AISC Shapes Database v16.0
Active library- Source / publisher
- AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction)
- Edition / version
- Shapes Database v16.0
- Sections
- 2,299
- Last verified
- July 2026
AISC Steel Shapes: Sizes and Section Properties
Browse AISC W, S, M, HP, channel, angle, tee, pipe and HSS dimensions and section properties from the AISC Shapes Database.
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Showing AISC · W-Shapes · Imperial
AISC Shapes Database v16.0 · 2,299 sections
Searches every available library and shape family. Leave the field empty to browse the filters below.
Filter by series
Showing the most relevant 75 sections.
| Designation | Weight (lb/ft) | Depth, d (in) | Flange width, bf (in) | Area (in²) | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W44x408 | 408 | 44.8 | 16.1 | 120 | 38700 | 1730 |
| W44x368 | 368 | 44.4 | 16 | 108 | 34700 | 1560 |
| W44x335 | 335 | 44 | 15.9 | 98.5 | 31100 | 1410 |
| W44x290 | 290 | 43.6 | 15.8 | 85.4 | 27000 | 1240 |
| W40x655 | 655 | 43.6 | 16.9 | 193 | 56500 | 2590 |
| W44x262 | 262 | 43.3 | 15.8 | 77.2 | 24100 | 1110 |
| W36x853 | 853 | 43.1 | 18.2 | 251 | 70000 | 3250 |
| W36x925 | 925 | 43.1 | 18.6 | 272 | 73000 | 3390 |
| W40x593 | 593 | 43 | 16.7 | 174 | 50400 | 2340 |
| W44x230 | 230 | 42.9 | 15.8 | 67.8 | 20800 | 971 |
| W36x802 | 802 | 42.6 | 18 | 236 | 64800 | 3040 |
| W40x503 | 503 | 42.1 | 16.4 | 148 | 41600 | 1980 |
| W36x723 | 723 | 41.8 | 17.8 | 213 | 57300 | 2740 |
| W40x392 | 392 | 41.6 | 12.4 | 116 | 29900 | 1440 |
| W40x431 | 431 | 41.3 | 16.2 | 127 | 34800 | 1690 |
| W36x652 | 652 | 41.1 | 17.6 | 192 | 50600 | 2460 |
| W40x397 | 397 | 41 | 16.1 | 117 | 32000 | 1560 |
| W40x327 | 327 | 40.8 | 12.1 | 95.9 | 24500 | 1200 |
| W40x331 | 331 | 40.8 | 12.2 | 97.7 | 24700 | 1210 |
| W40x362 | 362 | 40.6 | 16 | 106 | 28900 | 1420 |
| W40x372 | 372 | 40.6 | 16.1 | 110 | 29600 | 1460 |
| W40x294 | 294 | 40.4 | 12 | 86.2 | 21900 | 1080 |
| W40x278 | 278 | 40.2 | 12 | 82.3 | 20500 | 1020 |
| W40x324 | 324 | 40.2 | 15.9 | 95.3 | 25600 | 1280 |
| W40x264 | 264 | 40 | 11.9 | 77.4 | 19400 | 971 |
| W40x297 | 297 | 39.8 | 15.8 | 87.3 | 23200 | 1170 |
| W36x529 | 529 | 39.8 | 17.2 | 156 | 39600 | 1990 |
| W40x235 | 235 | 39.7 | 11.9 | 69.1 | 17400 | 875 |
| W40x277 | 277 | 39.7 | 15.8 | 81.5 | 21900 | 1100 |
| W40x211 | 211 | 39.4 | 11.8 | 62.1 | 15500 | 786 |
| W40x249 | 249 | 39.4 | 15.8 | 73.5 | 19600 | 993 |
| W36x487 | 487 | 39.3 | 17.1 | 143 | 36000 | 1830 |
| W36x387 | 387 | 39.1 | 12.7 | 114 | 26500 | 1360 |
| W40x183 | 183 | 39 | 11.8 | 53.3 | 13200 | 675 |
| W40x215 | 215 | 39 | 15.8 | 63.5 | 16700 | 859 |
| W36x441 | 441 | 38.9 | 17 | 130 | 32100 | 1650 |
| W40x199 | 199 | 38.7 | 15.8 | 58.8 | 14900 | 770 |
| W40x167 | 167 | 38.6 | 11.8 | 49.3 | 11600 | 600 |
| W36x350 | 350 | 38.6 | 12.6 | 103 | 23600 | 1220 |
| W36x395 | 395 | 38.4 | 16.8 | 116 | 28500 | 1490 |
| W40x149 | 149 | 38.2 | 11.8 | 43.8 | 9800 | 513 |
| W36x318 | 318 | 38.2 | 12.4 | 93.4 | 21200 | 1110 |
| W36x361 | 361 | 38 | 16.7 | 106 | 25700 | 1350 |
| W36x286 | 286 | 37.8 | 12.3 | 83.9 | 18900 | 1000 |
