I-Beam Size Calculator & Size Chart

I-beam weight = the pounds per foot in the shape name times the length: a W12x26 weighs 26 lb per foot, so 12 ft of it weighs 312 lb.

Units

W12×26 wide-flange, 12 ft long

312lb

W12×26 weighs 26 lb/ft, is 12.2 in deep with 6.49 in flanges.

Depth d: 12.2 in
Flange width bf: 6.49 in
Web tw: 0.23 in
Flange tf: 0.38 in
Ix: 204 in⁴
Sx: 33.4 in³

W-shape I-beam size chart: 283 sizes

AISC W and S shapes with weight, depth, flange, web and section properties
Weight, lb/ft	Depth, in	Flange bf, in	Web tw, in	Ix, in⁴	Sx, in³	Zx, in³
9	5.8	3.94	0.17	14.9	5.1	5.7
9	5.9	3.94	0.17	16.4	5.6	6.2
10	7.9	3.94	0.17	30.8	7.8	8.9
12	6	4	0.23	22.1	7.3	8.3
12	9.9	3.96	0.19	53.8	10.9	12.6
13	4.2	4.06	0.28	11.3	5.5	6.3
13	8	4	0.23	39.6	9.9	11.4
14	11.9	3.97	0.2	88.6	14.9	17.4
15	6	5.99	0.23	29.1	9.7	10.8
15	8.1	4.02	0.245	48	11.8	13.6
15	10	4	0.23	68.9	13.8	16
16	5	5	0.24	21.4	8.6	9.6
16	6.3	4.03	0.26	32.1	10.2	11.7
16	12	3.99	0.22	103	17.1	20.1
17	10.1	4.01	0.24	81.9	16.2	18.7
18	8.1	5.25	0.23	61.9	15.2	17
19	5.2	5.03	0.27	26.3	10.2	11.6
19	10.2	4.02	0.25	96.3	18.8	21.6
19	12.2	4.01	0.235	130	21.3	24.7
20	6.2	6.02	0.26	41.4	13.4	14.9
21	8.3	5.27	0.25	75.3	18.2	20.4
22	10.2	5.75	0.24	118	23.2	26
22	12.3	4.03	0.26	156	25.4	29.3
22	13.7	5	0.23	199	29	33.2
24	7.9	6.5	0.245	82.7	20.9	23.1
25	6.4	6.08	0.32	53.4	16.7	18.9
26	10.3	5.77	0.26	144	27.9	31.3
26	12.2	6.49	0.23	204	33.4	37.2
26	13.9	5.03	0.255	245	35.3	40.2
26	15.7	5.5	0.25	301	38.4	44.2
28	8.1	6.54	0.285	98	24.3	27.2
30	10.5	5.81	0.3	170	32.4	36.6
30	12.3	6.52	0.26	238	38.6	43.1
30	13.8	6.73	0.27	291	42	47.3
31	8	8	0.285	110	27.5	30.4
31	15.9	5.53	0.275	375	47.2	54
33	9.7	7.96	0.29	171	35	38.8
34	14	6.75	0.285	340	48.6	54.6
35	8.1	8.02	0.31	127	31.2	34.7
35	12.5	6.56	0.3	285	45.6	51.2
35	17.7	6	0.3	510	57.6	66.5
36	15.9	6.99	0.295	448	56.5	64
38	14.1	6.77	0.31	385	54.6	61.5
39	9.9	7.99	0.315	209	42.1	46.8
40	8.3	8.07	0.36	146	35.5	39.8
40	11.9	8.01	0.295	307	51.5	57
40	16	7	0.305	518	64.7	73
40	17.9	6.02	0.315	612	68.4	78.4
43	13.7	8	0.305	428	62.6	69.6
44	20.7	6.5	0.35	843	81.6	95.4
45	10.1	8.02	0.35	248	49.1	54.9
45	12.1	8.05	0.335	348	57.7	64.2
45	16.1	7.04	0.345	586	72.7	82.3
46	18.1	6.06	0.36	712	78.8	90.7
48	8.5	8.11	0.4	184	43.2	49
48	13.8	8.03	0.34	484	70.2	78.4
48	20.6	8.14	0.35	959	93	107
49	10	10	0.34	272	54.6	60.4
50	12.2	8.08	0.37	391	64.2	71.9
50	16.3	7.07	0.38	659	81	92
50	18	7.5	0.355	800	88.9	101
50	20.8	6.53	0.38	984	94.5	110
