Work out how many sheets of steel reinforcing mesh (A142, A193, A252, A393) you need for a slab, allowing for overlaps.
Reinforcing mesh (called “welded wire mesh” or “rebar mesh” in the US and “fabric/A-mesh” in the UK) is laid in slabs to control cracking. Enter the length and width of the slab, set the overlap between sheets, and choose the mesh type your design or building control specifies. The tool returns how many sheets you need.
| Type | Wire / spacing |
|---|---|
| A142 | 6 mm @ 200 mm — light slabs |
| A193 | 7 mm @ 200 mm — domestic floors |
| A252 | 8 mm @ 200 mm — driveways, heavier loads |
A 6 m × 5 m slab = 30 m². Each sheet covers 11.52 m², but with a 300 mm (two-square) lap the effective cover is nearer 10 m², so you need 3 sheets. In US terms sheets are often sold in 5 ft × 10 ft panels covering ≈ 50 ft².
Tip: support the mesh on spacers (“chairs”) so it sits in the middle of the slab, not on the ground where it does nothing.
A standard UK mesh sheet is 4.8m long by 2.4m wide, giving a total area of 11.52 square metres before any overlap is allowed.
A minimum lap of around 300mm (roughly two mesh squares) is common, but always follow the structural design as heavier mesh and structural slabs may need more.
A142 or A193 mesh suits most domestic floor and shed slabs, while A252 is often specified for driveways. Your engineer or building control will confirm the right grade.
Yes. The calculator reduces the effective coverage of each sheet by the overlap you enter, then rounds up to whole sheets.
Yes, mesh is regularly cut with bolt croppers or an angle grinder to fit around edges and openings. Order whole sheets and cut on site as needed.
