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How Much Does Rebar Cost and What Is Its Price Range?

How Much Does Rebar Cost and What Is Its Price Range?

No construction project is complete without steel reinforcing bars, also known as rebars. In previous articles, we've reviewed every intricate detail of rebar, including how rebar is made and what the correct rebar sizes are for commercial and residential applications.

Now, we’ll discuss how rebar is priced. When you are building a new home, adding an external feature to your home or working on a commercial project, understanding the cost of rebar, raw materials and installation is one of the most important elements of construction. 

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Average Rebar Material Prices Per Linear Foot

Depending upon the rebar's sizeit's sold at varying prices. Rebar is often sold per linear foot for residential applications, so keep in mind that your price tag will increase when you require more material. In general, prices per linear foot of untreated steel rebar can vary from $0.40 to $1.25. It's also common to see rebar sold for $0.40 to $2.25 per foot for diameters of 3/8 inches (size #3), 1/2 inches (size #4) and 5/8 inches (size #5).

Rebar's pricing is estimated based on material properties such as length, type, thickness and volumeFor large construction projects, rebar can be bought in bulk by the ton. Sizes #6, #7 and #8 come in larger diameters and are often used for commercial and industrial applications, which subsequently entails bulk buying and higher prices. Commercial rebar prices for these sizes can range from $0.90 to $4.50 per linear foot.

Compared to plain, untreated steel rebar, stainless steel rebar combats corrosion better and needs less maintenance. Because of these properties, it's commonly used in commercial projects and is more costly than untreated rebar. Prices for this option can start at $2.50 and go up to $16 per linear foot.

Rebar Cost Factors

Because rebar is typically made of steel, its cost depends a lot on the price fluctuations of steel. Steel prices can change due to global and domestic factors, such as major political events, trade tariffs, natural disasters, steel demand and the general state of the national or global economy. In turn, average rebar material prices are also bound to change. To get the best price of rebar, it's best to look at past trends and get a quote from your seller.

For example, during the market crash of 2008steel prices skyrocketed, but in 2016steel prices touched historical lows. In 2008a ton of rebar was sold at the price of $1,203but in 2016 the prices cut down to one-fourth, and 1 ton of rebar was sold at only $409. More recently, steel prices increased by $500 per ton in the first half of 2022 due to the Russian-Ukraine war but decreased by $600 or more by mid-July. In accordance with this trend, rebar prices reached an all-time high of $1,130 per short ton in June 2022 but then fell by 11.5% by October.

Transportation expenses may also be an important aspect affecting your operations. Besides untreated steel and stainless steel, some variations of rebar come in fiberglass, which can reduce the cost of transportation, as this material is lighter than steel.

Other factors related to the project itself can also impact the final price for rebar installation. Prices can be higher based on the job location, contractor, project complexity and related circumstances. Traditional rebar installation prices are majorly based on labor hours needed for installation, plus overhead and profit margin. The type of rebar you use determines its heaviness, quality and ease to work with, which also matter for calculating labor costs.

Rebar Installation

The cost of rebar installation itself may not be the most expensive part of the job — other preparation tasks such as removing old concrete, pouring new cement, paving the cement and cleaning up the area will also add up. General rebar installation may cost $1 to $1.75 per square foot when excluding material expenses. With rebar included, your price range increases to $1.40 to $4 per square foot.

Rebar Coatings

Rebar is often covered with special coatings, the most common one being epoxy. This gives rebar 2,000 times more durability than the standard black-bar rebar. The epoxy-coated rebar also offers better resistance to corrosion, and it won't lose strength in the long run.

However, the corrosion-resistant rebar is a bit costlier than the regular rebar. Most sellers charge $0.10 more per pound for epoxy-coated rebar and $300 to $400 per 50-pound box. We believe this additional amount is minimal and worth investing in, as it will save your rebar and concrete from rain and snow.

Galvanized rebar is a common alternative to the epoxy-coated type, providing a zinc-coated surface to prevent corrosion. With this being a more expensive option, you can generally expect to pay 10% to 15% more for galvanized rebar over untreated steel rebar.

How to Choose the Right Rebar

What Is the Cost of Rebar Per Pound?

You can purchase rebar by the pound if you're not looking to buy it in feet or tonsDepending on the factors mentioned above, wholesale rebar prices in Florida could be around $0.65 to $1 per pound. However, it may take some research to find rebar manufacturers who sell rebar by the pound, as it is not a profitable scenario for them.

Depending upon the thickness, density and size of the rebar, 1 foot can be equal to 1 pound. However, if there are thin rebars, 1 ½ feet to 2 feet of material could equal 1 pound of rebar. Selling in pounds can be a difficult business because of these variations, which is why most manufacturers sell rebar entirely by measurements in feet or tons.

Cost of Rebar Per Ton

The most common method for acquiring rebar for commercial and industrial jobs is buying it by the ton, with 1 ton equaling 2,000 pounds of materialCosts for this quantity of rebar can be anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 per ton. The most common rebar sizes of #3, #and #5 come in bundles of 266, 149.7 and 95.9 20-foot sticks per ton, which is enough to fulfill commercial job requirements. Many residential jobs likely won't need this much rebar, but buying by the ton is still an option for bigger home construction projects. 

Like with the other quantities we've covered, fluctuations in the steel market and other situational aspects can impact the price of a ton of rebar daily.

Buy Rebar and Accessories From Florida Lumber

Ultimately, residential and commercial rebar prices will vary significantly by foot, pound or ton and depend on the current steel market and your construction job's specifications. It can take some work to find a trusted rebar supplier for your applications when considering all these factors, which is why Florida Lumber is here to assist you. 

Our experienced professionals offer job site delivery across South Florida, competitive pricing and a well-stocked inventory to serve your needs. We can supply various rebar types and accessories for your next project. Plus, you can enjoy free delivery on orders of $500 or more in various areas, including Miami-Dade, Naples, Broward, Fort Myers, West Palm Beach and Bonita Springs.

If you have any further queries related to rebar pricing and installation, feel free to connect with us anytime. We'll be more than happy to help.

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