American Wide Flange Steel Beams

Reference data and engineering information about american wide flange steel beams for material properties applications.

americanwideflangesteel

Overview

American Wide Flange Beams (W-beams) are standardized structural steel sections per ASTM A6. Their wide flanges, oriented perpendicular to the web, provide high bending resistance about both axes and make them the most common choice for floor framing, roof girders, and bridge components.

The designation format is W [depth in inches] × [weight in lb/ft] — for example, W 24 × 104 is nominally 24 inches deep and weighs 104 lbf per linear foot.

American wide flange beam cross-section dimensions

Key Formulas

Bending Stress

$\sigma = \frac{M \cdot c}{I_x}$

where M is the applied bending moment, c is the distance from the neutral axis to the extreme fiber (roughly h/2 for a W-beam), and I_x is the strong-axis moment of inertia.

Elastic Section Modulus

$S_x = \frac{I_x}{c}$

The section modulus combines geometry into a single value so that $\sigma = M / S_x$ .

Variables

Symbol	Description	Unit
$\sigma$	Bending stress	psi
$M$	Bending moment	lbf·in
$c$	Distance from neutral axis to extreme fiber	in
$I_x$	Strong-axis moment of inertia	in⁴
$S_x$	Strong-axis elastic section modulus	in³

Beam Properties — Selected Sizes

Representative imperial properties for common W-beam designations (ASTM A6).

15 rows

Selected American Wide Flange Beam properties per ASTM A6 (imperial units)
Designation	Depth h(in)	Width w(in)	Web tw(in)	Flange tf(in)	Area(in²)	Weight(lbf/ft)	Ix(in⁴)	Iy(in⁴)	Sx(in³)	Sy(in³)
W 27 x 178	27.8	14.09	0.725	1.19	52.3	178	6990	590	502	83.7
W 27 x 94	26.9	10	0.49	0.745	27.7	94	3270	124	243	24.8
W 24 x 131	24.5	12.9	0.605	0.96	38.5	131	4020	340	329	53
W 24 x 68	23.7	8.97	0.415	0.585	20.1	68	1830	70.4	154	15.7
W 21 x 111	21.5	12.34	0.55	0.875	32.7	111	2670	248	249	40.2
W 21 x 50	20.8	6.53	0.38	0.535	14.7	50	984	24.9	94.5	7.64
W 18 x 76	18.2	11.04	0.425	0.68	22.3	76	1330	152	146	27.6
W 18 x 35	17.7	6	0.3	0.425	10.3	35	510	15.3	57.6	5.12
W 14 x 82	14.31	10.13	0.51	0.855	24.1	82	882	148	123	29.3
W 14 x 34	13.98	6.745	0.285	0.455	10	34	340	23.3	48.6	6.91
W 12 x 72	12.25	12.04	0.43	0.67	21.1	72	597	195	97.4	32.4
W 12 x 26	12.22	6.49	0.23	0.38	7.7	26	204	17.3	33.4	5.34
W 10 x 49	9.98	10	0.34	0.56	14.4	49	272	93.4	54.6	18.7
W 10 x 19	10.24	4.02	0.25	0.395	5.6	19	96.3	4.29	18.8	2.14
W 8 x 40	8.25	8.07	0.36	0.56	11.7	40	146	49.1	35.5	12.2

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Calculator — Bending Stress from Applied Moment

Bending Stress Check

Bending Moment(lbf·in)

Section Modulus Sx(in³)

W-Beam Unit Converter

Beam weight(lb/ft)

Area(in2)

Moment of inertia(in4)

Calculate Loads

The original source points readers to beam load tools for beams supported at both ends, beams fixed at one end and supported at the other, and beams fixed at both ends. The calculators below preserve the most common functional equivalents directly on this migrated page.

Simply Supported Beam - Uniform Load

Uniform load(lbf/ft)

Span(ft)

Modulus of elasticity(psi)

Moment of inertia Ix(in4)

Section modulus Sx(in3)

Simply Supported Beam - Center Point Load

Point load(lbf)

Span(ft)

Modulus of elasticity(psi)

Moment of inertia Ix(in4)

Section modulus Sx(in3)

Cantilever Beam - End Point Load

End load(lbf)

Cantilever length(ft)

Modulus of elasticity(psi)

Moment of inertia Ix(in4)

Section modulus Sx(in3)

Source Text Preserved

Engineering ToolBox - Resources, Tools and Basic Information for Engineering and Design of Technical Applications.

