How Much Steel per Sq Ft for a House in India?
Indian residential work averages 4 to 5 kg of TMT steel per sq ft of built-up area. A 1000 sq ft G+1 house needs roughly 4 tonnes. Per-element rates run 50-80 kg per cubic meter for footings, 110-130 for columns, 100-120 for beams and 80-110 for slabs. This guide turns those rules into an order.
Step-by-Step Takeoff
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1
Estimate built-up area, e.g. 1000 sq ft for a G+1 home.
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2
Apply 4 kg/sq ft for light load = 4000 kg total.
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3
Split check: slab 90 kg/m3, beams 110, columns 120, footings 60.
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4
Add 5% lapping and wastage on the total.
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5
Convert tonnage to bar counts: divide by unit weights (12mm ≈ 0.89 kg/m, 10mm ≈ 0.62).
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6
Stagger laps and never splice at maximum-moment zones (mid-beam bottom, column ends).
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7
Verify bar diameters and spacing in the Rebar Calculator.
Guide FAQ
How much steel for 1000 sq ft?
About 4 tonnes for G+1 residential; 4.5 tonnes for G+2.
Which bar sizes?
Columns 12-16 mm, beams 12-20 mm, slabs 8-10 mm Fe550/Fe500 TMT.
Fe500 or Fe550?
Fe550 is stronger per kg and needs slightly less steel; Fe500 bends easier on site.
How to check steel bill on delivery?
Weigh a 1 m sample: 12mm should be ~0.89 kg; short weight means under-rolled bars.
What is lapping length?
50 times bar diameter minimum for tension laps — 600 mm for 12 mm bars.
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