Steel products and rebar: how to order with delivery at a good price
Steel is sold by the tonne, but you need metres
The main difficulty in this category is the units. The supplier counts weight in tonnes or kilograms, while the builder counts length in metres or the number of bars. To avoid mistakes, write both in your request: “12 mm rebar, 300 m”. The weight is easy to get from the length with tables of weight per running metre, so the supplier will convert it for you.
What exactly you are buying
- Rebar — for foundations, slabs and screeds; the diameter and grade matter (for example grade 500).
- Rectangular hollow section — for frames, fences and sheds; the size is written like 40×20×2 mm.
- Angle, channel, I-beam — for load-bearing structures; the flange and thickness matter.
- Sheet, profiled sheet, mesh — for cladding, roofing and reinforcement.
Pay attention to the coating: black steel is cheaper but needs painting, and galvanised lasts longer outdoors, which counts in humid and coastal areas. The length of a bar is usually standard (for example 12 m), and cutting to size can be ordered separately, because it reduces waste.
What to put in your request
- Type of steel product — rebar, pipe, channel, sheet, mesh.
- Size — diameter, cross-section, wall or sheet thickness.
- Quantity — tonnes, metres, pieces or sheets.
- Length — standard bars or cut to size.
- Steel grade — grade 500 and others.
- Coating — black, galvanised, painted.
- New or used — and the acceptable condition.
- Address, delivery and budget — including unloading by crane.
Example: “I need grade 500 rebar of 12 mm, 2 tonnes, in 12 m bars, and 300 m of 40×20×2 mm rectangular pipe. New steel, delivery by truck with a crane to Karachi. Budget up to Rs 660,000.”
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
Steel prices change, and yards differ in stock, distance and terms. So a request with the size, quantity and address lets you avoid phoning yards: suppliers in your region answer in the chat with the price per tonne or metre, availability and delivery cost. Each seller sees where their offer ranks and can improve it. You see the best offer first, with the seller's reviews next to it. Your phone is hidden until you choose a particular supplier. More in how it works.
How to compare offers
Check that the price is in the same unit for everyone: per tonne, per metre or per piece, and whether it includes tax, cutting and delivery. Ask about the actual weight, thickness tolerances and whether there is a quality certificate for the rebar. For delivery, find out what vehicle will come and whether a crane is needed for unloading. A typical mistake is to buy a “slightly different” diameter or length and then have to redo the calculation.
Steel often needs fasteners and hardware, and for concrete work — bricks, concrete and blocks. For joints and posts, also see timber.
