Fast lookup
Find an I-Beam Size
Type a W or S designation to get dimensions, weight, a section sketch, and total beam weight without scanning a wide table.
- Weight
- 26 lb/ft
- Depth d
- 12.2 in
- Flange width bf
- 6.49 in
- Web tw
- 0.230 in
- Flange tf
- 0.380 in
- Area A
- 7.65 in²
- Ix
- 204 in⁴
- Sx
- 33.4 in³
Reference dimensions only. A beam size chart does not determine safe span or load capacity.
Common AISC W shapes
Wide Flange (W) Beam Size Chart
Search a W designation or depth series. Start with the dimensions most people need; expand the engineering properties only when you need them.
Tip: type W12x26 or 12 26. On phones, the core table remains horizontally scrollable while the finder above gives the fastest single-size answer.
No included W shapes match this search. Clear the search or choose another depth series.
Scroll horizontally to view additional columns and vertically to view additional rows. Column headers remain visible while scrolling.
| Identification | Weight & area | Cross-section dimensions | Strong-axis properties | Weak-axis property | Action | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compare | lb/ft | in² | in | in | in | in | in⁴ | in³ | in | Copy | |
| W4×13 | 13.0 | 3.83 | 4.16 | 4.06 | 0.280 | 0.345 | 11.3 | 5.46 | 1.00 | ||
| W6×9 | 9.00 | 2.68 | 5.90 | 3.94 | 0.170 | 0.215 | 16.4 | 5.56 | 0.905 | ||
| W6×12 | 12.0 | 3.55 | 6.03 | 4.00 | 0.230 | 0.280 | 22.1 | 7.31 | 0.918 | ||
| W6×15 | 15.0 | 4.43 | 5.99 | 5.99 | 0.230 | 0.260 | 29.1 | 9.72 | 1.45 | ||
| W6×20 | 20.0 | 5.87 | 6.20 | 6.02 | 0.260 | 0.365 | 41.4 | 13.4 | 1.50 | ||
| W6×25 | 25.0 | 7.34 | 6.38 | 6.08 | 0.320 | 0.455 | 53.4 | 16.7 | 1.52 | ||
| W8×10 | 10.0 | 2.96 | 7.89 | 3.94 | 0.170 | 0.205 | 30.8 | 7.81 | 0.841 | ||
| W8×15 | 15.0 | 4.44 | 8.11 | 4.02 | 0.245 | 0.315 | 48.0 | 11.8 | 0.876 | ||
| W8×18 | 18.0 | 5.26 | 8.14 | 5.25 | 0.230 | 0.330 | 61.9 | 15.2 | 1.23 | ||
| W8×21 | 21.0 | 6.16 | 8.28 | 5.27 | 0.250 | 0.400 | 75.3 | 18.2 | 1.26 | ||
| W8×24 | 24.0 | 7.08 | 7.93 | 6.50 | 0.245 | 0.400 | 82.7 | 20.9 | 1.61 | ||
| W8×31 | 31.0 | 9.13 | 8.00 | 8.00 | 0.285 | 0.435 | 110 | 27.5 | 2.02 | ||
| W8×35 | 35.0 | 10.3 | 8.12 | 8.02 | 0.310 | 0.495 | 127 | 31.2 | 2.03 | ||
| W8×40 | 40.0 | 11.7 | 8.25 | 8.07 | 0.360 | 0.560 | 146 | 35.5 | 2.04 | ||
| W10×12 | 12.0 | 3.54 | 9.87 | 3.96 | 0.190 | 0.210 | 53.8 | 10.9 | 0.785 | ||
| W10×15 | 15.0 | 4.41 | 9.99 | 4.00 | 0.230 | 0.270 | 68.9 | 13.8 | 0.810 | ||
| W10×19 | 19.0 | 5.62 | 10.2 | 4.02 | 0.250 | 0.395 | 96.3 | 18.8 | 0.874 | ||
| W10×22 | 22.0 | 6.49 | 10.2 | 5.75 | 0.240 | 0.360 | 118 | 23.2 | 1.33 | ||
| W10×26 | 26.0 | 7.61 | 10.3 | 5.77 | 0.260 | 0.440 | 144 | 27.9 | 1.36 | ||
