Dimensions at a glance
Interactive C Channel Size Diagram
Select a listed C shape to map its AISC dimensions and section properties to the channel profile.
- Designation
- C10×15.3
- Weight, W
- 15.3 lb/ft
- Area, A
- 4.48 in²
- Depth, d
- 10 in
- Flange width, bf
- 2.6 in
- Web thickness, tw
- 0.24 in
- Flange thickness, tf
- 0.436 in
- Centroid distance, x̄
- 0.634 in
- Strong-axis Ix
- 67.3 in⁴
- Strong-axis Sx
- 13.5 in³
- Weak-axis Iy
- 2.27 in⁴
- Weak-axis ry
- 0.711 in
Geometry reference
These dimensions and section properties do not determine member capacity or select a safe channel for a load, span, connection, or project.
Reference table
Selected AISC C Channel Sizes and Properties
A limited depth-family excerpt from the AISC Shapes Database v16.0, with the lightest and heaviest C shape in each nominal depth series plus the default C10×15.3.
Search by designation or filter by nominal depth. Sort any numeric property to scan the selected reference rows.
No included AISC C shapes match this search or depth filter. Clear the filters or verify whether you need an MC, cold-formed, strut, bar, aluminum/stainless, or non-AISC channel.
Scroll horizontally to view additional columns and vertically to view additional rows. Column headers and the designation column remain visible while scrolling.
| Weight & Area | Dimensions | Strong Axis | Weak Axis | Action | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C3×3.5 | 3.5 | 1.09 | 3 | 1.37 | 0.132 | 0.273 | 0.443 | 1.57 | 1.04 | 0.169 | 0.394 | |
| C3×6 | 6 | 1.76 | 3 | 1.6 | 0.356 | 0.273 | 0.455 | 2.07 | 1.38 | 0.3 | 0.413 | |
| C4×4.5 | 4.5 | 1.34 | 4 | 1.52 | 0.125 | 0.296 | 0.473 | 3.53 | 1.77 | 0.265 | 0.445 | |
| C4×7.25 | 7.25 | 2.13 | 4 | 1.72 | 0.321 | 0.296 | 0.459 | 4.58 | 2.29 | 0.425 | 0.447 | |
| C5×6.7 | 6.7 | 1.97 | 5 | 1.75 | 0.19 | 0.32 | 0.484 | 7.48 | 2.99 | 0.47 | 0.489 | |
| C5×9 | 9 | 2.64 | 5 | 1.89 | 0.325 | 0.32 | 0.478 | 8.89 | 3.56 | 0.624 | 0.486 | |
| C6×8.2 | 8.2 | 2.39 | 6 | 1.92 | 0.2 | 0.343 | 0.512 | 13.1 | 4.35 | 0.687 | 0.536 | |
| C6×13 | 13 | 3.82 | 6 | 2.16 | 0.437 | 0.343 | 0.514 | 17.3 | 5.78 | 1.05 | 0.524 | |
| C7×9.8 | 9.8 | 2.87 | 7 | 2.09 | 0.21 | 0.366 | 0.541 | 21.2 | 6.07 | 0.957 | 0.578 | |
| C7×14.75 | 14.75 | 4.33 | 7 | 2.3 | 0.419 | 0.366 | 0.532 | 27.2 | 7.78 | 1.37 | 0.561 | |
| C8×11.5 | 11.5 | 3.37 | 8 | 2.26 | 0.22 | 0.39 | 0.572 | 32.5 | 8.14 | 1.31 | 0.623 | |
| C8×18.75 | 18.75 | 5.51 | 8 | 2.53 | 0.487 | 0.39 | 0.565 | 43.9 | 11 | 1.97 | 0.598 | |
| C9×13.4 | 13.4 | 3.94 | 9 | 2.43 | 0.233 | 0.413 | 0.601 | 47.8 | 10.6 | 1.75 | 0.666 | |
| C9×20 | 20 | 5.87 | 9 | 2.65 | 0.448 | 0.413 | 0.583 | 60.9 | 13.5 | 2.41 | 0.64 | |
| C10×15.3 | 15.3 | 4.48 | 10 | 2.6 | 0.24 | 0.436 | 0.634 | 67.3 | 13.5 | 2.27 | 0.711 | |
| C10×30 | 30 | 8.81 | 10 | 3.03 | 0.673 | 0.436 | 0.649 | 103 | 20.7 | 3.93 | 0.668 | |
| C12×20.7 | 20.7 | 6.08 | 12 | 2.94 | 0.282 | 0.501 | 0.698 | 129 | 21.5 | 3.86 | 0.797 | |
| C12×30 | 30 | 8.81 | 12 | 3.17 | 0.51 | 0.501 | 0.674 | 162 | 27 | 5.12 | 0.762 | |
| C15×33.9 | 33.9 | 10 | 15 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 0.65 | 0.788 | 315 | 42 | 8.07 | 0.901 | |
| C15×50 | 50 | 14.7 | 15 | 3.72 | 0.716 | 0.65 | 0.799 | 404 | 53.8 | 11 | 0.865 | |
The designation gives a nominal depth series and nominal weight; use the actual tabulated dimensions and properties for reference. Intermediate AISC C shapes are intentionally omitted from this rights-limited excerpt. Use the current official AISC database for the complete shape set.
How to Read a C Channel Designation and Its Properties
C10×15.3 identifies an American Standard channel in the C family. The first number identifies the nominal depth series in inches, while the second number is the nominal weight in pounds per foot. The actual overall depth is the tabulated d value, so the designation should not be treated as a fabrication dimension.
- W
- Nominal weight per unit length.
