Average Quantities of Reinforcement in Concrete

This article has been made to provide you with average quantities of reinforcement in different types of concrete elements. 

Average quantity of reinforcement steel per m3 in concrete

• Average quantity in the UK

Concrete building element	Weight of reinforcement in kg/m3	Weight of reinforcement in lb/ft3	Volume of reinforcement in m3/m3 (dependent on the exact steel)	Share of steel of total structure %
Bases	90–130	5.6–8.1	0.012-0.017	1.2 - 1.7 %
Beams	250–350	15.6–21.8	0.032-0.045	3.2 - 4.5 %
Capping beams	135	8.4	0.017	1.7 %
Columns	200-450	12.4-28	0.025-0.057	2.5 - 5.7 %
Ground beams	230-330	14.3-20.6	0.029-0.042	2.9 - 4.2 %
Footings	70-100	4.3-6.2	0.009-0.042	0.9 - 4.2 %
Pile Caps	110-150	6.8–9.3	0.014-0.019	1.4 - 1.9 %
Plate slabs	95–135	5.9–8.4	0.012-0.017	1.2 - 1.7 %
Rafts	115	7.1	0.015	1.5 %
Retaining walls	110–150	6.8–9-3	0.014-0.019	1.4 - 1.9 %
Ribbed floor slabs	80–120	5–7.4	0.010-0.015	1 - 1.5 %
Slabs – one way	75–125	4.6–7.8	0.010-0.016	1 - 1.6 %
Slabs – two way	67–135	4.1–8.4	0.009-0.017	0.9 - 1.7 %
Stairs	130–170	8.1–10.6	0.017-0.022	1.7 - 2.2 %
Tie beams	130–170	8.1–10.6	0.017-0.022	1.7 - 2.2 %
Transfer slabs	150	9.3	0.019	1.9 %
Walls – normal	70–100	4.3–6.2	0.009-0.013	0.9 - 1.3 %
Walls – wind	90–150	5.6-9.3	0.011-0.019	1.1 - 1.9 %

Source: Reinforcement Estimates

• Average quantity in Finland

List of typical steel amounts used in different kind of structures and elements (please note that these are average values, in reality, there is variance). All the quantities are shown per m3 of concrete. The typical density of concrete is approximately 2400 kg /m3. Tendon* = high strength low allow steel, typically used for instance in pre-stressed concrete elements, this steel grade is likely to contain more virgin steel Rebar steel* = basic steel used for concrete reinforcement.

• Pre-stressed concrete beam: 30 kg of tendon and 30 kg of normal rebar steel
• Reinforced concrete beam: 100 kg of normal rebar steel
• Column: 100 kg of normal rebar steel
• Hollow-core concrete slab**: 10 kg tendon
• Wall, internal element (for instance 180 mm): 35 kg of normal rebar steel
• Wall, external layer (for instance 70 mm): 80 kg of normal rebar steel or stainless steel
• Balcony (for instance 260 mm): 125 kg of normal rebar steel

* In Finnish: Tendon = jänneteräs, Basic rebar steel = harjateräs

** If you’ll need to estimate this please make sure you’ll have the right amount of concrete taking into account the wholes. Usually, for hollow core concrete slab, it is better to use an EPD that includes reinforcement as they usually do.