| W10×30 | 30.0 | 8.84 | 10.5 | 5.81 | 0.300 | 0.510 | 170 | 32.4 | 1.37 | ||
| W12×14 | 14.0 | 4.16 | 11.9 | 3.97 | 0.200 | 0.225 | 88.6 | 14.9 | 0.753 | ||
| W12×16 | 16.0 | 4.71 | 12.0 | 3.99 | 0.220 | 0.265 | 103 | 17.1 | 0.773 | ||
| W12×19 | 19.0 | 5.57 | 12.2 | 4.01 | 0.235 | 0.350 | 130 | 21.3 | 0.822 | ||
| W12×22 | 22.0 | 6.48 | 12.3 | 4.03 | 0.260 | 0.425 | 156 | 25.4 | 0.848 | ||
| W12×26 | 26.0 | 7.65 | 12.2 | 6.49 | 0.230 | 0.380 | 204 | 33.4 | 1.51 | ||
| W12×30 | 30.0 | 8.79 | 12.3 | 6.52 | 0.260 | 0.440 | 238 | 38.6 | 1.52 | ||
| W12×35 | 35.0 | 10.3 | 12.5 | 6.56 | 0.300 | 0.520 | 285 | 45.6 | 1.54 | ||
| W12×40 | 40.0 | 11.7 | 11.9 | 8.01 | 0.295 | 0.515 | 307 | 51.5 | 1.94 | ||
| W12×50 | 50.0 | 14.6 | 12.2 | 8.08 | 0.370 | 0.640 | 391 | 64.2 | 1.96 | ||
| W14×22 | 22.0 | 6.49 | 13.7 | 5.00 | 0.230 | 0.335 | 199 | 29.0 | 1.04 | ||
| W14×26 | 26.0 | 7.69 | 13.9 | 5.03 | 0.255 | 0.420 | 245 | 35.3 | 1.08 | ||
| W14×30 | 30.0 | 8.85 | 13.8 | 6.73 | 0.270 | 0.385 | 291 | 42.0 | 1.49 | ||
| W14×34 | 34.0 | 10.0 | 14.0 | 6.75 | 0.285 | 0.455 | 340 | 48.6 | 1.53 | ||
| W14×38 | 38.0 | 11.2 | 14.1 | 6.77 | 0.310 | 0.515 | 385 | 54.6 | 1.55 | ||
| W14×43 | 43.0 | 12.6 | 13.7 | 8.00 | 0.305 | 0.530 | 428 | 62.6 | 1.89 | ||
| W14×53 | 53.0 | 15.6 | 13.9 | 8.06 | 0.370 | 0.660 | 541 | 77.8 | 1.92 | ||
| W16×26 | 26.0 | 7.68 | 15.7 | 5.50 | 0.250 | 0.345 | 301 | 38.4 | 1.12 | ||
| W16×31 | 31.0 | 9.13 | 15.9 | 5.53 | 0.275 | 0.440 | 375 | 47.2 | 1.17 | ||
| W16×36 | 36.0 | 10.6 | 15.9 | 6.99 | 0.295 | 0.430 | 448 | 56.5 | 1.52 | ||
| W16×40 | 40.0 | 11.8 | 16.0 | 7.00 | 0.305 | 0.505 | 518 | 64.7 | 1.57 | ||
| W18×35 | 35.0 | 10.3 | 17.7 | 6.00 | 0.300 | 0.425 | 510 | 57.6 | 1.22 | ||
| W18×40 | 40.0 | 11.8 | 17.9 | 6.02 | 0.315 | 0.525 | 612 | 68.4 | 1.27 | ||
| W18×46 | 46.0 | 13.5 | 18.1 | 6.06 | 0.360 | 0.605 | 712 | 78.8 | 1.29 | ||
| W18×50 | 50.0 | 14.7 | 18.0 | 7.50 | 0.355 | 0.570 | 800 | 88.9 | 1.65 | ||
| W18×60 | 60.0 | 17.6 | 18.2 | 7.56 | 0.415 | 0.695 | 984 | 108 | 1.68 | ||
| W21×44 | 44.0 | 13.0 | 20.7 | 6.50 | 0.350 | 0.450 | 843 | 81.6 | 1.26 | ||
| W21×50 | 50.0 | 14.7 | 20.8 | 6.53 | 0.380 | 0.535 | 984 | 94.5 | 1.30 | ||
| W21×62 | 62.0 | 18.3 | 21.0 | 8.24 | 0.400 | 0.615 | 1330 | 127 | 1.77 | ||
| W24×55 | 55.0 | 16.2 | 23.6 | 7.01 | 0.395 | 0.505 | 1350 | 114 | 1.34 | ||
| W24×62 | 62.0 | 18.2 | 23.7 | 7.04 | 0.430 | 0.590 | 1550 | 131 | 1.38 | ||
| W24×76 | 76.0 | 22.4 | 23.9 | 8.99 | 0.440 | 0.680 | 2100 | 176 | 1.92 | ||
W12×26 means W family, nominal 12-inch depth series, and nominal 26 lb/ft weight. The actual depth comes from the d column. The W table below is a focused reference, not the complete AISC Shapes Database; verify the current AISC source before specification or purchasing.
