Trench Mesh Calculator
Work out how many standard 6 m trench mesh sticks you need to reinforce your footings.
Trench Mesh Calculator
Work out how many 6 m trench mesh sticks you need for footings.
Calculating Trench Mesh Quantity
Trench mesh is a narrow, welded reinforcement product designed to sit inside strip footings and trenches, available in configurations such as L8TM (2 bar), L11TM (3 bar) and L12TM (4 bar) depending on how much reinforcement your footing needs. It comes in standard 6 m lengths, or "sticks", which need to overlap at each join — a standard 300 mm lap is common practice.
Accounting for that lap, each stick effectively covers around 5.7 m of trench once joined to the next, so total sticks required is ceiling(total trench length ÷ 5.7 m).
What Information You Need To Enter
Enter your total trench length in metres and select your trench mesh type (L8TM, L11TM or L12TM).
Understanding Your Results
You will see the number of 6 m trench mesh sticks required for your selected type. Final quantities should always be confirmed against your engineering drawings, since footing reinforcement requirements vary by load and soil classification.
Why Accurate Estimating Matters
Trench mesh is ordered in whole 6 m sticks, so a realistic estimate helps you order the right quantity without excess offcuts or a shortfall that delays your footing pour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between L8TM, L11TM and L12TM?
These designate the number of longitudinal bars in the trench mesh -- L8TM has 2 bars, L11TM has 3, and L12TM has 4. More bars generally provide greater reinforcement for larger or more heavily loaded footings.
Why do trench mesh sticks need a lap at each join?
Overlapping adjoining sticks ensures the reinforcement acts as a continuous element along the length of the footing rather than having a structural gap at each join, which is standard reinforcement practice.
What length does trench mesh come in?
Trench mesh is most commonly supplied in 6 metre sticks, which this calculator uses as the standard unit for its quantity estimate.
Which trench mesh type do I need?
This is specified by your structural engineer based on your footing design and the loads it carries. Larger or more heavily loaded footings generally require a trench mesh type with more bars.
Is trench mesh used with a strip footing or a pad footing?
Trench mesh is designed for strip (continuous) footings and trenches. For pad footings, mesh or individual rebar is more commonly used -- see our Foundation Calculator and Rebar Calculator.
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Need An Exact Price, Not Just An Estimate?
The Trench Mesh Calculator gives you a fast, useful planning figure. For a fixed, accurate price backed by a site assessment, request a free professional quotation from HPL Construction.
