Steel Beam Sizes / AISC / W-Shapes / W21 / W21x48

W21x48 Steel Beam Dimensions and Properties

AISC Wide flange · v16.0

Analyze in Beam Calculator Back to W-Shapes All W21

Diagram, properties emphasis, and nearby alternatives use the selected unit system.

Units

Section diagram

W21x48 dimensions

Not to scale. Dimensions shown for reference.

Section properties

Symbols match the steel section finder. Imperial and metric values are shown side by side.

Property Imperial Metric
Weight 48.00 lb/ft 72.00 kg/m
Depth, d 20.60 in 523.00 mm
Flange width, bf 8.14 in 207.00 mm
tw 0.350 in 8.890 mm
tf 0.430 in 10.900 mm
Area 14.10 in² 9,100.00 mm²
Ix 959.00 in⁴ 399,000,000 mm⁴
Iy 38.70 in⁴ 16,100,000 mm⁴
Sx 93.00 in³ 1,520,000 mm³
Sy 9.52 in³ 156,000.00 mm³
Zx 107.00 in³ 1,750,000 mm³
Zy 14.90 in³ 244,000.00 mm³
rx 8.24 in 209.00 mm
ry 1.66 in 42.20 mm
J 0.80 in⁴ 334,000.00 mm⁴
Cw 3,950.00 in⁶ 1,060,000,000,000 mm⁶

Alternatives

Useful nearby sections

Same-series weight neighbors, closest Ix, and a nearby depth series when available — with percent change versus W21x48.

Browse W21 series →

Lighter in W21

W21x44

Weight
44.0 lb/ft (-8.3%)
Depth
20.70 in (+0.5%)
Ix
843.0 in⁴ (-12%)

Heavier in W21

W21x50

Weight
50.0 lb/ft (+4.2%)
Depth
20.80 in (+1.0%)
Ix
984.0 in⁴ (+2.6%)

Closest Iₓ in W21

W21x55

Weight
55.0 lb/ft (+15%)
Depth
20.80 in (+1.0%)
Ix
1,140.0 in⁴ (+19%)

Similar weight in W18

W18x46

Weight
46.0 lb/ft (-4.2%)
Depth
18.10 in (-12%)
Ix
712.0 in⁴ (-26%)
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Source: AISC Shapes Database v16.0 · Methodology