Slab area
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Reinforcement
Wire mesh calculator
How many sheets of welded-wire reinforcement your slab needs, with the overlap allowance built in.
Slab area
FIG. 01required
required
Based on standard 3.5 × 7 ft welded-wire reinforcement sheets with a 6-inch lap on each joined edge. Mesh should sit mid-slab on chairs, not on the ground.
You need
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Sheet layout
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How this is calculated
Divide the slab into sheet-sized tiles, allowing a 6-inch overlap on joined edges, and round each direction up. For standard 3.5 × 7 ft sheets, a 20 × 20 ft slab needs about 12 sheets. This calculator does the layout for you.
sheets = ⌈length ÷ (sheetL − lap)⌉ × ⌈width ÷ (sheetW − lap)⌉ × (1 + waste%)
Pair it with the slab calculator for the concrete, or the rebar calculator for structural reinforcement.
FAQ
How many sheets of wire mesh for a slab?
Divide the slab into sheet-sized tiles, allowing a 6-inch overlap on joined edges, and round each direction up. For standard 3.5 × 7 ft sheets, a 20 × 20 ft slab needs about 12 sheets. This calculator does the layout for you.
Wire mesh or rebar — which should I use?
Welded-wire mesh controls shrinkage cracking in non-structural slabs-on-grade (patios, garage floors). Rebar carries structural load (footings, driveways with vehicle traffic, anything engineered). Many slabs use mesh; load-bearing work uses rebar — follow your plans.