| W36x330 | 330 | 37.7 | 16.6 | 96.9 | 23300 | 1240 |
| W36x256 | 256 | 37.4 | 12.2 | 75.3 | 16800 | 895 |
| W36x302 | 302 | 37.3 | 16.7 | 89 | 21100 | 1130 |
| W36x232 | 232 | 37.1 | 12.1 | 68 | 15000 | 809 |
| W36x282 | 282 | 37.1 | 16.6 | 82.9 | 19600 | 1050 |
| W36x262 | 262 | 36.9 | 16.6 | 77.2 | 17900 | 972 |
| W36x210 | 210 | 36.7 | 12.2 | 61.9 | 13200 | 719 |
| W36x247 | 247 | 36.7 | 16.5 | 72.5 | 16700 | 913 |
| W36x194 | 194 | 36.5 | 12.1 | 57 | 12100 | 664 |
| W36x231 | 231 | 36.5 | 16.5 | 68.2 | 15600 | 854 |
| W36x182 | 182 | 36.3 | 12.1 | 53.6 | 11300 | 623 |
| W36x170 | 170 | 36.2 | 12 | 50 | 10500 | 581 |
| W36x160 | 160 | 36 | 12 | 47 | 9760 | 542 |
| W33x387 | 387 | 36 | 16.2 | 114 | 24300 | 1350 |
| W36x150 | 150 | 35.9 | 12 | 44.3 | 9040 | 504 |
| W36x135 | 135 | 35.6 | 12 | 39.9 | 7800 | 439 |
| W33x354 | 354 | 35.6 | 16.1 | 104 | 22000 | 1240 |
| W33x318 | 318 | 35.2 | 16 | 93.7 | 19500 | 1110 |
| W33x291 | 291 | 34.8 | 15.9 | 85.6 | 17700 | 1020 |
| W33x263 | 263 | 34.5 | 15.8 | 77.4 | 15900 | 919 |
| W33x241 | 241 | 34.2 | 15.9 | 71.1 | 14200 | 831 |
| W33x221 | 221 | 33.9 | 15.8 | 65.3 | 12900 | 759 |
| W33x169 | 169 | 33.8 | 11.5 | 49.5 | 9290 | 549 |
| W33x201 | 201 | 33.7 | 15.7 | 59.1 | 11600 | 686 |
| W33x152 | 152 | 33.5 | 11.6 | 44.9 | 8160 | 487 |
| W33x141 | 141 | 33.3 | 11.5 | 41.5 | 7450 | 448 |
| W30x391 | 391 | 33.2 | 15.6 | 115 | 20700 | 1250 |
| W33x130 | 130 | 33.1 | 11.5 | 38.3 | 6710 | 406 |
| W33x118 | 118 | 32.9 | 11.5 | 34.7 | 5900 | 359 |
| W30x357 | 357 | 32.8 | 15.5 | 105 | 18700 | 1140 |
| W27x539 | 539 | 32.5 | 15.3 | 159 | 25600 | 1570 |
Library overview
AISC steel shapes
The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) publishes the Shapes Database used throughout US building and bridge practice. Optimal Beam imports the public AISC shape library so you can browse designations, compare dimensions and section properties, download size charts and hand sections to the beam calculator. Values are stored from the published source and shown in imperial or metric display units. Use tabulated depths, flange widths and thicknesses for detailing—not the rounded numbers in a designation alone. Axis conventions follow the usual strong (x) and weak (y) axes for open shapes; closed HSS and pipe use the published properties for the corresponding axes. This regional hub covers every AISC family in the finder: wide-flange W, S, M and HP shapes, channels, angles, structural tees, pipe and HSS. Open a family card to filter the table, compare nearby weights, then open a designation page or analyze the section under project loads. When you need a printable package, download a family size chart from the chips below. Always confirm critical dimensions against the official AISC tables for the edition shown in the data source card before fabrication or final design.
Shape families
AISC families
Open a family hub to filter the finder by shape group, compare nearby sizes, then analyze a designation in the beam calculator.
W
289 sectionsParallel-flange wide-flange beams and columns for buildings and bridges.
M
16 sectionsMiscellaneous I-sections with proportions outside the W series.
