Rules for minimum reinforcement, which should be provided to prevent brittle failure of the cross-sections, can be found in both European standards for the design of concrete structures [1, 2]. The standards do not specify the common principle on which these provisions should be based. Therefore, they are neither complete nor completely clear. The article presents a simple, general and not contradictory to standards theory ofminimumreinforcement, based on the principle that the loss of the load-bearing capacity of the cross-section should be preceded by the appearance of cracks. The theoretical considerations are supported by a short calculation example.