W-beams - wide flange beams - are stout, sturdy beams with wide flanges positioned perpendicularly to the web of the material, giving them their characteristic shape and distinguishing them from I-beams. Properties in imperial units of American Wide Flange Beams according ASTM A6 are indicated below. For the full table with depth, width, web and flange thickness, and section area, rotate narrow screens horizontally.

American Wide Flange Beams according ASTM A6 - Metric units.

American Wide Flange Beams according ASTM A6 - Metric units

For full table with Depth, Width, Web and Flange Thickness and Section Area - rotate the screen!

The standard method for specifying the dimensions of an American Wide Flange Beam is for example W 6 x 25, which is 6 inches deep with a weight of 25 lb/ft. Related I-shaped cross-section beam families include British Universal Beams and Universal Columns, European IPE/HE/HL/HD sections, and US Wide Flange and H sections.

The complete restored source table below preserves the original imperial W-beam shape data. The source table has 135 non-empty rows: 3 grouped header rows plus 132 W-beam data rows. The DataTable below preserves those 132 beam rows as data rows and keeps the grouped header information in column labels. Metric conversion should be done from the tabulated imperial values using the converter above; rotate narrow screens horizontally when inspecting the full table.

Restored Original Source Tables

The following tables are restored from the original source page to preserve the complete reference data.

