Neither a steel column nor a concrete column is cheaper in every case. Steel columns are slimmer, lighter and faster to install, and they suit steel-framed buildings and renovations. Reinforced concrete columns are bulkier but stiff and naturally fire resistant, and they suit buildings whose floors are also concrete. In practice the column type usually follows the floor system it carries: steel beams sit on steel columns, concrete slabs and beams sit on concrete columns, and many buildings mix the two.
This guide compares the two for houses and commercial work, explains what drives the cost of each without pretending one number fits every job, and covers the related question of steel beams vs concrete beams.
Steel vs concrete columns at a glance
| Steel column | Reinforced concrete (RCC) column | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | W-shape, HSS or pipe section with base and cap plates | Concrete cast around vertical bars and ties |
| Design standard | CSA S16 | CSA A23.3 |
| Size for the same load | Much slimmer | Larger cross-section |
| Weight | Light; less load on foundations | Heavy |
| Made | Fabricated in a shop, erected on site | Formed, reinforced and poured on site (or precast) |
| Speed | Installed in hours once foundations are ready | Forming, placing, pouring and curing per lift |
| Fire resistance | Needs protection where a rating is required | Inherent, set by size and cover |
| Winter work | Largely unaffected | Needs cold-weather protection for the concrete |
| Changes later | Easy to reinforce, extend or connect to | Hard to modify once cast |
Both are recognized by the 2024 Ontario Building Code: Article 4.3.4.1 sends structural steel to CSA S16 and Article 4.3.3.1 sends reinforced concrete to CSA A23.3.
How each column carries load
A steel column is a single section, most often a W-shape or a square or round HSS. Load comes down through a cap plate or beam connection, travels through the steel, and spreads into the footing or pier through a base plate bolted to anchor rods. Our guide to types of steel columns and column sections covers when each shape is used.
A reinforced concrete column shares the load between the concrete and the vertical reinforcing bars. Ties or spirals hold the vertical bars in position and confine the concrete so the column fails gradually rather than suddenly. The bar sizes, tie spacing and cover all come from the design. See rebar in concrete columns for how those cages are laid out.
The practical result: because steel is so much stronger than concrete per unit of area, a steel column carrying the same load takes up far less floor space. That matters in parking areas, retail spaces, basements and anywhere a column sits in the middle of a room.
What drives the cost of each
Asking which column costs less on its own usually gives the wrong answer, because columns are priced as part of a system. Here is what moves the price of each.
Steel column cost drivers
- Tonnage. Height, load and section size set the weight of steel.
- Plates and connections. Base plates, cap plates, beam connections, splices and stiffeners are where most of the fabrication hours go.
- Shop drawings and fabrication. Every column is detailed, cut, drilled, welded and marked.
- Fire protection. Where the building needs a fire-resistance rating, steel needs a protective system.
- Finish. Primer, paint or galvanizing to suit the exposure.
- Delivery and erection. Crane access, lift weights and site conditions.
Concrete column cost drivers
- Formwork. Often the largest single item: building, bracing, stripping and reusing forms.
- Reinforcing steel. Detailing, cut and bend fabrication, and placing the vertical bars and ties.
- Concrete and placement. Supply, pumping and finishing.
- Schedule. Curing time before loading, and the number of pours.
- Cold weather. Heating and enclosure in an Ontario winter.
The same logic applies to steel beam vs concrete beam cost. A concrete beam is usually cast with the slab and costs little extra on its own when the whole floor is concrete. A steel beam is the natural choice when the floor is steel deck, wood or precast, when the span is long, or when it has to go into an existing building.
Columns in houses and small buildings
In Ontario houses, basement and garage columns are almost always steel. The Ontario Building Code allows steel, wood, unit masonry and solid concrete columns in Part 9 buildings, but steel posts win on space and speed:
- Steel pipe columns in Part 9 must be at least 73 mm in outside diameter with at least 4.76 mm wall thickness, unless their capacity is shown to be adequate in another size (Article 9.17.3.1).
- Solid concrete columns must be at least 200 mm by 200 mm if rectangular, or 230 mm in diameter if round (Article 9.17.6.2), and need forms, rebar where designed, and curing.
A steel post can go in during a renovation in a day, with the beam already on temporary shoring. A cast concrete column in a finished basement is rarely practical. For the code rules on basement posts, see basement column rules in the Ontario Building Code, and for the common post types, lally column vs wood post.
Where concrete does appear in houses is under the steel: footings and piers carry the steel post's base plate, and foundation walls carry the beam ends.
Commercial and multi-storey buildings
On larger buildings the choice is mostly made at the framing-system level:
- Steel-framed buildings such as warehouses, retail, offices and industrial plants use steel columns because the beams, joists and bracing are steel.
- Concrete-framed buildings, including most residential towers in the GTA, use concrete columns because the floors are flat concrete slabs cast with them.
- Mixed buildings are common: concrete foundations, a concrete podium or core, and steel framing above or alongside. Steel beams often bear on concrete walls and columns through bearing plates and embed plates.
There are also composite columns, where a steel section is filled with or encased in concrete to combine steel's slimness with concrete's stiffness and fire resistance. See steel columns and beams encased in concrete.
For the bigger decision between a steel frame and a concrete frame, including weight, spans, schedule and fire, read our comparison of structural steel vs reinforced concrete.
How to choose
Lean towards steel columns when:
- The floors or roof are framed in steel, wood or precast.
- Floor space matters and the column has to be slim.
- The work is a renovation or addition inside an existing building.
- Schedule is tight or the work runs through winter.
- The layout may change later.
Lean towards concrete columns when:
- The floors are cast-in-place concrete.
- Inherent fire resistance would avoid a separate protection system.
- Mass and stiffness help with vibration or sound.
- The concrete crews and formwork are already on site for the rest of the structure.
Either way, the column is designed by the project's engineer or designer for the actual loads, and the final choice should come from pricing the real design, not a rule of thumb.
Steel columns and column rebar from one shop
We fabricate steel columns, posts and HSS columns with base and cap plates welded on, and we also detail, cut and bend the rebar for concrete columns, from 10M to 55M. Engineering services are available for projects that need them, and we offer supply and installation of structural steel and rebar across the GTA and Ontario.
Send your drawings for a free take-off and quote, or see the steel products we supply.
Frequently asked questions
Is a steel column cheaper than a concrete column?
Not as a rule. A single steel column is quick to install and needs no formwork, while a concrete column needs forms, rebar, concrete and curing time. But the real cost depends on the framing system around the column, the number of repeats, fire protection, crane access, schedule and local trade availability, so both should be priced on the actual design.
Which is stronger, a steel column or a concrete column?
Steel is far stronger per kilogram, so a steel column carrying the same load is much slimmer. A reinforced concrete column is bulkier but stiff, heavy and naturally fire resistant. Both are designed to carry the required load, so the better question is which suits the building.
What is the difference between a steel column and an RCC column?
An RCC (reinforced cement concrete) column is concrete cast around a cage of vertical bars and ties, designed in Canada to CSA A23.3. A steel column is a rolled or fabricated steel section, usually a W-shape or HSS, designed to CSA S16 and set on a base plate.
Can I use a concrete column instead of a steel post in my basement?
The Ontario Building Code allows solid concrete columns in houses, with a minimum size of 200 mm by 200 mm for rectangular columns and 230 mm diameter for round ones. In practice, steel posts are far more common in basements because they are slim and quick to install. Your designer chooses the column based on the load and layout.
