Galvanized rebar is priced by weight, and its cost is the base steel bar plus fabrication, hot-dip galvanizing, extra freight and handling, and delivery. The biggest swing factors are the galvanizing route (batch or continuous), whether bars are bent before coating, the coating class, the quantity and the zinc market. In Canada it is normally made to order through a rebar fabricator rather than bought off a shelf.
We don't publish galvanized rebar prices, because both steel and zinc move and every bar list is different. Here is what goes into the price, how buying it works, and what to send for an accurate quote.
What makes up a galvanized rebar price
A galvanized rebar quote is built from several stages, often done by more than one company:
| Stage | What happens | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|
| Base bar | Carbon steel bar, usually CSA G30.18 Grade 400W | Steel market, size mix, grade |
| Fabrication | Cut and bent to the bar list | Number of pieces, shape complexity, bend diameters |
| Freight to galvanizer | Bars shipped from fabricator to galvanizing plant | Distance, packing of bent shapes |
| Galvanizing | Cleaned, dipped in molten zinc, chromate treated | Weight, coating class, zinc price, handling |
| Return and delivery | Galvanized bundles shipped to site | Distance, number of drops, careful handling |
| Accessories and repair | Compatible chairs, tie wire, zinc-rich touch-up | Quantity, specification |
The base bar is priced like any rebar; see rebar price in Canada. The rest is what separates galvanized bar from black bar.
Batch vs continuous galvanizing
Two ASTM standards cover galvanized rebar, and they work differently.
ASTM A767 (batch hot-dip galvanizing). This is the traditional route. Bars are cut and bent first, to minimum bend diameters set by the standard, then dipped in molten zinc at a galvanizing plant and given a chromate treatment. The chromate step helps prevent wet storage stain in bundles and avoids a reaction between fresh zinc and wet concrete. Because the shapes are made before galvanizing, the bar list has to be final before the steel goes to the galvanizer.
ASTM A1094 (continuous galvanizing). Straight bar runs through a continuous coating line, producing a thinner, more uniform coating that is designed to be bent after galvanizing. That allows coat-first, fabricate-later workflows, closer to how epoxy-coated bar to A775 is handled.
The specification normally names the standard. If it names A767, expect the fabricate-then-galvanize sequence and the logistics that come with it.
What drives the galvanizing cost
Weight and coating class. Galvanizers commonly charge by weight. ASTM A767 has two coating classes: Class I with the heavier minimum coating mass and Class II with a lighter one. A heavier coating uses more zinc and can affect the price.
Zinc market. Zinc is a traded commodity, and its price feeds into what galvanizers charge.
Shape and handling. Straight bar is easy to rack and dip. Bent shapes, stirrups and short pieces take more handling per kilogram, and large or awkward shapes take up kettle space.
Kettle size. Every batch galvanizing plant has a maximum kettle length and depth. Long bars or large bent shapes may need to fit the kettle, which can affect how the bar list is detailed.
Minimum charges and set-up. Small orders often carry minimum charges, which matters on a small residential or architectural job.
Freight. Bars travel from the fabricator to the galvanizer and then to site. The closer the galvanizer and the better the packing, the lower this part of the cost.
Design and site costs to include
Galvanized bar changes more than the material line on the quote:
- Bend diameters. A767 sets minimum bend diameters for bars bent before galvanizing, which can be larger than for black bar. The detailing has to reflect them.
- Cut ends and damage. Cutting galvanized bar on site exposes bare steel. The specification usually calls for touch-up with a zinc-rich repair material.
- Compatible accessories. Chairs and tie wire should be compatible with the zinc coating, typically galvanized, coated or non-metallic, and the designer may limit direct contact between galvanized and black bar in the same element.
- Handling. Zinc is tougher than an epoxy film, but bundles still need to be lifted and stored so the coating is not gouged.
When you compare galvanized against another option, include these items on both sides.
Galvanized vs other options
Galvanized bar is one of several ways to deal with corrosion. The specification or owner usually decides which ones are acceptable:
- Epoxy-coated bar relies on an intact film and needs longer laps; see epoxy-coated rebar cost vs black bar.
- Stainless steel bar is the most corrosion-resistant steel option and a premium material.
- GFRP bar cannot corrode and is designed to its own standards.
- Black bar with more cover and better concrete is enough for many buildings.
Our types of rebar in Canada overview compares all of them, and galvanized vs epoxy-coated rebar goes deeper on the two coatings.
Where to buy galvanized rebar in Canada
Galvanized rebar is rarely stocked as a shelf item, especially batch-galvanized bar that has to be bent first. The usual routes are:
- A rebar fabricator that details and fabricates the bar and arranges galvanizing with a hot-dip galvanizer, then delivers the finished bundles. This is the most common route for projects with a bar list.
- A steel distributor that can source continuously galvanized straight bar, which you or a fabricator then cut and bend.
- A galvanizer directly, if you already have fabricated bar and only need the coating. You then manage freight both ways yourself.
Whichever route you take, plan for lead time: fabrication and galvanizing are separate steps, sometimes at separate locations, and galvanizers schedule their kettles.
How to get an accurate quote
Send the supplier:
- Drawings and the specification, including the galvanizing standard (A767 or A1094) and coating class.
- A bar list, or drawings complete enough for a take-off.
- Accessory requirements, such as chair type and tie wire.
- Quantity and phasing, including whether all bar is needed at once.
- Delivery details and your required date.
Ask whether the quote includes freight to and from the galvanizer, repair material and accessories, and how long the price is held, since both steel and zinc move. For the steel side of that, see rebar price trends.
Get pricing for your job
We detail, cut, bend and deliver rebar across the GTA and Ontario. We supply black steel and GFRP bar rather than galvanized bar, and can price either for your job if your designer allows it.
Send your drawings and specification for a free take-off and quote, or see our rebar products.
Frequently asked questions
How is galvanized rebar priced?
Usually by weight. The price combines the base steel bar, any cutting and bending, the galvanizing (which galvanizers commonly charge by weight), freight between shops and delivery to site.
Where can I buy galvanized rebar in Canada?
Mostly through rebar fabricators and distributors who arrange the galvanizing, rather than off the shelf. Because batch-galvanized bar is usually bent before it is coated, it is normally made to order from your bar list.
Is galvanized rebar more expensive than epoxy-coated rebar?
It depends on the job, the coating route and the quantity. Compare complete quotes on the same bar list, including laps, accessories and repairs, rather than a rate per tonne.
Can galvanized rebar be bent on site?
Batch-galvanized bar to ASTM A767 is meant to be bent before galvanizing, to minimum bend diameters in the standard. Continuously galvanized bar to ASTM A1094 is made to be bent after coating. Check the specification before planning any field bends.
