W Shapes
United States · AISC (W shapes)
W-shapes (wide-flange) are the standard North American hot-rolled I-section, used for both beams and columns. The series spans shallow, light members up to deep, heavy ones, with proportions ranging from beam-like (deep, narrow) to column-like (near-square), so a single family covers most framing roles.
W-shapes are specified to ASTM grades (commonly A992, Fy = 50 ksi / 345 MPa). The same physical sections are listed in Canada under CISC with metric designations.
Reading the size: AISC names a W-shape by nominal depth in inches then mass in lb/ft: "W12x26" is about 12 in deep and weighs 26 lb/ft. Canada lists the identical section in metric, e.g. W310x39.
Properties are indicative - verify against the governing standard before professional use.
W Shapes sizes (48)
| Designation | Profile | Mass kg/m | Depth mm | Width mm | tw mm | tf mm | Area mm² | Ix mm⁴ | Zx mm³ | Sx mm³ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W8x10 | 14.9 | 200.4 | 100.1 | 4.3 | 5.2 | 1,910 | 12,819,928 | 127,983 | 145,353 | |
| W10x12 | 17.9 | 250.7 | 100.6 | 4.8 | 5.3 | 2,284 | 22,393,251 | 178,619 | 206,477 | |
| W12x14 | 20.8 | 302.3 | 100.8 | 5.1 | 5.7 | 2,684 | 36,878,104 | 244,167 | 285,135 | |
| W8x18 | 26.8 | 206.8 | 133.3 | 5.8 | 8.4 | 3,394 | 25,764,725 | 249,083 | 278,580 | |
| W10x22 | 32.7 | 259.1 | 146 | 6.1 | 9.1 | 4,187 | 49,115,308 | 380,180 | 426,064 | |
| W14x22 | 32.7 | 348 | 127 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 4,187 | 82,830,054 | 475,225 | 544,051 | |
| W12x26 | 38.7 | 309.9 | 164.8 | 5.8 | 9.7 | 4,935 | 84,911,211 | 547,328 | 609,599 | |
| W16x26 | 38.7 | 398.8 | 139.7 | 6.3 | 8.8 | 4,955 | 125,285,659 | 629,263 | 724,308 | |
| W8x31 | 46.1 | 203.2 | 203.2 | 7.2 | 11 | 5,890 | 45,785,457 | 450,644 | 498,167 | |
| W10x33 | 49.1 | 247.1 | 202.2 | 7.4 | 11 | 6,265 | 71,175,574 | 573,547 | 635,818 | |
| W18x35 | 52.1 | 449.6 | 152.4 | 7.6 | 10.8 | 6,645 | 212,278,027 | 943,895 | 1,089,740 | |
| W12x40 | 59.5 | 302.3 | 203.5 | 7.5 | 13.1 | 7,548 | 127,783,048 | 843,934 | 934,063 | |
| W16x40 | 59.5 | 406.4 | 177.8 | 7.7 | 12.8 | 7,613 | 215,607,878 | 1,060,243 | 1,196,256 | |
| W14x43 | 64 | 348 | 203.2 | 7.7 | 13.5 | 8,129 | 178,147,050 | 1,025,830 | 1,140,540 | |
| W21x44 | 65.5 | 525.8 | 165.1 | 8.9 | 11.4 | 8,387 | 350,883,092 | 1,337,184 | 1,563,326 | |
| W8x48 | 71.4 | 215.9 | 206 | 10.2 | 17.4 | 9,097 | 76,586,582 | 707,921 | 802,966 | |
| W10x49 | 72.9 | 254 | 254 | 8.6 | 14.2 | 9,290 | 113,214,948 | 894,734 | 989,779 | |
| W18x50 | 74.4 | 457.2 | 190.5 | 9 | 14.5 | 9,484 | 332,985,140 | 1,456,810 | 1,655,093 | |
| W12x53 | 78.9 | 307.3 | 254 | 8.8 | 14.6 | 10,064 | 176,898,356 | 1,156,927 | 1,276,552 | |
| W24x55 | 81.8 | 599.4 | 178.1 | 10 | 12.8 | 10,452 | 561,912,425 | 1,868,125 | 2,195,867 | |
| W16x57 | 84.8 | 416.6 | 180.8 | 10.9 | 18.2 | 10,839 | 315,503,421 | 1,510,887 | 1,720,642 | |
| W12x65 | 96.7 | 307.3 | 304.8 | 9.9 | 15.4 | 12,323 | 221,851,350 | 1,440,423 | 1,586,268 | |
| W10x68 | 101.2 | 264.2 | 256.5 | 11.9 | 19.6 | 12,839 | 163,995,182 | 1,240,501 | 1,397,817 | |
| W21x68 | 101.2 | 535.9 | 210.1 | 10.9 | 17.4 | 12,903 | 616,022,510 | 2,294,189 | 2,621,930 | |
