Steel reinforcement bars, often called rebar, carry the tension in beams, footings, columns and suspended slabs. They are sold in standard lengths or cut and bent to a schedule. ConcreteSlab.co.za is a free quote service. You fill in one form and we pass your request to independent steel suppliers, bar benders and builders' merchants in your area, who quote you directly. We do not sell, cut, bend or fix steel ourselves. There is no fee and no obligation, and you can compare suppliers first.
What rebar is and why concrete needs it
Rebar is ribbed steel bar that bonds with concrete. Concrete resists crushing well but cracks easily when pulled. The bars take the pulling forces, which is why a beam or suspended slab without the right steel can fail without warning.
In South Africa, bars are made to SANS 920 (steel bars for concrete reinforcement). High-yield bars are marked with a Y, and mild steel with an R. The number is the diameter in millimetres, so a Y12 is a 12 mm high-yield bar.
Common bar sizes and where they go
Bar sizes and spacing are set by the engineer or the approved plans. Never guess them for anything that carries a load.
- Y10: stirrups, light slab steel and ground beams on small structures.
- Y12: the most common bar in strip footings, ground beams and lintels.
- Y16: main bars in larger beams, columns and heavily loaded footings.
- Y20 and above: engineered beams and commercial frames.
Rib-and-block and suspended slabs always need an engineer's design. On expansive clay or dolomite sites, foundation steel is often heavier. NHBRC enrolment for a new home may require engineer-certified details.
Cut and bend, cover and fixing
Most suppliers will cut and bend bars to your bending schedule, which lists each shape, length and number. This saves site time and waste. Bars should be clean of loose rust and oil before the pour.
- Cover: concrete cover protects steel from corrosion. Footings in the ground often need 50 mm or more, and less where the structure is dry and inside.
- Laps: bars joined by overlap need the lap length shown on the drawings.
- Coastal sites: chlorides in the air and sand corrode steel faster, so use correct cover and dense, well-cured concrete.
- Support: use spacer blocks so bars do not sit on the soil.
What affects your quote
People often search for the rebar price per ton or per length, but we never give prices here. Suppliers will look at:
- Bar sizes, grades and total mass of steel.
- Straight lengths, or cut and bent to a schedule.
- Binding wire, spacers and tying labour if you want a fixer.
- Delivery distance and truck access for 12 m lengths.
- Whether the order is a full load or a small top-up.
Send the bending schedule or drawings if you have them. It lets suppliers quote exactly.
Comparing steel reinforcement bars quotes
Concrete products are priced on the detail, so compare like with like. When quotes arrive, check:
- Exact product: the strength class, size, grade or reference number, and that it meets the relevant SANS standard.
- Quantity and minimums: the unit (m³, m², sheets, bags or panels), any minimum order and part-load charges.
- Delivery: the delivery fee, the truck size, offloading and whether the site can take the truck.
- VAT and validity: whether VAT is included, how long the price holds and the lead time.
What to include in your request
- Attach the bending schedule or engineer's drawings if you have them.
- List bar sizes and total lengths or numbers.
- Say whether bars must be cut and bent.
- Mention truck access, especially for long lengths.
- Give your town and whether you need a steel fixer.
Frequently asked questions
Does ConcreteSlab.co.za sell steel reinforcement bars?
What do Y10, Y12 and Y16 mean?
Do I need an engineer for slab reinforcement?
Can steel be cut and bent for me?
Rebar and Reinforcement Bars by province
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Gauteng
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Mpumalanga
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars North West
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Limpopo
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Northern Cape
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Free State
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars KwaZulu-Natal
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Eastern Cape
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars Western Cape
Rebar and Reinforcement Bars by city and town
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Johannesburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Pretoria
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Centurion
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Midrand
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Sandton
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Randburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Roodepoort
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Krugersdorp
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Randfontein
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Germiston
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Boksburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Benoni
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Kempton Park
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Alberton
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Vanderbijlpark
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Vereeniging
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Middelburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Secunda
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Rustenburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Brits
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Klerksdorp
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Potchefstroom
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Polokwane
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Tzaneen
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Lephalale
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Kimberley
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Kathu
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Upington
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Bloemfontein
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Welkom
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Sasolburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Durban
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Pinetown
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Pietermaritzburg
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Richards Bay
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Newcastle
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Ladysmith
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in East London
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Cape Town
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Bellville
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Paarl
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Stellenbosch
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in George
- Rebar and Reinforcement Bars in Worcester