53	12.1	10	0.345	425	70.6	77.9
53	13.9	8.06	0.37	541	77.8	87.1
54	10.1	10	0.37	303	60	66.6
55	18.1	7.53	0.39	890	98.3	112
55	20.8	8.22	0.375	1,140	110	126
55	23.6	7.01	0.395	1,350	114	134
57	16.4	7.12	0.43	758	92.2	105
57	21.1	6.56	0.405	1,170	111	129
58	8.8	8.22	0.51	228	52	59.8
58	12.2	10	0.36	475	78	86.4
60	10.2	10.1	0.42	341	66.7	74.6
60	18.2	7.56	0.415	984	108	123
61	13.9	10	0.375	640	92.1	102
62	21	8.24	0.4	1,330	127	144
62	23.7	7.04	0.43	1,550	131	153
65	12.1	12	0.39	533	87.9	96.8
65	18.4	7.59	0.45	1,070	117	133
67	9	8.28	0.57	272	60.4	70.1
67	16.3	10.2	0.395	954	117	130
68	10.4	10.1	0.47	394	75.7	85.3
68	14	10	0.415	722	103	115
68	21.1	8.27	0.43	1,480	140	160
68	23.7	8.97	0.415	1,830	154	177
71	18.5	7.64	0.495	1,170	127	146
72	12.3	12	0.43	597	97.4	108
73	21.2	8.3	0.455	1,600	151	172
74	14.2	10.1	0.45	795	112	126
76	18.2	11	0.425	1,330	146	163
76	23.9	8.99	0.44	2,100	176	200
77	10.6	10.2	0.53	455	85.9	97.6
77	16.5	10.3	0.455	1,110	134	150
79	12.4	12.1	0.47	662	107	119
82	14.3	10.1	0.51	881	123	139
83	21.4	8.36	0.515	1,830	171	196
84	24.1	9.02	0.47	2,370	196	224
84	26.7	10	0.46	2,850	213	244
86	18.4	11.1	0.48	1,530	166	186
87	12.5	12.1	0.515	740	118	132
88	10.8	10.3	0.605	534	98.5	113
89	16.8	10.4	0.525	1,300	155	175
90	14	14.5	0.44	999	143	157
90	29.5	10.4	0.47	3,610	245	283
93	21.6	8.42	0.58	2,070	192	221
94	24.3	9.07	0.515	2,700	222	254
94	26.9	10	0.49	3,270	243	278
96	12.7	12.2	0.55	833	131	147
97	18.6	11.1	0.535	1,750	188	211
99	14.2	14.6	0.485	1,110	157	173
99	29.7	10.5	0.52	3,990	269	312
100	11.1	10.3	0.68	623	112	130
100	17	10.4	0.585	1,490	175	198
101	21.4	12.3	0.5	2,420	227	253
102	27.1	10	0.515	3,620	267	305
103	24.5	9	0.55	3,000	245	280
104	24.1	12.8	0.5	3,100	258	289
106	12.9	12.2	0.61	933	145	164
106	18.7	11.2	0.59	1,910	204	230
108	29.8	10.5	0.545	4,470	299	346
109	14.3	14.6	0.525	1,240	173	192
111	21.5	12.3	0.55	2,670	249	279
112	11.4	10.4	0.755	716	126	147
114	27.3	10.1	0.57	4,080	299	343
116	30	10.5	0.565	4,930	329	378
117	24.3	12.8	0.55	3,540	291	327
118	32.9	11.5	0.55	5,900	359	415
119	19	11.3	0.655	2,190	231	262
120	13.1	12.3	0.71	1,070	163	186
120	14.5	14.7	0.59	1,380	190	212
122	21.7	12.4	0.6	2,960	273	307
124	30.2	10.5	0.585	5,360	355	408
129	27.6	10	0.61	4,760	345	395
130	19.3	11.2	0.67	2,460	256	290
130	33.1	11.5	0.58	6,710	406	467
131	24.5	12.9	0.605	4,020	329	370
132	14.7	14.7	0.645	1,530	209	234
132	21.8	12.4	0.65	3,220	295	333
132	30.3	10.5	0.615	5,770	380	437
135	35.6	12	0.6	7,800	439	509
