C15x50 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American Standard (C) channel per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
C15x50 is an American Standard steel channel 15 inches (381 mm) deep with a 3.72 in (94.5 mm) flange, weighing 50 pounds per foot (74.4 kg/m) — that is what the "50" in the designation means. All values below are the standard AISC published section properties used in US structural design, with metric equivalents alongside. Channel flanges are tapered, so the flange thickness listed is the AISC average value.
Typical uses: stair stringers, trailer and equipment frames, rails, lintels, and bracing — anywhere a flat back against a wall or web is handy. For a quick stiffness check, see the deflection example below or open the beam calculator with your own span and load.
Dimensions
| Depth d | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 3.72 in (94.5 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.716 in (18.2 mm) |
| Avg. flange thickness tf | 0.65 in (16.5 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 50 lb/ft (74.4 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 1,000 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 2,000 lb |
| Area A | 14.7 in² (94.8 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 404 in⁴ (16,816 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 53.8 in³ (882 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 5.24 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 11 in⁴ (458 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 3.77 in³ (62 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.87 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C15x40 | 15 × 3.52 | 40 | 348 | 46.5 | −20 % | −14 % |
| C15x50 (this page) | 15 × 3.72 | 50 | 404 | 53.8 | — | — |
Deflection example
A simply supported C15x50 spanning 24 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.43 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 404 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.8 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a C15x50 channel weigh?
C15x50 weighs 50 pounds per foot (74.4 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 1,000 lb and a 40 ft bar 2,000 lb.
What are the dimensions of a C15x50?
C15x50 is exactly 15 in (381 mm) deep with a 3.72 in (94.5 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.72 in thick; the tapered flanges average 0.65 in. Unlike W-shapes, C-channel depths are exact — a C10 is always 10.00 in deep.
What are the dimensions of a C15x50 in mm?
C15x50 is 381 mm deep with a 94.5 mm wide flange; the web is 18.2 mm and the flange 16.5 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 16,816 cm⁴, Sx = 882 cm³.
How much does a C15x50 weigh in kg?
74.4 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 446 kg and a 12 m bar 893 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a C15x50?
About the strong axis, Ix = 404 in⁴ (16,816 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 53.8 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 11 in⁴ and Sy = 3.77 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
C15x50 or C15x40 — what does one size down change?
C15x40 is about 20% lighter (40 vs 50 lb/ft) but about 14% less stiff (Ix 348 vs 404 in⁴). Check deflection before downsizing — stiffness falls much faster than weight.
Values are entered from the governing standard’s published tables and cross-checked programmatically against its mass and section formulas before publication. Spotted an error? Write to advertising@metalabout.net — verified corrections ship within days. About