American Standard I beams
S-Beam (Standard I-Beam) Size Chart
All 28 S-shape designations in the AISC v16.0 reference, shown in U.S. customary units.
If you searched “I beam size chart,” this is the standardized S-shape family. S beams use narrower flanges with tapered inner flange surfaces. W shapes are different rolled sections with wider, nominally parallel flange surfaces.
| S shape | Weight lb/ft | Area in² |
Depth d in | Flange bf in |
Web tw in | Flange tf in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S24×121 | 121 | 35.5 | 24.5 | 8.05 | 0.8 | 1.09 |
| S24×106 | 106 | 31.1 | 24.5 | 7.87 | 0.62 | 1.09 |
| S24×100 | 100 | 29.3 | 24 | 7.25 | 0.745 | 0.87 |
| S24×90 | 90 | 26.5 | 24 | 7.13 | 0.625 | 0.87 |
| S24×80 | 80 | 23.5 | 24 | 7 | 0.5 | 0.87 |
| S20×96 | 96 | 28.2 | 20.3 | 7.2 | 0.8 | 0.92 |
| S20×86 | 86 | 25.3 | 20.3 | 7.06 | 0.66 | 0.92 |
| S20×75 | 75 | 22 | 20 | 6.39 | 0.635 | 0.795 |
| S20×66 | 66 | 19.4 | 20 | 6.26 | 0.505 | 0.795 |
| S18×70 | 70 | 20.5 | 18 | 6.25 | 0.711 | 0.691 |
| S18×54.7 | 54.7 | 16 | 18 | 6 | 0.461 | 0.691 |
| S15×50 | 50 | 14.7 | 15 | 5.64 | 0.55 | 0.622 |
| S15×42.9 | 42.9 | 12.6 | 15 | 5.5 | 0.411 | 0.622 |
| S12×50 | 50 | 14.7 | 12 | 5.48 | 0.687 | 0.659 |
| S12×40.8 | 40.8 | 11.9 | 12 | 5.25 | 0.462 | 0.659 |
| S12×35 | 35 | 10.2 | 12 | 5.08 | 0.428 | 0.544 |
| S12×31.8 | 31.8 | 9.31 | 12 | 5 | 0.35 | 0.544 |
| S10×35 | 35 | 10.3 | 10 | 4.94 | 0.594 | 0.491 |
| S10×25.4 | 25.4 | 7.45 | 10 | 4.66 | 0.311 | 0.491 |
| S8×23 | 23 | 6.76 | 8 | 4.17 | 0.441 | 0.425 |
| S8×18.4 | 18.4 | 5.4 | 8 | 4 | 0.271 | 0.425 |
| S6×17.25 | 17.25 | 5.05 | 6 | 3.57 | 0.465 | 0.359 |
| S6×12.5 | 12.5 | 3.66 | 6 | 3.33 | 0.232 | 0.359 |
| S5×10 | 10 | 2.93 | 5 | 3 | 0.214 | 0.326 |
| S4×9.5 | 9.5 | 2.79 | 4 | 2.8 | 0.326 | 0.293 |
| S4×7.7 | 7.7 | 2.26 | 4 | 2.66 | 0.193 | 0.293 |
| S3×7.5 | 7.5 | 2.2 | 3 | 2.51 | 0.349 | 0.26 |
| S3×5.7 | 5.7 | 1.66 | 3 | 2.33 | 0.17 | 0.26 |
S-shape flange thickness terminology is retained as a compact lookup reference. For detailing, tolerances, slope geometry, and design properties beyond the columns shown here, use the current AISC source.
How to Read an I-Beam Size Chart
W8×24 identifies the wide-flange family, a nominal 8-inch depth series, and nominal weight of 24 lb/ft. Its tabulated overall depth is 7.93 in—not exactly 8 in.