136	13.4	12.4	0.79	1,240	186	214
141	33.3	11.5	0.605	7,450	448	514
143	19.5	11.2	0.73	2,750	282	322
145	14.8	15.5	0.68	1,710	232	260
146	24.7	12.9	0.65	4,580	371	418
146	27.4	14	0.605	5,660	414	464
147	22.1	12.5	0.72	3,630	329	373
148	30.7	10.5	0.65	6,680	436	500
149	38.2	11.8	0.63	9,800	513	598
150	35.9	12	0.625	9,040	504	581
152	13.7	12.5	0.87	1,430	209	243
152	33.5	11.6	0.635	8,160	487	559
158	19.7	11.3	0.81	3,060	310	356
159	15	15.6	0.745	1,900	254	287
160	36	12	0.65	9,760	542	624
161	27.6	14	0.66	6,310	458	515
162	25	13	0.705	5,170	414	468
166	22.5	12.4	0.75	4,280	380	432
167	38.6	11.8	0.65	11,600	600	693
169	33.8	11.5	0.67	9,290	549	629
170	14	12.6	0.96	1,650	235	275
170	36.2	12	0.68	10,500	581	668
173	30.4	15	0.655	8,230	541	607
175	20	11.4	0.89	3,450	344	398
176	15.2	15.7	0.83	2,140	281	320
176	25.2	12.9	0.75	5,680	450	511
178	27.8	14.1	0.725	7,020	505	570
182	22.7	12.5	0.83	4,730	417	476
182	36.3	12.1	0.725	11,300	623	718
183	39	11.8	0.65	13,200	675	774
190	14.4	12.7	1.06	1,890	263	311
191	30.7	15	0.71	9,200	600	675
192	20.4	11.5	0.96	3,870	380	442
192	25.5	13	0.81	6,260	491	559
193	15.5	15.7	0.89	2,400	310	355
194	28.1	14	0.75	7,860	559	631
194	36.5	12.1	0.765	12,100	664	767
199	38.7	15.8	0.65	14,900	770	869
201	23	12.6	0.91	5,310	461	530
201	33.7	15.7	0.715	11,600	686	773
207	25.7	13	0.87	6,820	531	606
210	14.7	12.8	1.18	2,140	292	348
210	36.7	12.2	0.83	13,200	719	833
211	15.7	15.8	0.98	2,660	338	390
211	20.7	11.6	1.06	4,330	419	490
211	30.9	15.1	0.775	10,300	665	751
211	39.4	11.8	0.75	15,500	786	906
215	39	15.8	0.65	16,700	859	964
217	28.4	14.1	0.83	8,910	627	711
221	33.9	15.8	0.775	12,900	759	857
223	23.4	12.7	1	6,080	520	601
229	26	13.1	0.96	7,650	588	675
230	15.1	12.9	1.29	2,420	321	386
230	42.9	15.8	0.71	20,800	971	1,100
231	36.5	16.5	0.76	15,600	854	963
232	37.1	12.1	0.87	15,000	809	936
233	16	15.9	1.07	3,010	375	436
234	21.1	11.7	1.16	4,900	466	549
235	28.7	14.2	0.91	9,700	677	772
235	31.3	15.1	0.83	11,700	748	847
235	39.7	11.9	0.83	17,400	875	1,010
241	34.2	15.9	0.83	14,200	831	940
247	36.7	16.5	0.8	16,700	913	1,030
248	23.7	12.8	1.1	6,830	576	671
249	39.4	15.8	0.75	19,600	993	1,120
250	26.3	13.2	1.04	8,490	644	744
252	15.4	13	1.4	2,720	353	428
256	37.4	12.2	0.96	16,800	895	1,040
257	16.4	16	1.18	3,400	415	487
258	21.5	11.8	1.28	5,510	514	611
258	29	14.3	0.98	10,800	745	852
261	31.6	15.2	0.93	13,100	829	943
262	36.9	16.6	0.84	17,900	972	1,100
262	43.3	15.8	0.785	24,100	1,110	1,270
263	34.5	15.8	0.87	15,900	919	1,040
