AISC W-Beam Sizes and Section Properties
Browse AISC wide-flange W-shapes by nominal depth and weight. Compare dimensions, Ix, Sx, Zx, radii of gyration and other properties in imperial or metric units.
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Showing AISC · W-Shapes · Imperial
AISC Shapes Database v16.0 · 2,299 sections
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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 |
Family overview
What are AISC W-Shapes?
AISC W-shapes are parallel-flange wide-flange I-sections used throughout US building and bridge practice for beams and columns. The strong (x) axis provides the larger flexural stiffness; the weak (y) axis governs lateral stability checks when relevant. Unlike American standard S-shapes, W flanges are essentially parallel, and unlike miscellaneous M-shapes they follow the primary rolled wide-flange series. Designations such as W12×26 encode approximate nominal depth and weight per foot—not exact geometry. Use tabulated depth, flange width and thickness for detailing and analysis. This family hub filters the finder to W-shapes so you can compare nearby weights, open a designation page, download a size chart or load a section into the Optimal Beam calculator under project span and loads.
Designations
Understanding W-Shapes designations
W12×26
W means wide flange. In W12×26, 12 is the approximate nominal depth in inches and 26 is the nominal weight in pounds per foot. Actual published depth varies by weight within the W12 series, so always use the tabulated depth for clearance and connections.
Properties
W-Shapes properties explained
These properties are especially relevant when comparing W-Shapes. View the complete property glossary.
| Symbol | Property | Units | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Weight | lb/ft, kg/m | Mass per unit length; used for self-weight and economy comparisons |
| d | Overall depth | in, mm | Overall depth and clearance |
| bf | Flange width | in, mm | Overall flange width and lateral behaviour |
| tw | Web thickness | in, mm | Web thickness and shear-related behaviour |
| tf | Flange thickness | in, mm | Flange thickness and flexural/local behaviour |
| A | Cross-sectional area | in², mm² | Total steel cross-sectional area |
| Ix | Moment of inertia (x) | in⁴, mm⁴ | Major-axis flexural stiffness |
| Iy | Moment of inertia (y) | in⁴, mm⁴ | Minor-axis flexural stiffness |
| Sx | Elastic section modulus (x) | in³, mm³ | Elastic bending property about the x-axis |
| Sy | Elastic section modulus (y) | in³, mm³ | Elastic bending property about the y-axis |
| Zx | Plastic section modulus (x) | in³, mm³ | Plastic bending property about the x-axis |
| Zy | Plastic section modulus (y) | in³, mm³ | Plastic bending property about the y-axis |
| rx | Radius of gyration (x) | in, mm | Strong-axis radius of gyration |
| ry | Radius of gyration (y) | in, mm | Weak-axis radius of gyration and lateral stability relevance |
| J | Torsional constant | in⁴, mm⁴ | Torsional constant |
| Cw | Warping constant | in⁶, mm⁶ | Warping constant for lateral-torsional behaviour |
Library summary
Computed W-Shapes summary
The current AISC W-Shapes library contains 289 sections across 17 nominal-depth series. Published weights range from 8.50 to 925.00 lb/ft , and actual depths range from 4.16 to 44.80 inches .
- Lightest section
- W6X8.5
- Heaviest section
- W36X925
- Ix range
- 11.30 – 73,000.00 in⁴
- Sx range
- 5.10 – 3,390.00 in³
Selection
How to compare W-Shapes
- Start with depth limitations for the floor or roof assembly.
- Compare weight for economy once depth is acceptable.
- Compare Ix when deflection or stiffness controls.
- Compare Sx and Zx for elastic and plastic flexural properties.
- Check ry, J and Cw when lateral-torsional stability matters.
- Run the same structural model before declaring one section preferable.
Beam calculator
Analyze this family in Optimal Beam
Select any W-shape and load it into the Optimal Beam calculator for span, support and load analysis.
Source: AISC Shapes Database v16.0 · Verified July 2026 · View methodology
Questions & answers
W-Shapes FAQs
What does W12×26 mean?
W identifies a wide-flange shape. The 12 is approximate nominal depth in inches and 26 is nominal weight in lb/ft. Exact depth and flange width come from the published table for that designation.
What is the difference between nominal and actual depth?
Nominal depth is the rounded value in the designation. Actual depth is the tabulated overall depth and can differ within a series such as W12. Use actual depth for clearance and detailing.
What is the difference between a W-shape and an S-shape?
W-shapes have essentially parallel flange faces. S-shapes are American standard beams with sloping inner flange faces and a different proportioning history. They are not interchangeable without checking geometry and properties.
Which property controls beam stiffness?
Ix is the strong-axis moment of inertia and is the primary stiffness property for bending about the major axis. Higher Ix generally reduces deflection for the same span and loading, but it is not a complete capacity check.
What is the difference between Sx and Zx?
Sx is the elastic section modulus used in elastic bending stress checks. Zx is the plastic section modulus used for plastic bending strength of suitable ductile sections. Neither alone replaces a full design check.
Does the lightest section with the required Ix automatically work?
No. Adequacy also depends on strength, stability, material grade, unbraced length, deflection limits and the applicable design standard. Compare candidates under the same analysis model.
Can I compare W-shapes in metric units?
Yes. Switch the finder to Metric to display SI units while the underlying AISC source values remain stored for conversion.
Can I analyze a W-shape in the beam calculator?
Yes. Choose Analyze on a selected W-shape to open Optimal Beam with that section’s properties loaded into a new beam model.