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Structural · W — wide-flange

W12x16 Steel Beam — Dimensions & Properties

W12x16 weighs 16 lb/ft and is about 11.99 in deep. Below: the full AISC section properties, a scaled cross-section, and a pre-filled weight calculator.

Weight
16lb/ft
Depth
11.99in
Width
3.99in
Area
4.71in²
Shape
W12X16 · W — wide-flange

Enter feet + inches, e.g. 20' or 18' 6".

= 20' (240″)
pcs
Cost estimate (optional)
$/lb

Optional. Prices are volatile — use your current mill/supplier rate.

Total weight
1 × W12X16
320lb
Per piece
320lb
Pieces
1
Total
320lb
Tons
0.16t
d11.99"bf 3.99"tw 0.22
ƒShow the math
  1. 1.Weight per foot (from AISC)per AISC Shapes Database v16.0

    W12X16 is a listed shape; its nominal weight is a published property.

    = 16 lb/ft
  2. 2.Length in feet
    length (in) ÷ 12
    240 ÷ 12
    = 20 ft
  3. 3.Weight per piece
    weight per foot × length
    16 × 20
    = 320 lb
  4. 4.Total weight
    weight per piece × quantity
    320 × 1
    = 320 lb
  5. 5.Convert to tons
    total lb ÷ 2000
    320 ÷ 2000
    = 0.16 tons

Section properties

Geometry
Weight
16lb/ft
Area, A
4.71in²
Depth, d
11.99in
Flange width, bf
3.99in
Flange thick, tf
0.265in
Web thick, tw
0.22in
Strong axis (x-x)
Ix
103in⁴
Sx
17.1in³
Zx
20.1in³
rx
4.67in
Weak axis (y-y)
Iy
2.82in⁴
Sy
1.41in³
Zy
2.26in³
ry
0.773in
Torsion & warping
J
0.103in⁴
Cw
96.9in⁶
Before you rely on this
  • Listed weight is the AISC theoretical (nominal) weight per foot. Actual mill weight varies within ASTM rolling tolerance, roughly ±2.5%.
  • This is bare member steel only. Add plates, stiffeners, connections, bolts, and coatings for a full erected-steel takeoff.

Similar shapes

Same series and nearest depths — compare weight and section modulus when you are sizing.

W12x14 14 lb/ftW12x19 19 lb/ftW12x22 22 lb/ftW12x26 26 lb/ftW12x30 30 lb/ftW12x40 40 lb/ftW12x50 50 lb/ftW12x65 65 lb/ftW12x87 87 lb/ftW12x106 106 lb/ft

W12x16 — questions

How much does a W12x16 weigh per foot?
A W12x16 weighs 16 lb/ft. Over a 20-foot length that is 320 lb (0.16 tons); a 30-foot length is 480 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x16?
W12x16 has an actual depth of 11.99 in and a flange width of 3.99 in, a flange thickness of 0.265 in, and a web thickness of 0.22 in. Cross-sectional area is 4.71 in².
What is the moment of inertia and section modulus of a W12x16?
About its strong axis, W12x16 has a moment of inertia Ix of 103 in⁴ and a section modulus Sx of 17.1 in³, with a plastic section modulus Zx of 20.1 in³. Use these with your engineer's design values — they are geometric properties, not an allowable load.
What does W12x16 mean?
The W means wide-flange. The first number is the nominal depth in inches and the second is the weight in pounds per foot — so W12x16 is a nominally 12-inch-deep wide-flange beam weighing 16 lb/ft (actual depth 11.99 in).

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Sources & references

Estimates for planning purposes only. Verify all results against the code edition adopted in your jurisdiction and with your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). This tool is not a substitute for a licensed professional engineer. See our methodology, sources, and code editions.

Data: AISC Shapes Database v16.0, © AISC — used per its developer-use provision.