264	40	11.9	0.96	19,400	971	1,130
275	24.1	12.9	1.22	7,690	638	749
277	39.7	15.8	0.83	21,900	1,100	1,250
278	40.2	12	1.03	20,500	1,020	1,190
279	15.9	13.1	1.53	3,110	393	481
279	26.7	13.3	1.16	9,600	718	835
281	29.3	14.4	1.06	11,900	814	936
282	37.1	16.6	0.885	19,600	1,050	1,190
283	16.7	16.1	1.29	3,840	459	542
283	21.9	11.9	1.4	6,170	565	676
290	43.6	15.8	0.865	27,000	1,240	1,410
291	34.8	15.9	0.96	17,700	1,020	1,160
292	32	15.3	1.02	14,900	930	1,060
294	40.4	12	1.06	21,900	1,080	1,270
297	39.8	15.8	0.93	23,200	1,170	1,330
302	37.3	16.7	0.945	21,100	1,130	1,280
305	16.3	13.2	1.63	3,550	435	537
306	27.1	13.4	1.26	10,700	789	922
307	29.6	14.4	1.16	13,100	887	1,030
311	17.1	16.2	1.41	4,330	506	603
311	22.3	12	1.52	6,970	624	754
318	35.2	16	1.04	19,500	1,110	1,270
324	40.2	15.9	1	25,600	1,280	1,460
326	32.4	15.4	1.14	16,800	1,040	1,190
327	40.8	12.1	1.18	24,500	1,200	1,410
330	37.7	16.6	1.02	23,300	1,240	1,410
331	40.8	12.2	1.22	24,700	1,210	1,430
335	27.5	13.5	1.38	11,900	864	1,020
335	44	15.9	1.03	31,100	1,410	1,620
336	16.8	13.4	1.78	4,060	483	603
336	30	14.6	1.26	14,600	972	1,130
342	17.5	16.4	1.54	4,900	558	672
354	35.6	16.1	1.16	22,000	1,240	1,420
357	32.8	15.5	1.24	18,700	1,140	1,320
361	38	16.7	1.12	25,700	1,350	1,550
362	40.6	16	1.12	28,900	1,420	1,640
368	30.4	14.7	1.38	16,200	1,060	1,240
370	17.9	16.5	1.66	5,440	607	736
370	28	13.7	1.52	13,400	957	1,130
372	40.6	16.1	1.16	29,600	1,460	1,680
387	36	16.2	1.26	24,300	1,350	1,560
391	33.2	15.6	1.36	20,700	1,250	1,450
392	41.6	12.4	1.42	29,900	1,440	1,710
395	38.4	16.8	1.22	28,500	1,490	1,710
397	41	16.1	1.22	32,000	1,560	1,800
398	18.3	16.6	1.77	6,000	656	801
426	18.7	16.7	1.88	6,600	706	869
431	41.3	16.2	1.34	34,800	1,690	1,960
441	38.9	17	1.36	32,100	1,650	1,910
455	19	16.8	2.02	7,190	756	936
487	39.3	17.1	1.5	36,000	1,830	2,130
500	19.6	17	2.19	8,210	838	1,050
503	42.1	16.4	1.54	41,600	1,980	2,320
529	39.8	17.2	1.61	39,600	1,990	2,330
539	32.5	15.3	1.97	25,600	1,570	1,890
550	20.2	17.2	2.38	9,430	931	1,180
593	43	16.7	1.79	50,400	2,340	2,760
605	20.9	17.4	2.6	10,800	1,040	1,320
652	41.1	17.6	1.97	50,600	2,460	2,910
655	43.6	16.9	1.97	56,500	2,590	3,080
665	21.6	17.7	2.83	12,400	1,150	1,480
723	41.8	17.8	2.17	57,300	2,740	3,270
730	22.4	17.9	3.07	14,300	1,280	1,660
802	42.6	18	2.38	64,800	3,040	3,660
808	22.8	18.6	3.74	15,900	1,390	1,830
853	43.1	18.2	2.52	70,000	3,250	3,920
873	23.6	18.8	3.94	18,100	1,530	2,030
925	43.1	18.6	3.02	73,000	3,390	4,130

