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Structural · W — wide-flange

W16x31 Steel Beam — Dimensions & Properties

W16x31 weighs 31 lb/ft and is about 15.88 in deep. Below: the full AISC section properties, a scaled cross-section, and a pre-filled weight calculator.

Weight
31lb/ft
Depth
15.88in
Width
5.525in
Area
9.13in²
Shape
W16X31 · 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 × W16X31
620lb
Per piece
620lb
Pieces
1
Total
620lb
Tons
0.31t
d15.88"bf 5.525"tw 0.275
ƒShow the math
  1. 1.Weight per foot (from AISC)per AISC Shapes Database v16.0

    W16X31 is a listed shape; its nominal weight is a published property.

    = 31 lb/ft
  2. 2.Length in feet
    length (in) ÷ 12
    240 ÷ 12
    = 20 ft
  3. 3.Weight per piece
    weight per foot × length
    31 × 20
    = 620 lb
  4. 4.Total weight
    weight per piece × quantity
    620 × 1
    = 620 lb
  5. 5.Convert to tons
    total lb ÷ 2000
    620 ÷ 2000
    = 0.31 tons

Section properties

Geometry
Weight
31lb/ft
Area, A
9.13in²
Depth, d
15.88in
Flange width, bf
5.525in
Flange thick, tf
0.44in
Web thick, tw
0.275in
Strong axis (x-x)
Ix
375in⁴
Sx
47.2in³
Zx
54in³
rx
6.41in
Weak axis (y-y)
Iy
12.4in⁴
Sy
4.49in³
Zy
7.03in³
ry
1.17in
Torsion & warping
J
0.461in⁴
Cw
739in⁶
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.

W16x26 26 lb/ftW16x36 36 lb/ftW16x40 40 lb/ftW16x50 50 lb/ftW16x67 67 lb/ftW16x89 89 lb/ftW16x100 100 lb/ftW14x145 145 lb/ftW14x120 120 lb/ftW18x35 35 lb/ft

W16x31 — questions

How much does a W16x31 weigh per foot?
A W16x31 weighs 31 lb/ft. Over a 20-foot length that is 620 lb (0.31 tons); a 30-foot length is 930 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W16x31?
W16x31 has an actual depth of 15.88 in and a flange width of 5.525 in, a flange thickness of 0.44 in, and a web thickness of 0.275 in. Cross-sectional area is 9.13 in².
What is the moment of inertia and section modulus of a W16x31?
About its strong axis, W16x31 has a moment of inertia Ix of 375 in⁴ and a section modulus Sx of 47.2 in³, with a plastic section modulus Zx of 54 in³. Use these with your engineer's design values — they are geometric properties, not an allowable load.
What does W16x31 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 W16x31 is a nominally 16-inch-deep wide-flange beam weighing 31 lb/ft (actual depth 15.88 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.