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I-Beam Chart and Guide
Speaking the Language of I-Beams
Selecting the appropriate I-Beam for your project starts with knowing and understanding a few of the basic terms that are used to describe its design properties and structural integrity characteristics. Depending on what you’re building you don’t have to be an engineer to choose the right size I-Beam. Here a few of the most important terms to know:
- Flange: The flanges of an I-Beam are the top and bottom horizontal plates or lines that make it look like a capital letter “I” when viewed from a cross section angle.
- Flange Thickness: This refers to the thickness of the flanges mentioned above and impacts the beam’s load-bearing capabilities.
- Web Thickness: This is the thickness of the steel in the vertical section of the I-beam.
Types and Shapes of I-beams
In general, the two most common shapes of I-beams are S-shaped and W-shaped. S-shaped I-beams have tapered flanges. They most closely resemble a capital letter “I” when viewed cross wise. W-shaped I-beams have straight or parallel flanges that tend to be longer, giving it the appearance of a capital letter H when turned on its side, which is why it is also often called an H-Beam.
Differences Between I-beams and H-beams.
H-Beams are made from rolled steel and are typically heavier than S-shaped I-beams. This means they can bear a greater amount of force than I-beams, and they tend to be used for commercial construction projects where loads are greater. I-beams tend to be lighter and are often used in residential construction projects where too much weight or force on a wall might pose a structural issue.
Structurally speaking, H-beams can be used for spans up to 330 feet while I-beams can be used for lengths of up to 100 feet.
Choosing the Correct I-beam for Your Project
When selecting the right I-Beam size and type for your project, it’s important to consider the force being applied to it, the weight load it must bear, and the tension and compression it will undergo.
Smaller I-Beams can be used for projects where the pressure and weight will be more, and larger sizes should be used for structures that need to bear a greater load. You can use the table below as a general guide to help you select the right length and thickness for your I-beam.
American Standard I-Beam Sizes
| Type | Beam height (in) |
Flange width (in) |
Web thickness (in) |
Flange thickness (in) |
Weight (lb/ft) |
Cross-section area (in2) |
Moment of inertia in torsion (J) (in4) |
| W4x13 | 4.16 | 4.06 | 0.28 | 0.345 | 13 | 3.83 | 0.151 |
| W5x16 | 5.01 | 5 | 0.24 | 0.36 | 16 | 4.71 | 0.192 |
| W5x19 | 5.15 | 5.03 | 0.27 | 0.43 | 19 | 5.56 | 0.316 |
| W6x8.5 | 5.83 | 3.94 | 0.17 | 0.195 | 8.5 | 2.52 | 0.0333 |
| W6x9 | 5.9 | 3.94 | 0.17 | 0.215 | 9 | 2.68 | 0.0405 |
| W6x12 | 6.03 | 4 | 0.23 | 0.28 | 12 | 3.55 | 0.0903 |
| W6x15 | 5.99 | 5.99 | 0.23 | 0.26 | 15 | 4.43 | 0.101 |
| W6x16 | 6.28 | 4.03 | 0.26 | 0.405 | 16 | 4.74 | 0.223 |