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Structural · W — wide-flange

W21x44 Steel Beam — Dimensions & Properties

W21x44 weighs 44 lb/ft and is about 20.66 in deep. Below: the full AISC section properties, a scaled cross-section, and a pre-filled weight calculator.

Weight
44lb/ft
Depth
20.66in
Width
6.5in
Area
13in²
Shape
W21X44 · 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 × W21X44
880lb
Per piece
880lb
Pieces
1
Total
880lb
Tons
0.44t
d20.66"bf 6.5"tw 0.35
ƒShow the math
  1. 1.Weight per foot (from AISC)per AISC Shapes Database v16.0

    W21X44 is a listed shape; its nominal weight is a published property.

    = 44 lb/ft
  2. 2.Length in feet
    length (in) ÷ 12
    240 ÷ 12
    = 20 ft
  3. 3.Weight per piece
    weight per foot × length
    44 × 20
    = 880 lb
  4. 4.Total weight
    weight per piece × quantity
    880 × 1
    = 880 lb
  5. 5.Convert to tons
    total lb ÷ 2000
    880 ÷ 2000
    = 0.44 tons

Section properties

Geometry
Weight
44lb/ft
Area, A
13in²
Depth, d
20.66in
Flange width, bf
6.5in
Flange thick, tf
0.45in
Web thick, tw
0.35in
Strong axis (x-x)
Ix
843in⁴
Sx
81.6in³
Zx
95.4in³
rx
8.06in
Weak axis (y-y)
Iy
20.7in⁴
Sy
6.37in³
Zy
10.2in³
ry
1.26in
Torsion & warping
J
0.77in⁴
Cw
2,110in⁶
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.

W21x44 — questions

How much does a W21x44 weigh per foot?
A W21x44 weighs 44 lb/ft. Over a 20-foot length that is 880 lb (0.44 tons); a 30-foot length is 1,320 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W21x44?
W21x44 has an actual depth of 20.66 in and a flange width of 6.5 in, a flange thickness of 0.45 in, and a web thickness of 0.35 in. Cross-sectional area is 13 in².
What is the moment of inertia and section modulus of a W21x44?
About its strong axis, W21x44 has a moment of inertia Ix of 843 in⁴ and a section modulus Sx of 81.6 in³, with a plastic section modulus Zx of 95.4 in³. Use these with your engineer's design values — they are geometric properties, not an allowable load.
What does W21x44 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 W21x44 is a nominally 21-inch-deep wide-flange beam weighing 44 lb/ft (actual depth 20.66 in).

Related tools

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.