How do you calculate the weight of a steel beam?
Multiply the shape's weight per foot by its length in feet, then by the quantity. Steel W-shapes are named for that number: a W12x26 weighs 26 pounds per foot, so a 20-foot piece is 26 × 20 = 520 lb, or 0.26 tons. This tool pulls the weight per foot from the AISC Shapes Database so you do not have to look it up.
What does the name W12x26 mean?
The W means wide-flange (I-beam). The first number, 12, is the nominal depth in inches (actual depth is 12.22 in). The second number, 26, is the weight in pounds per foot. So a W12x26 is a roughly 12-inch-deep wide-flange beam weighing 26 lb/ft. HSS4x4x1/4 reads as a 4x4-inch hollow structural tube with a 1/4-inch wall.
How much does a steel I-beam weigh per foot?
It is built into the name for W, S, and HP shapes — the trailing number is pounds per foot. Common examples: W8x10 is 10 lb/ft, W12x26 is 26 lb/ft, W21x44 is 44 lb/ft. Channels (C), angles (L), and HSS carry a separate listed weight, which this calculator shows for every shape.
Is the calculated weight exact?
It is the AISC theoretical (nominal) weight, which is what fabricators bid and ship to. Actual rolled weight varies within ASTM mill tolerance — about ±2.5% — and the figure here is bare steel only. Add plates, connections, bolts, and coatings for a full erected-steel takeoff.
How do I convert steel beam weight to tons?
Divide total pounds by 2000 for US short tons. A 30-ft W21x44 weighs 44 × 30 = 1320 lb = 0.66 tons. Structural steel is priced and hauled by the ton, so this is the number your supplier and crane crew care about.