area of square bars that were formerly
used. The diameter of the equivalent round shapes is rounded to the nearest ⅛ inch to
provide the bar size. For example, #9 bar has a cross section of 1.00 sq. inch, and therefore
a diameter of 1.128 inches. #10, #11, #14, and #18 sizes correspond to 1⅛ inch, 1¼, 1½,
and 2 inch square bars, respectively. #14 rebar is particularly affected by this approximation;
by diameter it would be #13.5.

The tower and sign industries commonly use slightly larger "Jumbo" bars #14J and #18J as
anchor rods for large structures. The bars are fabricated from slightly oversized blanks such
that threads can be cut at the ends to accept standard 1.75" (#14J) and 2.25" (#18J) anchor
nuts.

U.S. rebar size chart

Mass per unit

Imperial Nominal Diameter Nominal Area
"Soft" length

Bar Metric Size

lb⁄ft (kg/m) (in) (mm) (in²) (mm²)
Size

#2 #6 0.167 0.249 0.250 = ¼ 6.35 0.05 32

#3 #10 0.376 0.561 0.375 = ⅜ 9.525 0.11 71
#4 #13 0.668 0.996 0.500 = ½ 12.7 0.20 129
#5 #16 1.043 1.556 0.625 = ⅝ 15.875 0.31 200
#6 #19 1.502 2.24 0.750 = ¾ 19.05 0.44 284
#7 #22 2.044 3.049 0.875 = ⅞ 22.225 0.60 387
#8 #25 2.670 3.982 1.000 25.4 0.79 509
#9 #29 3.400 5.071 1.128 28.65 1.00 645
#10 #32 4.303 6.418 1.270 32.26 1.27 819
#11 #36 5.313 7.924 1.410 35.81 1.56 1006
#14 #43 7.650 11.41 1.693 43 2.25 1452
#18 #57 13.60 20.284 2.257 57.3 4.00 2581
#18J 14.60 21.775 2.337 59.4 4.29 2678
Canadian sizes
Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimeters, rounded to the
nearest 5 mm.

Metric Nominal
Mass per unit length Cross-Sectional
Diameter
Bar (kg/m) Area (mm²)
(mm)
Size

10M 0.785 11.3 100

15M 1.570 16.0 200
20M 2.355 19.5 300
25M 3.925 25.2 500
30M 5.495 29.9 700
35M 7.850 35.7 1000
45M 11.775 43.7 1500
55M 19.625 56.4 2500

European sizes
Metric bar designations represent the nominal bar diameter in millimetres. Bars in Europe
will be specified to comply with the standard EN 10080 (awaiting introduction as of early
2007), although various national standards still remain in force (e.g. BS 4449 in the United
Kingdom).

Metric Nominal
Mass per unit length Cross-Sectional
Diameter
Bar (kg/m) Area (mm²)
(mm)
Size

6,0 0.222 6 28.3

8,0 0.395 8 50.3
10,0 0.617 10 78.5
12,0 0.888 12 113
14,0 1.21 14 154
16,0 1.579 16 201
20,0 2.467 20 314
25,0 3.855 25 491
28,0 4.83 28 616
32,0 6.316 32 804
40,0 9.868 40 1257
50,0 15.413 50 1963

Australian sizes
Reinforcement for use in concrete construction is subject to the requirements of Australian
Standards AS3600-2009 (Concrete Structures) and AS/NZS4671-2001 (Steel Reinforcing
for Concrete). There are other standards that also apply to testing, welding and galvanising.
The designation of reinforcement is defined in AS/NZS4671-2001 using the following
formats:
Bars

Yield Strength Ductility

Shape Code Nominal Diameter (mm)
(MPa) Class

D - Deformed
500 MPa N - Normal 10
Bar

R - Round Bar 250 MPa L - Low 12

16

20

24

28

32
 36

40

Examples:
D500N12 is deformed bar, 500MPa strength, normal ductility and 12mm nominal
diameter - also known simply as "N12"
R250N20 is round bar, 250MPa strength, normal ductility and 20mm nominal
diameter - also known simply as "R20"
Bars are typically abbreviated to simply 'N' (hot-rolled deformed bar), 'R' (hot-
rolled round bar), 'RW' (cold-drawn ribbed wire) or 'W' (cold-drawn round wire),
as the yield strength and ductility class can be implied from the shape. For
example, all commercially available wire has a yield strength of 500MPa and low
ductility, round bars are 250MPa and normal ductility, etc.
Mesh[edit]

Nominal Spacing
Nominal Nominal
Ductility (short direction)
Shape Code Diameter Spacing (long
Class (only required in
(mm) direction)
rectangular mesh)

L - Low
S - Square 7mm 1 - 100mm 1 - 100mm
Ductility

R-
8mm 2 - 200mm 2 - 200mm
Rectangular

10mm 8 - 80mm 8 - 80mm

12mm

Grades