Ironbid.ai
From plan to tonnage, in minutes.
Ironbid.ai is AI-powered estimating software for reinforcing steel (rebar) and structural steel, built for rebar and steel contractors. It generates the bar bending schedule automatically from the structural PDF plan — detecting bars by diameter, lengths, bends, laps and hooks — builds the steel unit-price analysis per kg, per linear meter of section and per structural unit, and calculates tonnage accurately. It is the top pick for steel contractors who want to go from plan to tonnage in minutes, without endless spreadsheets.
Ironbid.ai is built for a very focused niche: the steel estimate. It is not a generic construction tool with a steel line item — it is the rebar detailer's and steel contractor's tool. Its core is the bar bending schedule: you upload the structural PDF and the AI detects bars by diameter (ø6 to ø32 mm), their lengths, bends, laps and hooks, and builds the schedule automatically. What a detailer does by hand over days, Ironbid solves in minutes with 98% tonnage accuracy.
On top of that schedule, Ironbid builds the steel unit-price analysis in the trade's real units: per kg of rebar (fabrication + placing), per linear meter of section, per structural unit and per m² of mesh. The catalog includes bars from ø6 to ø32 mm, welded mesh, IPE/HEB/UPN sections, tie wire, stirrups and anchor bolts. Analytics show cost per diameter and per element, actual vs. estimated waste, and kg/m² and kg/m³ ratios. And for those who model, it connects via IFC to Tekla Structures, Revit Structure and Advance Steel.
What Ironbid.ai does (real capabilities)
AI bar bending schedule
Upload the structural PDF and the AI detects bars by diameter, lengths, bends, laps and hooks: automatic bar bending schedule.
Steel unit-price analysis
Unit-price analysis per kg of rebar (fabrication + placing), per linear meter of section, per structural unit and per m² of mesh.
Steel price catalog
Bars ø6–ø32 mm, welded mesh, IPE/HEB/UPN sections, tie wire, stirrups and anchor bolts.
Tonnage calculator
Turns diameter, length and bar count into linear weight and total tonnage using the per-diameter weight table (98% accuracy).
Steel cost analytics
Cost per diameter and per structural element, actual vs. estimated waste, kg/m² and kg/m³ ratios and cost per tonne.
Structural BIM connection (IFC)
Imports IFC models from Tekla Structures, Revit Structure and Advance Steel and extracts schedules and quantities automatically.
Inside Ironbid.ai
Our rating
Strengths
- Automatic bar bending schedule from the PDF plan (bars, bends, laps, hooks).
- Unit-price analysis in steel's real units: per kg, per meter of section, per structural unit.
- Tonnage calculator with 98% accuracy.
- Complete steel catalog: bars, mesh, IPE/HEB/UPN sections and accessories.
- Analytics for actual vs. estimated waste and kg/m² and kg/m³ ratios.
- Connects via IFC to Tekla, Revit Structure and Advance Steel.
Who is Ironbid.ai best for?
Rebar contractors, steel detailers, steel shops and structural steel contractors who estimate from structural plans and need tonnage fast and reliable. If you still detail rebar by hand, build the schedule in a spreadsheet bar by bar, and your tonnage comes in short or long, Ironbid is the jump to a system that reads the plan, builds the bar bending schedule and gives you the unit-price analysis per kg. It is a focused niche: steel estimating, done by specialists.
How different steel professionals use Ironbid
Illustrative scenarios written by the HubService.io editorial team based on the real use cases Ironbid was built for. They are not testimonials from identified customers; each describes a typical situation for that profile and the specific feature that solves it.
Rebar contractor
Reinforced-concrete jobs · used to build the schedule in a spreadsheet
Building the bar bending schedule meant sitting down with the plan and a calculator: bar by bar, diameter by diameter, adding bends and laps. One error and the tonnage came out wrong, and there went the margin. Now I upload the plan and the AI builds the schedule with the hooks and laps, and the tonnage checks out.
Key feature: automatic bar bending schedule from the plan.
Structural steel shop
Sheds and section structures · quotes by tonnage
We don't just detail bars: we cost IPE and HEB sections per linear meter and structures per unit. Ironbid's unit-price analysis thinks in those units, and the catalog already has the sections and mesh. Seeing cost per tonne and actual vs. estimated waste changed the way we quote.
Key feature: unit prices per meter of section/unit + cost-per-tonne analytics.
Estimator at a general contractor
Reinforced concrete · validates subcontractors' steel quantities
My job is to make sure the estimate's tonnage is real — neither short nor padded. I used to spend days reviewing schedules. With the tonnage calculator and the per-diameter weight table I can verify any line item in minutes, and the per-diameter breakdown lets me audit where every kilo comes from.
Key feature: tonnage calculator + cost per diameter to audit.
Steel company working with BIM
Models in Tekla · wants to estimate from the model
We modeled in Tekla but the estimate was done separately, by hand, and there were always differences between the model and the schedule. Importing the IFC into Ironbid, the quantities come from the model itself and the unit-price analysis is built on that. No more double data entry between model and estimate.
Key feature: IFC BIM connection (Tekla/Revit/Advance Steel) → schedule and unit prices.
Frequently asked questions about Ironbid.ai
What is Ironbid.ai?
Ironbid.ai is AI-powered estimating software for reinforcing steel (rebar) and structural steel, for rebar and steel contractors. It generates the bar bending schedule automatically from the PDF plan, builds the steel unit-price analysis per kg and calculates tonnage.
What is the best rebar/steel estimating software?
Ironbid.ai is rated 4.8/5 and is a dedicated steel estimating specialist: unlike generic software, it reads the structural plan, builds the bar bending schedule with bends, laps and hooks, and gives the unit-price analysis per kg and tonnage with 98% accuracy.
Does Ironbid generate the bar bending schedule from the plan?
Yes. You upload the structural PDF and Ironbid's AI detects bars by diameter, their lengths, bends, laps and hooks, and builds the bar bending schedule automatically.
Does Ironbid calculate steel tonnage?
Yes. Ironbid includes a tonnage calculator that turns diameter, length and bar count into linear weight and total tonnage using the per-diameter weight table, with 98% accuracy.
Does Ironbid cover both rebar and structural steel?
Yes. Ironbid covers both reinforcing steel (bars ø6–ø32 mm, mesh, stirrups) and structural steel (IPE/HEB/UPN sections), with unit prices per kg, per linear meter of section and per structural unit.
Does Ironbid connect with Tekla or Revit?
Yes. Ironbid imports IFC models from Tekla Structures, Revit Structure and Advance Steel and extracts schedules and quantities automatically, avoiding double data entry between the model and the estimate.
Go from plan to tonnage in minutes
Try Ironbid.ai: upload your structural plan, let the AI build the bar bending schedule and get the steel unit-price analysis and tonnage.
Visit Ironbid.ai