Buying rebar in bulk almost always involves two different units. Budgets and mill quotations usually talk in tonnes, while foremen, warehouses, and steel fixers work in bars. When the two are not translated correctly, the result is a shortage, surplus stock, or an argument at handover.

This article provides a table of bars per tonne for every common diameter, shows how to convert between tonnes and bars in both directions, and lists the information to prepare before requesting a wholesale quotation for a project or for hardware store stock.

Why the number of bars per tonne varies

Under SNI, rebar weight depends only on diameter, using the formula 0.006165 × d² kg per metre. Because the diameter is squared, weight rises much faster than size. A D16 bar is not twice as heavy as D8, but four times. As a result, one tonne of D8 contains hundreds of bars, while one tonne of D32 contains only a dozen or so.

Plain and deformed bars of the same diameter weigh exactly the same, so the table below applies to both. Their different roles are explained in our SNI rebar size and weight table.

Rebar bars per tonne table

All figures use the standard 12-metre bar length and the nominal SNI weight.

Diameter Weight per metre Weight per bar Bars per tonne Whole bars per tonne
8 mm 0.395 kg 4.73 kg 211.4 211
10 mm 0.617 kg 7.40 kg 135.1 135
12 mm 0.888 kg 10.65 kg 93.9 93
13 mm 1.042 kg 12.50 kg 80.0 80
16 mm 1.578 kg 18.94 kg 52.8 52
19 mm 2.226 kg 26.71 kg 37.4 37
22 mm 2.984 kg 35.81 kg 27.9 27
25 mm 3.853 kg 46.24 kg 21.6 21
29 mm 5.185 kg 62.22 kg 16.1 16
32 mm 6.313 kg 75.76 kg 13.2 13
36 mm 7.990 kg 95.88 kg 10.4 10

The "whole bars" column is rounded down because rebar is delivered by the bar. In practice, the actual delivered tonnage is the number of bars multiplied by their real weight, so the figure on the delivery note may differ slightly from the tonnage ordered.

How to convert in both directions

From tonnes to bars

Number of bars = (tonnage × 1,000) ÷ weight per bar

Example: 1 tonne of D10 = 1,000 ÷ 7.40 = 135.14 bars, or 135 whole bars.

From bars to tonnes

Tonnage = number of bars × weight per bar ÷ 1,000

Example: 500 bars of D16 = 500 × 18.94 = 9,470.00 kg, or about 9.470 tonnes.

Example of a mixed wholesale order

Suppose a project or hardware store plans to buy 30 tonnes with the following mix. Bar counts are rounded up so the minimum tonnage is met.

Diameter Planned (tonnes) Number of bars Nominal weight
D10 5 676 5,002.40 kg
D13 8 640 8,000.00 kg
D16 12 634 12,007.96 kg
D19 5 188 5,021.48 kg
Total 30   30,031.84 kg

After rounding to whole bars, the nominal total becomes 30,031.84 kg, or about 30.03 tonnes. A small difference like this is normal and should be agreed at the start: whether invoicing follows weighed weight, nominal weight per bar, or the tonnage ordered.

What determines the wholesale price

We do not publish prices in articles because steel prices move with raw materials, exchange rates, and market conditions. What we can explain are the components that usually shape a quotation:

  • Pricing basis: per kg or per tonne is fairer for large purchases than per bar, because it is tied directly to weight. See our full explanation of rebar price per kg.
  • Diameter and grade: the combination of diameters and BjTP or BjTS grades requested.
  • Volume and schedule: total tonnage, and whether it is delivered at once or in stages.
  • Location and delivery method: distance from the mill, access for long vehicles on site, and unloading facilities.
  • Documents: whether an SPPT-SNI and a mill certificate per batch are required by the project.

Information to prepare when requesting a quotation

  1. A list of diameters with tonnage or bar counts, like the example table above
  2. Type and grade: plain (BjTP) or deformed (BjTS)
  3. Delivery address and vehicle access conditions
  4. Required schedule, including whether deliveries are split into stages
  5. Quality documents required by the project owner or consultant

Complete information lets the sales team check stock and prepare a quotation straight away, without back-and-forth questions. If you buy through an intermediary, use the criteria in how to choose a rebar distributor.

Checking tonnage when goods arrive

A wholesale purchase is only complete when the goods received match the order. Because a difference of one or two bars per diameter is easy to miss during unloading, run these checks before signing the delivery note:

  1. Count the bundles and bars per bundle for each diameter, multiply them, and match the total with the delivery note.
  2. Multiply the number of bars by the weight per bar from the table above to get the nominal tonnage you should receive.
  3. Weigh several sample bars from different bundles. If their real weight is well below nominal, the tonnage on paper does not reflect the steel that actually arrived.
  4. Match the bundle tags with the quality documents, especially the batch number on the mill certificate.
  5. Record any discrepancy in writing on the delivery note before signing, with photos, so a claim can be processed.

For hardware stores that resell by the bar, these records also form the basis for a fair selling price, because stock is paid for by weight while sales are made per bar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many D16 bars are in 1 tonne?

With a nominal weight of 18.94 kg per 12 m bar, one tonne of D16 equals 52.80 bars, or 52 whole bars.

Is the number of bars per tonne the same for plain and deformed rebar?

Yes, for the same diameter, because SNI weight depends only on diameter.

Why does the tonnage on the delivery note differ from the order?

Rebar is delivered in whole bars, and the real weight of each bar can differ slightly from nominal within the standard's tolerance. Agree on the invoicing basis at the start to avoid disputes.

Is it better to buy per bar or per tonne?

For large purchases, weight-based pricing is easier to compare between suppliers because it is not distorted by undersized bars. Still weigh samples when goods arrive.

What is the minimum wholesale order direct from the mill?

Purchase terms depend on diameter, location, and schedule. Contact our sales team to confirm the terms that apply to your requirement.

Request a wholesale quotation

PT Inter World Steel Mills Indonesia in Tangerang produces plain (BjTP) and deformed (BjTS) rebar certified to SNI 2052:2024 and serves contractors, distributors, and hardware stores with more than 50 years of experience. Available diameters and grades are listed on the product specification page.

Send your list of diameters and tonnage through the Order Now page for a wholesale quotation and stock confirmation.