# Lintel Rebar Calculator

Span picks the main bars; stirrups follow spacing. Steel weight in one go.

- Page: https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/lintel-rebar
- Category: Masonry (https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/c/masonry)
- Chinese version: https://jianzhujisuan.com/zh/lintel-rebar.md
- Data checked: 2026-10-25

## Quick result

With the default inputs (Clear span 1.5 m, Wall thickness (beam width) 0.24 m, Lintel depth 0.2 m, Number of lintels 1 pcs, Bearing each end 0.25 m): **Total steel 9.9 kg**

## Inputs

| Parameter | Type | Default | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clear span | number | 1.5 | m |  |
| Wall thickness (beam width) | number | 0.24 | m |  |
| Lintel depth | number | 0.2 | m |  |
| Number of lintels | number | 1 | pcs |  |
| Bearing each end | number | 0.25 | m |  |

## Formula

- **Total length**: Ltot = span + 2 × bearing
- **Main bar length**: l = Ltot − 2×25 + 2×12d
- **Main bar weight**: Wm = count × l × d² × 0.00617
- **Stirrup count**: n = ⌈(Ltot − 50)/200⌉ + 1
- **Stirrup perimeter**: c = 2×[(b−50)+(h−50)] + 100
- **Total steel**: W = (Wm + Ws) × number of lintels

## Worked example

1.5 m clear span, 240 mm wall, 200 mm deep, 250 mm bearing each end: 2x12 mm bars top and bottom (4 bars total), 2.00 m total length, ~7.95 kg of main bars, 11 stirrups at ~1.91 kg, ~9.9 kg steel per lintel and ~0.096 m³ concrete.

## Questions

### Can I just look up the rebar by span?

For a self-weight masonry lintel a span-based lookup is a reasonable order-of-magnitude rule on site. But you must calculate whenever there is a concentrated load above (a beam, column or plant), a second opening right next to it with a short pier between, lightweight block such as AAC or hollow block, or a span over 2.4 m. In those cases a span table will be unsafe - cast the lintel in reinforced concrete and design the bars for the actual load.

### How much bearing should a lintel have?

250 mm each end for brickwork, and never less than 240 mm. Block walls usually take 250-300 mm; AAC walls need 300 mm or more because of their low strength, or are better cast in place. Seismic regions have minimum bearing requirements as well. Too little bearing crushes the wall under the lintel end, which shows up as a diagonal crack at the top corner of the opening.

## Related tools

- [Brick Wall Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/brick-count): Pick a wall thickness, enter length and height, deduct openings, and get brick count plus mortar volume.
- [Mortar Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/mortar): Choose brickwork or plastering, enter area and thickness, and get mortar volume plus cement and sand quantities.
- [AAC Block Quantity Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/aac-block): Block count, volume and adhesive from wall size and block format.
- [Hollow Brick Quantity Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/hollow-brick): Brick count, mortar volume and bricks per m³ from wall thickness and format.
- [Masonry Mortar Mix Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/masonry-mortar-mix): Cement, sand and water for M5-M15 mortar by volume, with a batch sheet.
- [Masonry Tie Bar Calculator](https://jianzhujisuan.com/en/tie-bar): Tie bar count, weight, holes and resin from wall and spacing.

---

Generated by BuildCalc. All calculations run in your browser; no data is uploaded. Formulas follow national standards and common trade practice; local codes govern.