S
28 sectionsAmerican standard beams with sloping inner flange faces.
HP
22 sectionsBearing piles with nearly equal flange and web thickness.
C
32 sectionsAmerican standard channels for framing and edge members.
MC
40 sectionsMiscellaneous channels with a wider range of proportions.
L
137 sectionsEqual- and unequal-leg angles for bracing and connections.
2L
639 sectionsDouble angles
WT
289 sectionsStructural tees cut from W-shapes.
MT
14 sectionsMiscellaneous tees cut from M-shapes.
ST
28 sectionsTees cut from S-shapes.
PIPE
51 sectionsStandard, extra-strong and double-extra-strong steel pipe.
HSS Rect
399 sectionsRectangular hollow structural sections for frames and columns.
HSS Sq
126 sectionsSquare hollow structural sections for columns and architectural framing.
HSS Rnd
189 sectionsRound hollow structural sections for columns and braces.
Designations
Understanding AISC designations
AISC designations encode size differently by family. Always confirm actual depth, flange width and thickness in the table before detailing or analysis.
- W12×26
- Wide-flange shape: nominal depth near 12 in, nominal weight 26 lb/ft. Actual depth differs by weight.
- C10×20
- American standard channel: nominal depth near 10 in, nominal weight about 20 lb/ft.
- L4×4×1/2
- Equal-leg angle: 4 in legs with 1/2 in thickness.
- WT6×13
- Structural tee cut from a W-shape: nominal depth and weight derived from the parent section.
- HSS6×6×1/4
- Square HSS: 6 in outside size with 1/4 in nominal wall thickness. Design thickness is smaller and used in calculations.
- Pipe 4 Std
- Steel pipe identified by nominal diameter and wall class (Standard, X-Strong or XX-Strong).
Data notes
AISC data notes
- AISC publishes both US customary and metric designations; the finder can display either unit system while preserving source values.
- Nominal depth in a W, S, M or channel designation is not always equal to the published overall depth—use the tabulated depth for clearance and connections.
- HSS listings include nominal wall thickness and a smaller design wall thickness used for property calculations.
- EDI designations and current/historical status fields may appear in the published database; Optimal Beam surfaces the active public catalog used for browsing and analysis handoff.
- Displayed values may be rounded for readability. Confirm critical dimensions against the official AISC tables for the edition you are using.
Beam calculator
Analyze AISC sections
Select any AISC shape and load it directly into the Optimal Beam calculator for span, support and load analysis.
PDF downloads
AISC size charts
Download a printable family size chart for the shapes you are browsing. Charts follow your current unit system.
Methodology
Data source
Optimal Beam preserves the underlying published source values and uses normalized values for unit conversion and calculations. Values displayed in the table may be rounded for readability. Confirm critical dimensions and properties against the official publisher’s tables before fabrication or final design.
Questions & answers
AISC FAQs
What is an AISC W-shape?
A W-shape is an AISC wide-flange I-section with parallel flange faces. It is the common rolled shape for beams and columns in US practice. Designations such as W12×26 give approximate nominal depth and weight per foot; use tabulated dimensions for detailing.
What is the difference between W, S and M shapes?
W-shapes are wide-flange sections with parallel flanges. S-shapes are American standard beams with sloping inner flange faces. M-shapes are miscellaneous I-sections that do not fall into the W or S series. Geometry and available sizes differ, so compare tabulated properties rather than treating them as interchangeable.
Why does actual depth differ from the designation?
The number in a designation such as the “12” in W12×26 is a nominal depth. Published overall depth varies by weight within the series. Always use the tabulated depth for clearance, connections and analysis.
What is the AISC metric designation?
AISC also publishes metric labels (for example W310×38.7 for a section near W12×26). The finder can show imperial or metric display values; confirm which label and unit system you need for coordination.
What is HSS design thickness?
HSS products list a nominal wall thickness and a smaller design wall thickness. Design thickness accounts for production tolerances and is the thickness used for published design properties. Use design thickness for calculations unless your project specification says otherwise.
Are historical AISC shapes included?
The Optimal Beam catalog focuses on the active public AISC shapes used for browsing and analysis. If you need a discontinued or historical shape, confirm availability in the official AISC edition for your project.
Which AISC database edition is used?
The finder imports the AISC Shapes Database edition shown in the data source card on this page (currently v16.0). Edition and verification dates appear with the methodology notes.
Can AISC shapes be analyzed in metric units?
Yes. Switch the finder to Metric to display SI units, then choose Analyze to open the Optimal Beam calculator with that section’s geometric and section properties loaded into a new beam model.