How much rebar do I need for a driveway?
Quick Answer
A standard residential driveway uses #3 or #4 rebar on 18-inch centers. For a 10×20 foot driveway: 8 bars each direction × 20 ft = 160 ft + 13 bars × 10 ft = 130 ft = 290 linear feet total. Many driveways use wire mesh (6×6 W1.4) instead of rebar for sections under 5 inches thick.
Quick Reference Table
| Driveway size | Rebar for concrete driveway (18" OC, #4) |
|---|---|
| 10×20 ft | 290 lin ft |
| 10×30 ft | 420 lin ft |
| 12×20 ft | 340 lin ft |
| 12×30 ft | 490 lin ft |
| 16×40 ft | 820 lin ft |
| 20×40 ft | 1,020 lin ft |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
Decide: rebar or wire mesh? Residential driveways under 4 inches thick typically use 6×6 wire mesh. Driveways 5+ inches thick or heavy vehicle use: #4 rebar.
- 2
Bars per direction at 18" OC: driveway width ÷ 1.5 + 1. For 10 ft: 10 ÷ 1.5 + 1 = 7.7 → 8 bars.
- 3
Each bar runs the opposite dimension. 8 bars × 20 ft = 160 ft. Then 14 bars × 10 ft = 140 ft. Total: 300 lin ft.
- 4
Add 10% for lap splices: 300 × 1.10 = 330 lin ft.
Pro Tip
Wire mesh (6×6-W1.4 welded wire fabric) is cheaper and faster than rebar for residential driveways. At $0.20/sq ft vs $0.60+ for rebar, a 200 sq ft driveway saves $80 in materials. Rebar is worth the cost for driveways that will see trucks or heavy equipment.
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