- W and A
- Weight per length and cross-sectional area.
- d, bf, tw, tf
- Overall depth, flange width, web thickness, and flange thickness.
- Ix and Sx
- Strong-axis second moment of area and elastic section modulus.
- ry
- Weak-axis radius of gyration, a geometric stability parameter—not a capacity.
The x-axis is the strong bending axis for the listed W shapes; the y-axis is the weak axis. See Moment of Inertia for property meaning and equations.
I Beam vs W Beam: Which Table Should You Use?
S beam
American Standard I beam. Narrower flanges with tapered inner flange surfaces. Use the S-beam chart above when the designation starts with S.
W beam
Wide-flange shape. Wider, nominally parallel flange surfaces. Use the W chart above when the designation starts with W.
“I beam”
A common descriptive term for an I-shaped section. Always confirm the actual standardized family before using dimensions.
Worked Lookup: W8×24 vs W10×30
Using the AISC v16.0 U.S. columns, W8×24 has d = 7.93 in, bf = 6.50 in, W = 24 lb/ft, and Ix = 82.7 in⁴. W10×30 has d = 10.5 in, bf = 5.81 in, W = 30 lb/ft, and Ix = 170 in⁴.
Geometric inertia ratio: 170 ÷ 82.7 ≈ 2.06
The W10×30 has about 2.06 times the listed strong-axis inertia, but that ratio does not prove strength, deflection compliance, stability, connection adequacy, or suitability. Those checks require actual loads, span, supports, bracing, material, and code criteria.
How the Data and Unit Switching Work
W-shape values on this page use the AISC Shapes Database v16.0 source fields. The finder reads those same server-rendered values rather than maintaining a second W-shape dataset. S-shape lookup values are displayed as a compact AISC-v16.0 reference.
- The source label X is displayed as ×; it is not a mathematical conversion.
- Unit switching selects the paired official workbook value. It never converts a rounded display value or accumulates rounding.
- Displayed precision follows the workbook cell precision. Matching and sorting use the canonical source numbers.
- No interpolation, extrapolation, nearest-size substitution, capacity calculation, or full-database reconstruction is performed.
Source Scope, Rights, and Revision Notes
Selected AISC W-Shape Reference 2.0 — 51 locked rows from AISC Shapes Database v16.0, August 2023.
This page is an attributed educational excerpt. It is not the complete AISC database, does not imply AISC endorsement, and does not replace professional verification against the current source and applicable code.
- AISC Shapes Database v16.0Official database page for dimensions and properties consistent with the Steel Construction Manual, 16th Edition, 1st Printing.
- AISC Shapes Database v16.0 workbookAugust 2023 workbook; values use the “Database v16.0” U.S. and metric column blocks.
- ANSI/AISC 360-22, Specification for Structural Steel BuildingsReferenced only to establish that structural design requires more than section geometry.
- AISC Copyright PermissionsSupports the conservative limited-excerpt and no-bulk-download approach.
Dataset and Source-Check Details
- Primary source
- AISC Shapes Database v16.0
- Worksheet
- Database v16.0
- Fields
- W, A, d, bf, tw, tf, Ix, Sx, ry
- Units
- Official U.S. and metric column pairs
- Excluded
- All unlisted W shapes and all S, M, HP, WT, and other families
- Rights/download
- Limited attributed excerpt; no CSV or bulk export
- Source checked
- August 9, 2026
- Publisher
- Turn2Engineering
I Beam Size Chart FAQs
W identifies the wide-flange family, 8 is the nominal depth series in inches, and 24 is nominal weight in pounds per foot. The actual dimensions come from the row.
A W shape has an I-shaped cross-section and is often called an I beam, but the standardized AISC W and S families have different flange geometry and designations.
The first designation number identifies a nominal depth series. The published d value is the actual tabulated overall depth for that shape.
No. Section geometry is input data; safe selection requires complete code-based strength, stability, serviceability, connection, and project review.
This page intentionally uses a limited educational excerpt because the official compiled database is rights-sensitive. Obtain the complete current workbook directly from AISC.
I Beam Size Chart Summary
- Confirm the exact W-shape designation.
- Read actual dimensions rather than assuming the nominal series is exact.
- Keep one unit system active and use the property for the correct axis.
- Verify current source data, material, availability, loads, stability, serviceability, connections, and code requirements separately.
For a defined loading model, continue to the Beam Calculator; treat its result as analysis support, not final design approval.