A 20-foot piece of #5 rebar typically costs $10-$22 at a U.S. retail yard, with a common price near $15 for standard uncoated steel. The 5/8-inch bar’s price changes with quantity, steel grade, coating, location, and delivery charges.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard #5 rebar, 20 ft | $10 | $15 | $22 | Uncoated steel, single-stick retail estimate |
| Standard #5 rebar by weight | $0.50/lb | $0.72/lb | $1.05/lb | Retail-equivalent range; bulk orders may be lower |
| Epoxy-coated #5 rebar, 20 ft | $18 | $25 | $38 | Price depends on coating and supplier |
| Small delivered order | $75 | $150 | $350 | Includes a possible minimum or delivery charge |
What a 20-foot #5 rebar stick usually costs
#5 rebar measures 5/8 inch in nominal diameter and weighs about 1.043 pounds per linear foot. A 20-foot length therefore weighs roughly 20.9 pounds. At $10-$22 per stick, the implied retail rate is about $0.48-$1.05 per pound, before delivery or sales tax.
For a single standard, uncoated stick, budgeting about $15 is a reasonable starting point. The lower end is more likely at a steel yard or on a multi-stick order; the upper end is more plausible for retail pickup, limited stock, or a higher-priced market. Prices are estimates rather than fixed national rates.
Assumptions: standard straight Grade 60 steel, ordinary commercial availability, no cutting or bending, and local pickup.
How steel, labor, and delivery shape the quote
A material-only price is not always the full invoice. Suppliers may charge for cutting, bending, loading, or bringing a small order to the site. The following ranges describe common quote components; charges depend on supplier policy and order size.
| Quote component | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard steel, per 20-ft stick | $10 | $15 | $22 |
| Cutting or basic handling, per order | $0 | $15 | $60 |
| Local delivery, small order | $50 | $125 | $300 |
| Custom bending, per piece | $3 | $8 | $20 |
| Sales tax, where applicable | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Delivery and fabrication can cost more than the steel when only a few sticks are ordered. Ask whether the quoted amount covers unloading, cutting, tax, and any minimum delivery fee. Labor for placing and tying rebar is usually part of a concrete crew’s broader job estimate, not the per-stick material price.
For separate installation work, a rough labor allowance may be $50-$100 per worker-hour, with total cost determined by layout complexity, access, and crew size.
Why diameter, coating, and quantity change the price
Standard #5 bar is commonly sold in 20-foot lengths, but specifications affect the quote. Epoxy coating for corrosion resistance can raise the stick price substantially. Stainless steel or specialty corrosion-resistant bar costs considerably more and is not represented by the standard steel ranges above.
Confirm the bar size and finish before comparing suppliers; #5 is not interchangeable with #4 or #6. A #4 bar is 1/2 inch in nominal diameter, while #6 is 3/4 inch; both have different weight and structural use. Bar grade, mill certification, and project specifications may also determine which product is acceptable.
Order quantity is another key threshold. Buying one to five sticks often means retail pricing and a delivery minimum. Orders of several hundred pounds or more may qualify for a steel-yard or contractor rate, though cutting, bundling, and freight can offset the discount. A 20-foot piece weighs about 20.9 pounds, so 10 pieces weigh roughly 209 pounds before packaging.
How far can regional steel prices vary?
Local market conditions affect both material and transport. As a planning allowance, urban retail quotes may run about 5%-20% above a lower-cost regional yard, especially when inventory is limited. Remote rural deliveries may add 10%-30% to the delivered total because of distance, truck access, or minimum-load rules.
Compare delivered totals, not just the listed price per stick. A nearby supplier charging $18 per piece may cost less overall than a $14 listing that requires a $100 delivery fee. Check whether the quote is for 20-foot lengths and whether the supplier will unload at the site.
What cutting, bending, and job-site delivery add
Twenty-foot bars can be awkward to transport. A pickup truck may not safely or legally accommodate the full length without proper support and visible marking, so delivery can be practical even for a small order. Check vehicle requirements and local rules before transporting long material.
Cut-to-length or bent bars add shop time and may create offcut waste. Basic cuts can cost around $1-$5 each when performed by a supplier, while multiple bends or custom shapes may be $3-$20 per piece or quoted by the batch. Site access, crane needs, and delivery distance can push freight above the typical local range.
Provide a cut list and site address when requesting a quote. That lets suppliers price the same scope, including fabrication and unloading, and reduces the chance of comparing a material-only offer with a delivered order.
Three sample quotes for different order sizes
| Order scenario | Materials | Other charges | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 straight stick, local pickup | 1 × $15 | $0-$5 handling | $15-$20 |
| 10 straight sticks, local delivery | 10 × $14 = $140 | $75-$150 delivery | $215-$290 |
| 20 coated sticks with simple cuts | 20 × $27 = $540 | $40-$100 cutting; $100-$200 delivery | $680-$840 |
These are illustrative estimates, not supplier bids. The second order contains about 209 pounds of steel; the third uses an assumed coated-bar price and uncomplicated cuts. Taxes, unloading, and special truck access may increase each total.
When standard steel beats coated or custom rebar
For an ordinary application that specifies uncoated Grade 60 bar, standard steel usually has the lowest material cost. Epoxy-coated bar can be justified when project documents or exposure conditions call for added corrosion protection, but it should not be substituted without approval. Custom bent bars may reduce on-site measuring and cutting, while straight stock may cost less when the layout is simple.
Use the construction plans as the purchasing specification rather than choosing by price alone. Rebar size, spacing, grade, coating, lap length, and placement affect structural performance. Ask the engineer or contractor before changing those details to reduce the material bill.
Ways to lower the 20-foot rebar bill
Request prices from a local steel yard, a building-material supplier, and a concrete contractor’s supplier. Ask for separate line items for sticks, cuts, delivery, and tax. If the project needs multiple bars, pricing the full quantity at once may qualify for a better rate and avoid repeat delivery charges.
Keep the approved bar schedule intact while reducing avoidable handling and freight costs. Coordinate delivery with other heavy materials, choose pickup only if the vehicle can transport the lengths safely, and avoid ordering excess stock without checking the project’s cut plan. Compare equivalent Grade 60, 5/8-inch bars in the same finish and length.