| W18x76 | 113.1 | 462.3 | 279.4 | 10.8 | 17.3 | 14,387 | 553,587,796 | 2,392,511 | 2,671,091 | |
| W16x77 | 114.6 | 419.1 | 261.6 | 11.6 | 19.3 | 14,581 | 462,016,882 | 2,195,867 | 2,458,060 | |
| W24x84 | 125 | 612.1 | 229.1 | 11.9 | 19.6 | 15,935 | 986,468,479 | 3,211,865 | 3,670,702 | |
| W27x84 | 125 | 678.2 | 254 | 11.7 | 16.3 | 15,935 | 1,186,259,563 | 3,490,445 | 3,998,444 | |
| W14x90 | 133.9 | 355.6 | 368.3 | 11.2 | 18 | 17,097 | 415,815,194 | 2,343,350 | 2,572,769 | |
| W30x90 | 133.9 | 749.3 | 264.2 | 11.9 | 15.5 | 16,968 | 1,502,595,446 | 4,014,831 | 4,637,539 | |
| W12x96 | 142.9 | 322.6 | 309.9 | 14 | 22.9 | 18,194 | 346,720,778 | 2,146,705 | 2,408,898 | |
| W21x101 | 150.3 | 543.6 | 312.4 | 12.7 | 20.3 | 19,226 | 1,007,280,050 | 3,719,864 | 4,145,927 | |
| W27x114 | 169.7 | 693.4 | 256.5 | 14.5 | 23.6 | 21,677 | 1,698,224,216 | 4,899,732 | 5,620,763 | |
| W33x118 | 175.6 | 835.7 | 292.1 | 14 | 18.8 | 22,387 | 2,455,765,411 | 5,882,956 | 6,800,632 | |
| W18x119 | 177.1 | 482.6 | 287 | 16.6 | 26.9 | 22,645 | 911,546,822 | 3,785,412 | 4,293,411 | |
| W24x131 | 194.9 | 622.3 | 327.7 | 15.4 | 24.4 | 24,903 | 1,673,250,331 | 5,391,344 | 6,063,214 | |
| W14x132 | 196.4 | 373.4 | 373.4 | 16.4 | 26.2 | 25,032 | 636,834,081 | 3,424,896 | 3,834,573 | |
| W12x136 | 202.4 | 340.4 | 315 | 20.1 | 31.8 | 25,742 | 516,126,968 | 3,047,994 | 3,506,832 | |
| W21x147 | 218.8 | 561.3 | 317.5 | 18.3 | 29.2 | 27,871 | 1,510,920,075 | 5,391,344 | 6,112,375 | |
| W30x148 | 220.2 | 779.8 | 266.7 | 16.5 | 30 | 28,129 | 2,780,425,923 | 7,144,760 | 8,193,532 | |
| W36x150 | 223.2 | 911.9 | 304.8 | 15.9 | 23.9 | 28,581 | 3,762,732,087 | 8,259,080 | 9,520,884 | |
| W27x178 | 264.9 | 706.1 | 358.1 | 18.4 | 30.2 | 33,871 | 2,921,944,608 | 8,275,467 | 9,340,626 | |
| W24x192 | 285.7 | 647.7 | 330.2 | 20.6 | 37.1 | 36,452 | 2,605,608,724 | 8,046,048 | 9,160,369 | |
| W33x201 | 299.1 | 856 | 398.8 | 18.2 | 29.2 | 38,129 | 4,828,284,537 | 11,241,526 | 12,667,200 | |
| W14x211 | 314 | 398.8 | 401.3 | 24.9 | 39.6 | 40,000 | 1,107,175,592 | 5,538,828 | 6,390,955 | |
| W30x211 | 314 | 784.9 | 383.5 | 19.7 | 33.5 | 40,193 | 4,287,183,684 | 10,897,398 | 12,306,685 | |
| W36x232 | 345.3 | 942.3 | 307.3 | 22.1 | 39.9 | 43,871 | 6,243,471,384 | 13,257,135 | 15,338,292 | |
| W36x302 | 449.4 | 947.4 | 424.2 | 24 | 42.7 | 57,419 | 8,782,483,080 | 18,517,382 | 20,975,442 |
tw web thickness · tf flange thickness · Ix second moment of area · Zx elastic / Sx plastic section modulus, major axis. Open any size for the full table, an SI / imperial toggle and a scaled cross-section.
Frequently asked
- What is a W-shape?
- A W-shape (wide-flange) is the North American hot-rolled steel I-section, used as both beams and columns. The family covers a wide range of depths and proportions.
- How do I read W12x26?
- The first number is nominal depth in inches (about 12 in) and the second is mass in pounds per foot (26 lb/ft). The actual depth differs slightly from the nominal value.
- How do US and Canadian W-shapes relate?
- They are the same rolled sections. The US (AISC) labels them in imperial units (W12x26); Canada (CISC) labels them in metric (W310x39). Properties match once converted.
Design with W Shapes in CivilKit Beams →
Free in your browser. No install, no sign-up.