I-Beam Weight Calculator

Weight of I-beams from flange and web dimensions

I-beam (and H-beam) weight comes from three plates: two flanges and one web. The section area is 2 × (flange width × flange thickness) + (web height × web thickness), so weight = that area × length × density. This calculator uses the exact density of your chosen alloy.

Because the flanges sit far from the neutral axis, an I-beam gives huge bending stiffness for its weight — that is the whole point of the shape. Once you have the weight, check how far it deflects under load with our beam deflection calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate I-beam weight per meter?

Area = 2 × (flange width × flange thickness) + (web height × web thickness); weight per meter = area × density. A 100×8 flange with 200×6 web in steel: (1600 + 1200) mm² × 7.85 g/cm³ ≈ 21.98 kg/m.

Is this for IPE / HEA / UB sections?

It works for any I or H section if you enter the actual flange and web dimensions. Standard IPE/HEA/UB sizes have published weights, but this lets you compute custom or built-up sections.

Why is an I-beam so stiff for its weight?

Most of the material is in the flanges, far from the neutral axis, which maximizes the moment of inertia. That is why I-beams resist bending far better than a solid bar of the same weight.