W-Beams - American Wide Flange Beams - Static Parameters

132 rows

W-Beams - American Wide Flange Beams - Static Parameters
Ix (in4)	Iy (in4)	Sx (in3)	Sy (in3)	Flange Thicknesstf(in)	Sectional Area (in2)	Weight (lbf/ft)	Static Parameters	Static Parameters	Static Parameters	Static Parameters
W 27 x 178	27.8	14.09	0.725	1.19	52.3	178	6990	555	502	78.8
W 27 x 161	27.6	14.02	0.66	1.08	47.4	161	6280	497	455	70.9
W 27 x 146	27.4	14	0.605	0.975	42.9	146	5630	443	411	63.5
W 27 x 114	27.3	10.07	0.57	0.93	33.5	114	4090	159	299	31.5
W 27×102	27.1	10.02	0.515	0.83	30	102	3620	139	267	27.8
W 27 x 94	26.9	10	0.49	0.745	27.7	94	3270	124	243	24.8
W 27 x 84	26.7	9.96	0.46	0.64	24.8	84	2850	106	213	21.2
W 24 x 162	25	13	0.705	1.22	47.7	162	5170	443	414	68.4
W 24 x 146	24.7	12.9	0.65	1.09	43	146	4580	391	371	60.5
W 24 x 131	24.5	12.9	0.605	0.96	38.5	131	4020	340	329	53
W 24 x 117	24.3	12.8	0.55	0.85	34.4	117	3540	297	291	46.5
W 24×104	24.1	12.75	0.5	0.75	30.6	104	3100	259	258	40.7
W 24 x 94	24.1	9.07	0.515	0.875	27.7	94	2700	109	222	24
W 24 x 84	24.1	9.02	0.47	0.77	24.7	84	2370	94.4	196	20.9
W 24 x 76	23.9	9	0.44	0.68	22.4	76	2100	82.5	176	18.4
W 24 x 68	23.7	8.97	0.415	0.585	20.1	68	1830	70.4	154	15.7
W 24 x 62	23.7	7.04	0.43	0.59	18.2	62	1550	34.5	131	9.8
W 24 x 55	23.6	7.01	0.395	0.505	16.2	55	1350	29.1	114	8.3
W 21 x 147	22.1	12.51	0.72	1.15	43.2	147	3630	376	329	60.1
W 21 x 132	21.8	12.44	0.65	1.035	38.8	132	3220	333	295	53.5
W 21 x 122	21.7	12.39	0.6	0.96	35.9	122	2960	305	273	49.2
W 21 x 111	21.5	12.34	0.55	0.875	32.7	111	2670	274	249	44.5
W 21×101	21.4	12.29	0.5	0.8	29.8	101	2420	248	227	40.3
W 21 x 93	21.6	8.42	0.58	0.93	27.3	93	2070	92.9	192	22.1
W 21 x 83	21.4	8.36	0.515	0.835	24.3	83	1830	81.4	171	19.5
W 21 x 73	21.2	8.3	0.455	0.74	21.5	73	1600	70.6	151	17
W 21 x 68	21.1	8.27	0.43	0.685	20	68	1480	64.7	140	15.7
W 21 x 62	21	8.24	0.4	0.615	18.3	62	1330	57.5	127	13.9
W 21 x 57	21.1	6.56	0.405	0.65	16.7	57	1170	30.6	111	9.4
W 21 x 50	20.8	6.53	0.38	0.535	14.7	50	984	24.9	94.5	7.6
W 21 x 44	20.7	6.5	0.35	0.45	13	44	843	20.7	81.6	6.4
W 18 x 119	19	11.27	0.655	1.06	35.1	119	2190	253	231	44.9
W 18×106	18.7	11.2	0.59	0.94	31.1	106	1910	220	204	39.4
W 18 x 97	18.6	11.15	0.535	0.87	28.5	97	1750	201	188	36.1
W 18 x 86	18.4	11.09	0.48	0.77	25.3	86	1530	175	166	31.6
W 18 x 76	18.2	11.04	0.425	0.68	22.3	76	1330	152	146	27.6
W 18 x 71	18.5	7.64	0.495	0.81	20.8	71	1170	60.3	127	15.8
W 18 x 65	18.4	7.59	0.45	0.75	19.1	65	1070	54.8	117	14.4
W 18 x 60	18.2	7.56	0.415	0.695	17.6	60	984	50.1	108	13.3
W 18 x 55	18.1	7.53	0.39	0.63	16.2	55	890	44.9	98.3	11.9
W 18 x 50	18	7.5	0.355	0.57	14.7	50	800	40.1	88.9	10.7
W 18 x 46	18.1	6.06	0.36	0.605	13.5	46	712	22.5	78.8	7.4
W 18 x 40	17.9	6.02	0.315	0.525	11.8	40	612	19.1	68.4	6.4
W 18 x 35	17.7	6	0.3	0.425	10.3	35	510	15.3	57.6	5.1
W 16×100	16.97	10.425	0.585	0.985	29.4	100	1490	186	175	35.7
W 16 x 89	16.75	10.365	0.525	0.875	26.2	89	1300	163	155	31.4
W 16 x 77	16.52	10.295	0.455	0.76	22.6	77	1100	138	134	26.9
W 16 x 67	16.33	10.235	0.395	0.665	19.7	67	954	119	117	23.2
