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Structural · W — wide-flange

W12x30 Steel Beam — Dimensions & Properties

W12x30 weighs 30 lb/ft and is about 12.34 in deep. Below: the full AISC section properties, a scaled cross-section, and a pre-filled weight calculator.

Weight
30lb/ft
Depth
12.34in
Width
6.52in
Area
8.79in²
Shape
W12X30 · 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 × W12X30
600lb
Per piece
600lb
Pieces
1
Total
600lb
Tons
0.3t
d12.34"bf 6.52"tw 0.26
ƒShow the math
  1. 1.Weight per foot (from AISC)per AISC Shapes Database v16.0

    W12X30 is a listed shape; its nominal weight is a published property.

    = 30 lb/ft
  2. 2.Length in feet
    length (in) ÷ 12
    240 ÷ 12
    = 20 ft
  3. 3.Weight per piece
    weight per foot × length
    30 × 20
    = 600 lb
  4. 4.Total weight
    weight per piece × quantity
    600 × 1
    = 600 lb
  5. 5.Convert to tons
    total lb ÷ 2000
    600 ÷ 2000
    = 0.3 tons

Section properties

Geometry
Weight
30lb/ft
Area, A
8.79in²
Depth, d
12.34in
Flange width, bf
6.52in
Flange thick, tf
0.44in
Web thick, tw
0.26in
Strong axis (x-x)
Ix
238in⁴
Sx
38.6in³
Zx
43.1in³
rx
5.21in
Weak axis (y-y)
Iy
20.3in⁴
Sy
6.24in³
Zy
9.56in³
ry
1.52in
Torsion & warping
J
0.457in⁴
Cw
720in⁶
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/ftW12x16 16 lb/ftW12x19 19 lb/ftW12x22 22 lb/ftW12x26 26 lb/ftW12x40 40 lb/ftW12x50 50 lb/ftW12x65 65 lb/ftW12x87 87 lb/ftW12x106 106 lb/ft

W12x30 — questions

How much does a W12x30 weigh per foot?
A W12x30 weighs 30 lb/ft. Over a 20-foot length that is 600 lb (0.3 tons); a 30-foot length is 900 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x30?
W12x30 has an actual depth of 12.34 in and a flange width of 6.52 in, a flange thickness of 0.44 in, and a web thickness of 0.26 in. Cross-sectional area is 8.79 in².
What is the moment of inertia and section modulus of a W12x30?
About its strong axis, W12x30 has a moment of inertia Ix of 238 in⁴ and a section modulus Sx of 38.6 in³, with a plastic section modulus Zx of 43.1 in³. Use these with your engineer's design values — they are geometric properties, not an allowable load.
What does W12x30 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 W12x30 is a nominally 12-inch-deep wide-flange beam weighing 30 lb/ft (actual depth 12.34 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.