Steel reinforcement, or "sariya", is the material that holds a concrete house together. It is also one of the most expensive single items in a grey structure, and one of the easiest to get wrong: wrong grade, short weight or substandard bars. This guide covers what steel products you need, how they are sold in Lahore, how to check what arrives on site and what moves the price.
Current rate guide
| Item | Approx. rate | Unit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 60 deformed bars | Rs277,000 | per metric ton, mill-gate approx. | 18 Oct 2026 |
| Grade 40 bars | Rs275,000 | per metric ton, mill-gate approx. | 18 Oct 2026 |
Source: Houseplot construction rate data (Oct 2026). Mill-gate means before dealer margin, freight and unloading. Delivered prices in Lahore will be different; always ask for a written quote with delivery included.
Products in this category
| Product | What it is | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 60 deformed bars | High-strength ribbed bars, minimum yield 60,000 psi (420 MPa) under ASTM A615 | Main bars in columns, beams, slabs and foundations, wherever the engineer specifies grade 60 |
| Grade 40 bars | Lower-strength bars, minimum yield 40,000 psi (280 MPa) under ASTM A615 | Where drawings specify grade 40, often stirrups or light work |
| Binding wire | Soft annealed wire used to tie bars together | Every steel job |
| Steel girders and sections | I-sections, channels, angles, T-sections and hollow sections | Steel roofs, sheds, mezzanines, staircases, lintels, frames |
Standards and quality: what to check
- Pakistani standard. The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) standard for steel reinforcement bars is PS-1879-2018. Industry representatives have said it requires bars to be made through full melting, refining and rolling, and that re-rollable scrap and ship plates must not be directly re-rolled into bars.
- Substandard steel is a real problem. In 2022 the Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers said around 40–50% of the market was flooded with substandard bars because standards were not enforced (Business Recorder; ProPakistani).
- Grade. ASTM A615 sets minimum yield strength of 40,000 psi for grade 40 and 60,000 psi for grade 60. Buy the grade your structural drawings specify.
- Mill test certificate. Ask the supplier for the mill's test certificate for the heat or batch delivered.
- Bar markings. Check the rolled-in marks on the bars and the tag on each bundle against the invoice.
- Weight check. Weigh the delivery and spot-check bars by length and weight (see below).
- Lab test. For larger jobs, send sample bars to a materials testing lab for tensile and bend tests.
Checking weight: the D²/162 rule
Weight of a steel bar in kg per metre = D² ÷ 162, where D is the diameter in mm. This comes from steel's density of 7,850 kg/m³ (Engineeringhulk).
| Bar diameter | Weight per metre |
|---|---|
| 10 mm | 0.617 kg |
| 12 mm | 0.889 kg |
| 16 mm | 1.580 kg |
| 20 mm | 2.469 kg |
| 25 mm | 3.858 kg |
Measure a few bars, weigh them and compare. Bars noticeably lighter than these figures are under-size.
In Lahore, sizes are often named in "soot" (eighths of an inch): 3 soot is 3/8 inch (about 10 mm), 4 soot is 1/2 inch (about 12 mm), 5 soot is 5/8 inch (about 16 mm), 6 soot is 3/4 inch (about 19 mm). Confirm whether your drawings and your supplier are using mm or soot.
How much steel you need
Do not use a general "kg per sq ft" figure. Your structural engineer's bar bending schedule (BBS) lists the size, length and number of every bar. Total it by diameter, add a small allowance for cutting waste agreed with your engineer, and order against that list.
How pricing works
Steel is priced per ton or per kg, and rates change often. What moves the price:
- Mill price for the day, which follows scrap and billet costs, energy and exchange rate.
- Grade. Grade 60 is usually slightly above grade 40.
- Diameter. Thin bars can carry a different rate from thick bars.
- Quantity. Truck-load orders get better rates than small lots.
- Delivery and unloading to your site, upper floors or narrow streets.
- Cutting and bending if the supplier does it to your BBS.
- Payment terms. Advance payment vs on delivery.
- Taxes. Ask whether the quote includes sales tax and get a proper invoice.
Process from request to delivery
- Get your BBS or a quantity list by diameter and grade from your engineer.
- Post your request with grade, sizes, quantity in tons, site location and delivery date.
- Compare written quotes on the same basis: per ton, delivered, with taxes stated.
- Confirm mill test certificate will come with the delivery.
- Pay in stages: a booking amount, balance on delivery and check.
- Check on arrival: weighbridge slip, bundle tags, markings, sizes and spot weights.
- Store properly: off the ground on timber or blocks, covered, sorted by size.
- Keep records: invoice, weighbridge slip and certificates with your project file.
Bulk-buying tips
- Ask for a weighbridge slip for the loaded truck, and weigh again if you doubt it.
- Count bars per bundle for one or two bundles and check length.
- Stage deliveries to match the construction schedule to reduce rust and theft.
- Keep steel off wet ground; light surface rust is common, but flaking rust is not acceptable.
- Pay by bank transfer or cheque and get a proper invoice.
Red flags
- Rates far below the day's market for "same grade".
- No markings on bars, or markings that do not match the invoice.
- No mill test certificate.
- Bars that bend too easily by hand or crack when bent.
- Refusal to allow weighing.
- Mixed bundles of different sizes or grades.
FAQs
What is the sariya rate in Lahore today? In mid-October 2026, approximate mill-gate rates were Rs277,000 per ton for grade 60 and Rs275,000 per ton for grade 40 (Houseplot construction rate data, 18 Oct 2026). Delivered prices differ; ask suppliers for written quotes.
Grade 40 or grade 60 for a house? Buy what your structural drawings say. The engineer designs with a specific grade, and swapping grades changes the design.
How do I know steel is not substandard? Ask for the mill test certificate, check markings, weigh sample bars against the D²/162 rule and, for larger jobs, get lab tests.
Is steel sold by piece or by weight? Bulk steel is priced by weight (per ton or kg). Some dealers quote per bar for small orders; convert it to per kg to compare.
Can the supplier cut and bend bars? Some suppliers offer cutting and bending to your BBS for an extra charge, which can reduce waste on site.
What is a mill-gate price? The price at the steel mill before dealer margin, freight and unloading. Your delivered price will be higher.
Sources
- Houseplot construction rate data (Oct 2026)
- ASTM A615/A615M-25, standard scope: https://store.astm.org/a0615_a0615m-25.html
- Business Recorder, PALSP on substandard steel and PS-1879-2018: https://www.brecorder.com/news/amp/40208830
- ProPakistani, Steel manufacturers urge govt to curb production of substandard steel (Nov 2022): https://propakistani.pk/2022/11/14/steel-manufacturers-urge-govt-to-curb-production-of-substandard-steel/
- Engineeringhulk, Steel bar weight calculator (D²/162): https://engineeringhulk.com/steel-bar-weight-calculator/