TryBuildCalc

Bent-Up Bar CalculatorCranked bar cutting length estimator

Build a bar bending schedule with cutting length, bend/hook deductions, and total weight.

Global Settings

ℹ️Applied at both ends of every stirrup/ring hook — commonly 9× diameter, confirm against your applicable code.

Cost

Enable Cost Estimation?

Bar Marks

Bar 1

ℹ️Vertical height of the bent-up portion, commonly the slab or beam depth minus top and bottom cover.

Include one Lap Splice?

This schedule needs approximately 18.8 kg (0.019 tonnes) of reinforcement steel across 1 bar mark.

Bar MarkMemberShapeDia (mm)Bars/MemberMembersCutting Length (m)Total Length (m)Unit Wt (kg/m)Total Wt (kg)
C1SlabCranked121012.11721.170.88918.82

Summary by Diameter

12mm — 10 bars, 21.2 m total: 18.8 kg

Grand Total

Total Bars: 10

Total Length: 21.2 m (69 ft)

Total Weight: 18.8 kg (0.019 tonnes)

Assumptions Used

Unit weight: d² ÷ 162 (kg/m) | Bend deduction: 1d/2d/3d at 45°/90°/135° | Hook length factor: 9d

Not sure why cutting length is shorter than the outer dimensions? Bar Bending Schedule (BBS) Guide →

Bar Shape Reference

AStraightABL-BendWDhookRect. StirruphookCircular RingAriseCCranked

Diagram simplified for clarity (not to scale). Illustrative only.

See the complete Bar Bending Schedule Calculator guide for the full formula walkthrough, verification checklist, and FAQ.

Cranked (bent-up) bar cutting length estimate

This page pre-fills a cranked bar row: cutting length = Straight A + (Rise ÷ sin(Bend Angle)) + Straight C, minus two bend deductions — used for bars bent up near supports in a slab or beam.

The rise dimension is commonly the slab or beam depth minus top and bottom cover, not a generic assumption — confirm it against your actual member depth.

  • Inclined segment length = Rise ÷ sin(Bend Angle), from basic trigonometry.
  • Two bend deductions apply (one at each end of the inclined segment), sized by the selected bend angle.
  • Common bend angles for cranked bars are 30°, 45°, and 60°.

How Is Cutting Length Calculated?

Every bar mark follows the same overall sequence — calculate the shape's raw geometric length, subtract bend deductions, add any hook allowance, then add one lap length if a splice is included — but the raw-length formula itself differs by shape.

Step 1 — Raw Length by Shape

Straight = Length (A)

L-Bend = Leg A + Leg B

Rect. Stirrup = 2 × (Inside Width + Inside Depth) + 4 × Diameter

Circular Ring = π × Ring Diameter

Cranked = Straight A + (Rise ÷ sin(Bend Angle)) + Straight C

The rectangular stirrup and circular ring shapes are closed loops measured around their perimeter or circumference; the stirrup's inside width and depth are converted to a centerline perimeter by adding 4 × diameter (the bar sits half a diameter outward from the inside face on each of the four sides) before any bend deduction is applied. The cranked shape's inclined segment length is derived from the vertical rise and the bend angle using basic trigonometry.

Step 2 — Bend Deduction

Deduction per bend = 1 × diameter (45°), 2 × diameter (90°), 3 × diameter (135°)

L-Bend / Cranked: 1 bend (or 2 for cranked) deducted once each

Rect. Stirrup: 4 × 90° corner deductions

Steel compresses slightly on the inside of a bend, so the finished bar is shorter than the sum of its straight-line legs — this deduction corrects for that per bend in the bar.

Step 3 — Hook Allowance (Stirrups & Rings Only)

Hook Allowance = 2 × (Hook Length Factor × Diameter)

Applied once at each end of a stirrup or ring's open loop before it's closed — not applicable to straight, L-bend, or cranked shapes.

Step 4 — Lap Length (Optional)

Cutting Length = Raw Length − Bend Deduction + Hook Allowance + (Lap Multiplier × Diameter, if included)

Include a lap length only for a bar mark that splices onto another bar of the same mark to exceed one stock length.

Step 5 — Total Length and Weight

Total Bars = Bars per Member × Number of Members

Total Length = Cutting Length × Total Bars

Unit Weight (kg/m) = Diameter² ÷ 162

Total Weight (kg) = Total Length × Unit Weight

The diameter² ÷ 162 formula is the standard basis for reinforcement steel weight and is the same figure suppliers use for billing.

Worked Example (First Bar Mark)

This example walks through the first bar mark in your schedule above, using the same steps from the formula section — every other bar mark in the schedule follows the identical method.

Bar Mark Used: C1

InputValue
Shapecranked
Diameter12 mm
Bars per Member × Members10 × 1 = 10 bars

Step 1-4 — Cutting Length

CalculationSubstitutionResult
Shape length (after bend/hook deductions)Per shape formula in Step 1-32.117 m
Final cutting lengthShape length − deductions + hooks/laps2.117 m (6.95 ft)

Step 5 — Total Length and Weight

CalculationSubstitutionResult
Total length2.117 × 1021.17 m
Unit weight12² ÷ 1620.889 kg/m
Total weight21.17 × 0.88918.82 kg

Therefore, bar mark C1 needs 10 bars cut to 2.117 m each, totalling 18.82 kg.

Disclaimer: This calculator provides approximate results for planning and estimation purposes only. Actual requirements may vary based on site conditions, materials, workmanship, and local building regulations. Always consult a qualified engineer, architect, or construction professional before making final decisions.

FAQ

The vertical height of the bent-up portion — commonly the slab or beam depth minus the top and bottom concrete cover, since the bar needs to travel from bottom reinforcement level up to top reinforcement level near the support.
The inclined segment is the hypotenuse of a right triangle where the rise is the opposite side and the bend angle is the angle from horizontal — basic trigonometry gives inclined length = rise ÷ sin(angle).