W 16 x 57	16.43	7.12	0.43	0.715	16.8	57	758	43.1	92.2	12.1
W 16 x 50	16.26	7.07	0.38	0.63	14.7	50	659	37.2	81	10.5
W 16 x 45	16.13	7.035	0.345	0.565	13.3	45	586	32.8	72.7	9.3
W 16 x 40	16.01	6.995	0.305	0.505	11.8	40	518	28.9	64.7	8.3
W 16 x 36	15.86	6.985	0.295	0.43	10.6	36	448	24.5	56.5	7
W 16 x 31	15.88	5.525	0.275	0.44	9.12	31	375	12.4	47.2	4.5
W 16 x 26	15.69	5.5	0.25	0.345	7.68	26	301	9.6	38.4	3.5
W 14 x 132	14.66	14.725	0.645	1.03	38.8	132	1530	548	209	74.5
W 14 x 120	14.48	14.67	0.59	0.94	35.3	120	1380	495	190	67.5
W 14×109	14.32	14.605	0.525	0.86	32	109	1240	447	173	61.2
W 14 x 99	14.16	14.565	0.485	0.78	29.1	99	1110	402	157	55.2
W 14 x 90	14.02	14.52	0.44	0.71	26.5	90	999	362	143	49.9
W 14 x 82	14.31	10.13	0.51	0.855	24.1	82	882	148	123	29.3
W 14 x 74	14.17	10.07	0.45	0.785	21.8	74	796	134	112	26.6
W 14 x 68	14.04	10.035	0.415	0.72	20	68	723	121	103	24.2
W 14 x 61	13.89	9.995	0.375	0.645	17.9	61	640	107	92.2	21.5
W 14 x 53	13.92	8.06	0.37	0.66	15.6	53	541	57.7	77.8	14.3
W 14 x 48	13.79	8.03	0.34	0.595	14.1	48	485	51.4	70.3	12.8
W 14 x 43	13.66	7.995	0.305	0.53	12.6	43	428	45.2	62.7	11.3
W 14 x 38	14.1	6.77	0.31	0.515	11.2	38	385	26.7	54.6	7.9
W 14 x 34	13.98	6.745	0.285	0.455	10	34	340	23.3	48.6	6.9
W 14 x 30	13.84	6.73	0.27	0.385	8.85	30	291	19.6	42	5.8
W 14 x 26	13.91	5.025	0.255	0.42	7.69	26	245	8.9	35.3	3.5
W 14 x 22	13.74	5	0.23	0.335	6.49	22	199	7	29	2.8
W 12 x 136	13.41	12.4	0.79	1.25	39.9	136	1240	398	186	64.2
W 12 x 120	13.12	12.32	0.71	1.105	35.3	120	1070	345	163	56
W 12×106	12.89	12.22	0.61	0.99	31.2	106	933	301	145	49.3
W 12 x 96	12.71	12.16	0.55	0.9	28.2	96	833	270	131	44.4
W 12 x 87	12.53	12.125	0.515	0.81	25.6	87	740	241	118	39.7
W 12 x 79	12.38	12.08	0.47	0.735	23.2	79	662	216	107	35.8
W 12 x 72	12.25	12.04	0.43	0.67	21.1	72	597	195	97.4	32.4
W 12 x 65	12.12	12	0.39	0.605	19.1	65	533	174	87.9	29.1
W 12 x 58	12.19	10.01	0.36	0.64	17	58	475	107	78	21.4
W 12 x 53	12.06	9.995	0.345	0.575	15.6	53	425	95.8	70.6	19.2
W 12 x 50	12.19	8.08	0.37	0.64	14.7	50	394	56.3	64.7	13.9
W 12 x 45	12.06	8.045	0.335	0.575	13.2	45	350	50	58.1	12.4
W 12 x 40	11.94	8.005	0.295	0.515	11.8	40	310	44.1	51.9	11
W 12 x 35	12.5	6.56	0.3	0.52	10.3	35	285	24.5	45.6	7.5
W 12 x 30	12.34	6.52	0.26	0.44	8.8	30	238	20.3	38.6	6.2
W 12 x 26	12.22	6.49	0.23	0.38	7.7	26	204	17.3	33.4	5.3
W 12 x 22	12.31	4.03	0.26	0.425	6.5	22	156	4.7	25.4	2.3
W 12 x 19	12.16	4.005	0.235	0.35	5.6	19	130	3.8	21.3	1.9
W 12 x 16	11.99	3.99	0.22	0.265	4.7	16	103	2.8	17.1	1.4
W 12 x 14	11.91	3.97	0.2	0.225	4.2	14	88.6	2.4	14.9	1.2
W 10 x 112	11.36	10.415	0.755	1.25	32.9	112	716	236	126	45.3
W 10×100	11.1	10.34	0.68	1.112	29.4	100	623	207	112	40
W 10 x 88	10.84	10.265	0.605	0.99	25.9	88	534	179	98.5	34.8
W 10 x 77	10.6	10.19	0.53	0.87	22.6	77	455	154	85.9	30.1
W 10 x 68	10.4	10.13	0.47	0.77	20	68	394	134	75.7	26.4
W 10 x 60	10.22	10.08	0.42	0.68	17.6	60	341	116	66.7	23
W 10 x 54	10.09	10.03	0.37	0.615	15.8	54	303	103	60	20.6
W 10 x 49	9.98	10	0.34	0.56	14.4	49	272	93.4	54.6	18.7
W 10 x 45	10.1	8.02	0.35	0.62	13.3	45	248	53.4	49.1	13.3
