Concrete Reinforcing Mesh Calculator
Enter the dimensions of the slab and the size mesh used to calculate the amount of concrete reinforcement needed.
Calculate using Slab Length & Width
Calculate using Slab Area
How to Estimate Concrete Reinforcement Mesh
Mesh is a popular material used to reinforce concrete slabs and pours as a replacement for rebar or in addition to rebar. The amount of mesh reinforcement needed for a project can be calculated in a few easy steps.
Step One: Calculate the Slab Area
The first step to estimate reinforcement is to find the size of the concrete slab that will be poured. If you already know this figure, then you can skip ahead to the second step.
The area of the pour can be found by multiplying the length in feet by the width in feet. The result is the square footage of the slab.
Here’s the formula to find area:
area = length × width
For shapes other than a rectangle, you’ll need the appropriate formula to calculate the area, or you can use a square footage calculator.
Step Two: Calculate Mesh Coverage
The second step is to find the coverage of the mesh roll or sheets that will be used for the project. Sometimes the coverage in square feet is provided by the manufacturer, but if not, it can be found using the area formula above.
Step Three: Divide Slab Area by Reinforcement Area
The final step in estimating the number of rolls or sheets of mesh reinforcement is to divide the square footage of the slab by the square footage of the reinforcing mesh. This is the formula:
mesh needed = slab area ÷ mesh area
For example, let’s find the number of 5′ x 50′ rolls of mesh required to reinforce a slab that is 25′ by 25′.
First, find the area of the slab.
area = 25′ × 25′
area = 625 sq ft
Next, find the coverage of the roll.
coverage = 5′ × 50′
coverage = 250 sq ft
Finally, divide the slab area by the coverage.
rolls needed = 625 sq ft ÷ 250 sq ft
rolls needed = 2.5
Thus 2½ 5′ x 50′ rolls will be needed to reinforce a 25′ x 25′ slab.
How to Account for Lapping
One thing to consider when calculating reinforcing mesh material is to account for overlap. Lapping is required to improve the strength around the edge of the mesh and resist cracking.
To account for lapping, calculate the overlap as a percentage of additional material needed. The formula to find the overlap percentage is:
lapping percentage = overlap ÷ reinforcement width
For instance, let’s find the lapping percentage for a 6″ lap when using a 5′ wide roll of mesh. Note that 5′ is equal to 60″, which is the figure used in the formula below.
lapping percentage = 6″ ÷ 60″
lapping percentage = .10
Thus, a 6″ lap will require 10% additional material because .10 is equal to 10%.
Don’t forget to try our concrete calculator for your next pour.