Select a row to see its cross section and its weight for your length. Properties from the AISC Shapes Database v15.0 (15th edition Manual).

The chart tells you what a section is, not that it is enough. Sizing a beam for a load needs bending, shear and deflection checks, bracing and bearing, and a real structure needs an engineer's seal. Use the steel beam calculator for a first sizing and have an engineer verify it.

The math

Weight per foot
W12×26: the number after the X is pounds per foot = 26 lb/ft
Weight of the piece
26 lb/ft × 12 ft = 312 lb
Stiffness
Ix in the table, E = 29,000 ksi: E × Ix = 5,916 × 10³ kip-in²

I-beam weight is the pounds per foot in the shape name times the length: a W12x26 weighs 26 lb per foot, so 12 ft of it weighs 312 lb. The chart above lists every W and S shape in the AISC Shapes Database with its depth, flange width, web thickness and section properties, and you can filter it by depth or by how stiff you need the section to be.

How to read an I-beam size

A W12x26 is a wide-flange beam, nominally 12 in deep, weighing 26 lb per foot. The actual depth is 12.2 in, the flanges are 6.49 in wide and 0.380 in thick, and the web is 0.230 in thick. The name is a label: the number after the W is a nominal depth and the true depth can differ, as with a W8x13 that is 7.99 in deep and a W10x15 that is 9.99 in deep. S shapes are the standard I-beams with narrower flanges: an S12x31.8 is 12 in deep with 5 in flanges, against a W12x40 with 8.01 in flanges.

Weight of the piece = weight per foot × length in feet. W12x26 × 12 ft = 26 × 12 = 312 lb.

I-beam size chart: common W and S shapes

From the AISC Shapes Database v15.0. Ix is the moment of inertia about the strong axis, the number that sets stiffness. Zx is the plastic section modulus, the number that sets bending strength.

Shape	Weight, lb/ft	Depth, in	Flange width, in	Web, in	Ix, in⁴	Zx, in³
W8x13	13	7.99	4.00	0.230	39.6	11.4
W10x15	15	9.99	4.00	0.230	68.9	16.0
W12x26	26	12.2	6.49	0.230	204	37.2
W14x22	22	13.7	5.00	0.230	199	33.2
W16x40	40	16.0	7.00	0.305	518	73.0
W18x35	35	17.7	6.00	0.300	510	66.5
W24x55	55	23.6	7.01	0.395	1,350	134
S8x18.4	18.4	8.00	4.00	0.271	57.5	16.5
S12x31.8	31.8	12.0	5.00	0.350	217	41.8

Weight per foot and total weight

The steel weight is what you pay to ship and lift. A W8x13 over 20 ft is 260 lb; a W16x40 over 20 ft is 800 lb. The calculator converts to kilograms per meter and to kilograms when you switch to metric. For the weight of plate, bar and tube as well as beams, use the steel weight calculator.

Which size do I need

The size chart tells you what a section is, not what it can carry. Two shapes with the same depth can differ a great deal in stiffness: a W12x26 has an Ix of 204 in⁴ and a W12x40 has 307 in⁴. Deflection is proportional to 1 ÷ Ix, so the heavier beam sags one third less under the same load. To find the lightest shape for a span and a load, use the steel beam calculator; to check the sag of a shape you have chosen, use the beam deflection calculator. Filter the chart by the smallest Ix you need to hide every shape that is too flexible.

Steel versus LVL

For residential floor beams a 2-ply LVL is often an alternative to a steel W-shape: compare in the LVL beam calculator. Sawn-lumber girders and headers from the code tables are in the beam span calculator.

Next questions

Footings under the posts that hold the beam: the concrete footing calculator.
Steel and other weights by shape: the steel weight calculator.
The rest of the span tools: framing and lumber calculators.

The chart lists standard AISC shapes. Availability depends on the mill and your supplier, and not every shape is stocked everywhere. Sizing a beam for a real building takes bending, shear, deflection, bracing and connection checks; have a structural engineer verify it.