- A
- Cross-sectional area.
- d
- Overall depth of the member.
- bf
- Flange width.
- tw
- Web thickness.
- tf
- Flange thickness.
- x̄
- Distance from the outside face of the channel web to the centroidal y-axis for this channel reference.
- Ix / Iy
- Area moments of inertia about the centroidal x and y axes.
- Sx
- Elastic section modulus about the x axis.
- ry
- Radius of gyration about the y axis.
For channels, x̄ deserves special attention because the centroidal y-axis is offset from the back of the web. The section is symmetric about its horizontal centroidal x-axis, but not about the vertical centroidal y-axis.
C Channel vs MC, Cold-Formed, Strut, and Other Channels
The word “channel” is used for several different product families. Match the designation and governing reference before using dimensions or section properties.
AISC C shape
Use this page for American Standard hot-rolled C shapes with AISC designations such as C10×15.3.
AISC MC shape
MC means Miscellaneous Channel. It is a separate AISC shape family with different standardized proportions and listings.
Cold-formed or lipped C
These sections are formed from sheet or strip and use different geometry, thickness conventions, standards, and design rules.
Strut, bar, aluminum, stainless, UPN/UPE
These are product- or standard-specific channel systems and should not be substituted for an AISC C-shape lookup.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not treat x̄ as half the flange width, do not use Ix and Iy interchangeably, do not assume the nominal depth is the exact d dimension, and do not interpret a listed shape as proof of current local mill or distributor availability.
Worked Lookup: C10×15.3
1. Identify the designation. C10×15.3 is in the 10-inch nominal depth series with a nominal weight of 15.3 lb/ft.
2. Read the actual geometry. In the AISC v16.0 source row used here, d = 10 in, bf = 2.6 in, tw = 0.24 in, and tf = 0.436 in.
3. Read section properties by axis. Ix = 67.3 in⁴ and Sx = 13.5 in³ about the x-axis; Iy = 2.27 in⁴ and ry = 0.711 in about the y-axis.
4. Check the designation sanity check. The table W value is 15.3 lb/ft, matching the second number in the designation.
Limitation: these geometric properties are inputs to structural analysis and design; they do not by themselves prove that C10×15.3 is adequate for a specific span or load.
C Channel Dimensions Are Not Load Capacity
Actual member selection depends on more than section geometry. Structural checks can require material specification and yield strength, factored or service loads, member orientation, unbraced length, local and global stability, yielding, lateral-torsional or flexural-torsional behavior, deflection, holes, connections, supports, corrosion allowance, tolerances, and the governing design provisions.
Do not size from this table alone
A larger Ix or Sx is not a complete capacity check. Use the applicable structural design method and project conditions before selecting a member.
For the next calculation step, see the Bending Stress Formula. For interpretation of Ix and Iy, see Moment of Inertia.
Source, Units, Scope, and Data Rights
Selected AISC American Standard C shapes only; intermediate C rows, MC shapes, cold-formed channels, and other channel systems are outside this excerpt.
Dimensions and section properties are sourced from the American Institute of Steel Construction Shapes Database v16.0. The controlling basis is AISC Shapes Database v16.0. For production verification, the same titled workbook was retrieved from the Delaware Department of Transportation Construction Manual, whose file page identifies it as the AISC Shapes Database.
- AISC Shapes Database v16.0 Controlling source basis; AISC describes v16.0 as dimensions and properties consistent with the Steel Construction Manual, 16th Edition.
- Delaware DOT hosted AISC v16.0 workbook Government-hosted retrieval copy used to verify the workbook Readme, Type=C records, paired U.S./SI fields, and selected production values.
- AISC Structural Steel Dimensioning Tool Independent AISC dimensioning/nomenclature reference for release cross-checks.
- ASTM A6/A6M-26a Current ASTM general-requirements reference for rolled structural shapes; proprietary ASTM tables are not reproduced here.
- AISC Copyright Permissions Rights reference supporting the limited-excerpt, no-bulk-download treatment used on this page.
Dataset and Source-Check Details
- Publisher
- Turn2Engineering
- Primary dataset
- AISC Shapes Database v16.0
- AISC Readme date
- August 2023
- Manual alignment
- 16th Edition, 1st Printing
- Source checked
- August 19, 2026
- Included rows
- 20 selected C-shape records
- Selection rule
- Lightest and heaviest listed C shape in each nominal depth series, plus C10×15.3 if needed
- Unit handling
- Paired AISC U.S. customary and SI source fields
- Interpolation
- None
- CSV / bulk download
- Disabled
- Rights treatment
- Limited transformed educational excerpt; full AISC database reproduction not provided
- Known exclusions
- Intermediate C rows, MC, cold-formed, strut, bar, aluminum/stainless, and non-AISC channel systems
C Channel Size Chart FAQ
C identifies the American Standard channel family, 10 identifies the nominal 10-inch depth series, and 15.3 is the nominal weight in pounds per foot; use the tabulated d, bf, tw, and tf values for actual reference dimensions.
No. C and MC are separate AISC channel families with different standardized dimensions, proportions, and designations.
The leading designation number identifies a nominal depth series; the actual source-controlled overall depth is the tabulated d value.
No. Strut and cold-formed C sections use different profile geometry, product systems, thickness conventions, and design references.
No. Final member selection requires the applicable loads, supports, material, stability, serviceability, connection conditions, and governing structural design requirements.
Use the Chart as a Geometry Reference
Start with the exact C designation, read the actual dimensions and axis-specific section properties, and confirm that the shape family matches the project reference. For complete AISC shape listings or design work, use the current official AISC resources and the applicable structural design provisions.