W 10 x 39	9.92	7.985	0.315	0.53	11.5	39	209	45	42.1	11.3
W 10 x 33	9.73	7.96	0.29	0.435	9.71	33	170	36.6	35	9.2
W 10 x 30	10.47	5.81	0.3	0.51	8.84	30	170	16.7	32.4	5.8
W 10 x 26	10.33	5.77	0.26	0.44	7.6	26	144	14.1	27.9	4.9
W 10 x 22	10.17	5.75	0.24	0.36	6.5	22	118	11.4	23.2	4
W 10 x 19	10.24	4.02	0.25	0.395	5.6	19	96.3	4.3	18.8	2.1
W 10 x 17	10.11	4.01	0.24	0.33	5	17	81.9	3.6	16.2	1.8
W 10 x 15	9.99	4	0.23	0.27	4.4	15	68.9	2.9	13.8	1.5
W 10 x 12	9.87	3.96	0.19	0.21	3.5	12	53.8	2.2	10.9	1.1
W 8 x 67	9	8.28	0.57	0.935	19.7	67	272	88.6	60.4	21.4
W 8 x 58	8.75	8.22	0.51	0.81	17.1	58	228	75.1	52	18.3
W 8 x 48	8.5	8.11	0.4	0.685	14.1	48	184	60.9	43.3	15
W 8 x 40	8.25	8.07	0.36	0.56	11.7	40	146	49.1	35.5	12.2
W 8 x 35	8.12	8.02	0.31	0.495	10.3	35	127	42.6	31.2	10.6
W 8 x 31	8	7.995	0.285	0.435	9.1	31	110	37.1	27.5	9.3
W 8 x 28	8.06	6.535	0.285	0.465	8.3	28	98	21.7	24.3	6.6
W 8 x 24	7.93	6.495	0.245	0.4	7.1	24	82.8	18.3	20.9	5.6
W 8 x 21	8.28	5.27	0.25	0.4	6.2	21	75.3	9.8	18.2	3.7
W 8 x 18	8.14	5.25	0.23	0.33	5.3	18	61.9	8	15.2	3
W 8 x 15	8.11	4.015	0.245	0.315	4.4	15	48	3.4	11.8	1.7
W 8 x 13	7.99	4	0.23	0.255	3.8	13	39.6	2.7	9.9	1.4
W 8×10	7.89	3.94	0.17	0.205	2.9	10	30.8	2.1	7.8	1.1
W 6 x 25	6.38	6.08	0.32	0.455	7.3	25	53.4	17.1	16.7	5.6
W 6 x 20	6.2	6.02	0.26	0.365	5.9	20	41.4	13.3	13.4	4.4
W 6 x 16	6.28	4.03	0.26	0.405	4.7	16	32.1	4.4	10.2	2.2
W 6 x 15	5.99	5.99	0.23	0.26	4.4	15	29.1	9.3	9.7	3.1
W 6 x 12	6.03	4	0.23	0.28	3.6	12	22.1	3	7.3	1.5
W 6 x 9	5.9	3.94	0.17	0.215	2.7	9	16.4	2.2	5.6	1.1
W 5 x 19	5.15	5.03	0.27	0.43	5.5	19	26.2	9.1	10.2	3.6
W 5 x 16	5.01	5	0.24	0.36	4.7	16	21.3	7.5	8.5	3
W 4 x 13	4.16	4.06	0.28	0.345	3.8	13	11.3	3.9	5.5	1.9

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com

Engineering Notes

ASTM A6 tolerances cover depth, flange width, web straightness, and sweep. Always verify mill certificates for critical applications.
Compact vs. non-compact flanges: The local buckling behavior of the compression flange depends on the b/t ratio (flange width-to-thickness). Consult AISC 360 Table B4.1b to classify each section.
Lateral-torsional buckling reduces the available moment capacity when the unbraced length exceeds $L_p$ . The tabulated Sx applies only in the plastic or compact range with adequate bracing.
Depth-to-weight tradeoff: Heavier designations within a nominal depth group have thicker flanges and webs, raising both Ix and the web shear capacity at the cost of added weight.
Connections: The wide flange provides ample surface for bolted shear tabs and moment end-plate details. Minimum edge distances per AISC must still be checked against the flange width.
Metric equivalents are available from ASTM A6 for the same shape families; nominal depths are converted and rounded to the nearest millimeter.

References

ASTM A6 / A6M — Standard Specification for General Requirements for Rolled Structural Steel Bars, Plates, Shapes, and Sheet Piling
AISC 360 — Specification for Structural Steel Buildings
Original source: Engineering ToolBox — American Wide Flange Steel Beams

Source: engineeringtoolbox.com