Grade 40 vs Grade 60 Steel: Which One Should You Use?

Grade 40 vs Grade 60 steel is one of the most common questions we hear from home builders and contractors in Pakistan. Both are deformed reinforcement bars (saria) made to the same standard. The difference is strength: Grade 60 bars carry about 50% more load before they start to yield. This guide explains what that means for your house or building, where each grade is used, and how the prices compare today.

Short answer: use the grade your structural engineer has specified. In practice, most multi-storey buildings and most modern house designs in Pakistan specify Grade 60. Grade 40 is still used for small, lightly loaded work where the drawings allow it.

What Is Grade 40 Steel?

Grade 40 is a deformed steel bar with a minimum yield strength of 40,000 psi (280 MPa), as defined in ASTM A615. It bends easily and stretches more before it breaks, so it is simple to cut and shape on site. Because it is less strong, a design in Grade 40 usually needs more steel than the same design in Grade 60.

What Is Grade 60 Steel?

Grade 60 is a deformed steel bar with a minimum yield strength of 60,000 psi (420 MPa). It is the standard choice for columns, beams and slabs in multi-storey buildings, commercial projects, bridges and other heavy structures. It still has enough ductility for normal bending, but it carries far more load per bar.

Grade 40 vs Grade 60 Steel: Side-by-Side Comparison

The table below uses the minimum values in ASTM A615. Real bars from a good mill usually test above these minimums, so always ask for the mill test certificate.

Property	Grade 40	Grade 60
Minimum yield strength	40,000 psi (280 MPa)	60,000 psi (420 MPa)
Minimum tensile strength	60,000 psi (420 MPa)	90,000 psi (620 MPa)
Ductility (stretch before breaking)	Higher	Lower, but enough for normal bending
Steel needed for the same load	More	Less
Typical use in Pakistan	Small single-storey work, boundary walls, light slabs	Houses of all sizes, plazas, multi-storey buildings, bridges
Kamran Steel price today	Rs 275,000 per ton	Rs 277,000 per ton

Prices are ex-factory and the same in every city; transport is extra. They change with the market, so check today’s Grade 40 and Grade 60 steel rate in Pakistan before you order.

Which Grade Should You Use for Your Project?

The grade is part of the structural design, not a shopping choice. Your engineer calculates the bar sizes and spacing for one specific grade. For that reason, keep these rules in mind:

Follow the drawings. If the drawings say Grade 60, do not buy Grade 40 to save money. The building would be weaker than designed.
Do not reduce bars on your own. Grade 60 can reduce the amount of steel, but only when the engineer designs for it. Swapping grades without a new design is unsafe.
Multi-storey buildings: Grade 60 is the normal specification for columns, beams and slabs.
Earthquake zones: much of Pakistan is seismically active. Designs must follow the Building Code of Pakistan (Seismic Provisions), and engineers almost always specify Grade 60 for the main frame.
Small, light work: Grade 40 can be used for boundary walls, lintels and small single-storey work where the design allows it.

Is Grade 60 Steel More Expensive?

Only slightly. At today’s Kamran Steel rates, Grade 60 costs Rs 2,000 more per ton than Grade 40, which is less than 1%. For a house that needs 3 tons of steel, the difference is about Rs 6,000.

In return, Grade 60 is about 50% stronger, so a design made for Grade 60 usually needs fewer or thinner bars. As a result, the total steel bill and the labour for cutting and tying are often lower with Grade 60. To estimate your own quantity and cost, use the steel rate calculator, or see how much steel a 5, 7 or 10 marla house needs.

How to Tell Grade 40 and Grade 60 Bars Apart

Both grades look almost the same, so check them before they go into your structure:

Look at the rolled-in markings. Under ASTM A615, Grade 60 bars carry a grade mark (the number 60, the number 4 on metric-marked bars, or one continuous longitudinal line). Grade 40 bars have no grade mark.
Ask for the mill test certificate. It shows the tested yield strength, tensile strength and elongation for the batch.
Check the weight. A genuine bar’s weight in kg per metre is close to d²/162, where d is the diameter in mm. Underweight bars are a warning sign. See how to calculate the weight of steel bars.
Buy from a known manufacturer or its authorised dealer, and keep the invoice with the grade written on it.

Grade 40 and Grade 60 Bars from Kamran Steel

Kamran Steel has made deformed reinforcement bars in Lahore since 1984. We supply Grade 40 and Grade 60 bars to ASTM A615 in sizes from 10 mm to 36 mm, in standard 12-metre lengths, rolled from our own billets. Our sales team can help you match the bars to your drawings and arrange delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Grade 40 instead of Grade 60?

Only if your structural engineer redesigns the structure for Grade 40. Using Grade 40 bars in a Grade 60 design makes the building weaker than intended.

Is Grade 60 steel good for houses?

Yes. Most modern house designs in Pakistan specify Grade 60 for columns, beams and slabs, and the price difference from Grade 40 is small.

What does “Grade 60” mean?

It means the bar’s minimum yield strength is 60,000 psi (420 MPa). Grade 40 means 40,000 psi (280 MPa).

What is the price difference between Grade 40 and Grade 60?

At today’s Kamran Steel rates it is Rs 2,000 per ton (Rs 275,000 vs Rs 277,000). See the latest steel rate for current prices.

Need Help Choosing the Right Grade?

Send us your drawings or bar schedule, and our team will confirm the grade, sizes and quantity. Contact Kamran Steel for prices, delivery and dealers near you.