PCC vs RCC: Difference, Uses, Mix Ratio and Grades
PCC vs RCC: PCC (plain cement concrete) is cement, sand, aggregate and water with no steel. It is strong in compression but weak in tension, so it is used for beds, bases and levelling layers that are only pressed down, such as the layer under a footing or the base under floor tiles. RCC (reinforced cement concrete) has steel bars (sariya) embedded in it to carry tension, so it is used for parts that bend or carry heavy loads: footings, columns, beams and slabs.
On an Indian house site you will hear both terms in the same week: “PCC daalna” before the footings and “RCC ka kaam” for the columns and slab. They use the same basic materials, but they do different jobs and cannot be swapped. This guide explains what each one is, where it goes, the usual mix grades, and the mistakes to avoid.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
PCC vs RCC: quick comparison
| Factor | PCC (plain cement concrete) | RCC (reinforced cement concrete) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Cement + sand + aggregate + water | The same concrete with steel bars or mesh embedded |
| Tension | Weak; cracks when it bends | Steel carries the tension |
| Typical use | Bed under footings, floor base, DPC, plinth protection, pathways, coping | Footings, columns, beams, slabs, stairs, lintels, chajja, retaining walls |
| Common grades on site | M7.5, M10, M15 (lean mixes) | M20 and above |
| Nominal mix examples | 1:4:8 (M7.5), 1:3:6 (M10), 1:2:4 (M15) | 1:1.5:3 (M20); higher grades by design mix |
| Cover to steel | Not needed (no steel) | Needed; set by exposure condition in IS 456 |
| Formwork and labour | Simple; poured straight onto the ground or base | Shuttering, bar bending, cover blocks, inspection |
| Cost per m³ | Lower | Higher (steel plus labour) |
| Unit weight (IS 875 Part 1) | About 24 kN/m³ | About 25 kN/m³ |
| Main risk | Cracking if used where it bends | Rusting steel if cover or concrete quality is poor |
What is PCC?
PCC stands for plain cement concrete. It is a mix of cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (stone chips or gitti) and water, without any reinforcement. Once it hardens, it resists crushing well but has a tensile strength of only a small fraction of its compressive strength. That is why it is used only where the load presses straight down onto a well-supported base.
Lean, low-cement mixes such as 1:4:8 or 1:3:6 are common for PCC because its job is to give a clean, level, firm surface, not to carry bending.
Where PCC is used in a house
- Under footings (levelling course): a thin PCC bed is laid at the bottom of the excavation before the RCC footing. It gives a clean, level base for the steel and the cover blocks, and stops the footing’s concrete from losing water and cement into the soil. Its thickness is shown on the drawing, commonly in the range of 75 to 150 mm.
- Floor base: a PCC layer over compacted soil and rubble forms the base for ground-floor tiles or stone.
- Damp proof course (DPC): a thin layer of rich PCC with a waterproofing compound at plinth level. See parts of a building for where the DPC sits.
- Plinth protection and pathways: sloping PCC around the building that carries rainwater away from the walls.
- Coping and sills: the top of a parapet or compound wall, and window sills, are often PCC.
What is RCC?
RCC stands for reinforced cement concrete. Steel bars are placed inside the formwork before the concrete is poured. The two materials work together: concrete carries compression, the steel carries tension, and they bond well and expand by similar amounts with heat. This lets RCC span openings, carry floors and resist bending. For how the steel is placed and why, see RCC full form and how to reinforce concrete.
Where RCC is used in a house
- Footings, columns and plinth beams
- Beams, lintels and the chajja (sunshade)
- Floor and roof slabs; see one way vs two way slab
- Staircases, water tanks and retaining walls
IS 456 sets M20 as the minimum concrete grade for reinforced concrete in mild exposure, with higher grades for harsher exposure such as coastal areas.
How PCC and RCC work together in a footing
The usual sequence is: excavate, compact the bottom, lay the PCC bed and let it set, mark the footing on it, place cover blocks and the footing mesh, fix the column bars, then shutter and pour the RCC footing. For footing types, see isolated footing and footing size for a 2-storey house.
Mix ratios and grades: what the numbers mean
A nominal mix such as 1:2:4 means one part cement, two parts sand and four parts coarse aggregate by volume. The “M” grade (M15, M20 and so on) is the characteristic compressive strength in N/mm² after 28 days. Nominal mixes are still common for PCC and small house works. For RCC, a design mix or ready-mix concrete from a plant gives more reliable strength; see ready mix concrete (RMC).
To work out cement, sand and aggregate for a pour, use the concrete volume calculator.
Common mistakes on site
- Using PCC where RCC is needed. A PCC slab over a sunk area, a PCC lintel over a wide opening or a PCC chajja will crack because these parts bend. Anything that spans or cantilevers needs steel.
- Skipping the PCC bed under footings. Steel laid straight on soil loses its cover and rusts, and the footing concrete loses water into the ground.
- Too little cover in RCC. Bars close to the surface rust, swell and crack the concrete. Use cover blocks of the size on the drawing.
- Adding extra water to make concrete flow. It weakens both PCC and RCC. Check workability with a slump test instead.
- Poor curing. Both PCC and RCC need to be kept moist after casting so the cement can gain strength.
Hindi terms used on site
On site, both are mostly called by their English short forms: “PCC” and “RCC”. In Hindi, PCC is सादा सीमेंट कंक्रीट (saada cement concrete), meaning plain cement concrete, and RCC is प्रबलित सीमेंट कंक्रीट (prabalit cement concrete), meaning reinforced cement concrete. Steel bars are सरिया (sariya), coarse aggregate is गिट्टी (gitti) and sand is रेत (ret).
FAQ
What is the full form of PCC and RCC?
PCC is plain cement concrete. RCC is reinforced cement concrete.
Is RCC stronger than PCC?
In bending and tension, yes, because the steel carries the tension that plain concrete cannot. In pure compression, the strength depends mainly on the concrete grade, and RCC usually uses a higher grade as well.
Why is PCC laid below a footing?
To give a clean, level, firm base for the footing’s steel and cover blocks, and to stop the footing concrete from losing water and cement into the soil. It is not counted as part of the footing’s strength.
Which grade is used for PCC?
Lean mixes such as M7.5 (about 1:4:8) or M10 (about 1:3:6) are common for beds and bases. Use what the drawing specifies.
Can a roof slab be made in PCC?
No. A slab spans between supports and bends, so it needs steel. A PCC slab would crack and could fail.
Is PCC cheaper than RCC?
Yes, per cubic metre, because there is no steel, no bar bending and simpler formwork. But it can only replace RCC where nothing bends.
Related guides: RCC full form · One way vs two way slab · Workability of concrete · Parts of a building · All construction guides
Disclaimer: Educational only. Concrete grades, mix proportions, thicknesses and reinforcement must follow your structural drawings and IS 456, as designed by a qualified engineer. Disclaimer
Tanmay Arora, is an Architect with an experience of 13+ years. He is a Management Grad with a post Graduate Diploma in Building Construction and Materials. Tanmay has worked with renowned firms. He has graduated in Bachelor of Architecture. His deep interest in Architecture and Civil Engineering and his experience has made him one of the best architects a client can think of.
