C6x13 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American Standard (C) channel per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
C6x13 is an American Standard steel channel 6 inches (152.4 mm) deep with a 2.16 in (54.9 mm) flange, weighing 13 pounds per foot (19.3 kg/m) — that is what the "13" 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 | 6 in (152.4 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 2.16 in (54.9 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.437 in (11.1 mm) |
| Avg. flange thickness tf | 0.343 in (8.7 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 13 lb/ft (19.3 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 260 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 520 lb |
| Area A | 3.81 in² (24.6 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 17.3 in⁴ (720 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 5.78 in³ (95 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 2.13 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 1.05 in⁴ (44 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 0.64 in³ (10 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.52 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C6x10.5 | 6 × 2.03 | 10.5 | 15.1 | 5.04 | −19 % | −13 % |
| C6x13 (this page) | 6 × 2.16 | 13 | 17.3 | 5.78 | — | — |
Deflection example
A simply supported C6x13 spanning 10 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.72 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 17.3 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.33 in — the shape does NOT pass this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a C6x13 channel weigh?
C6x13 weighs 13 pounds per foot (19.3 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 260 lb and a 40 ft bar 520 lb.
What are the dimensions of a C6x13?
C6x13 is exactly 6 in (152.4 mm) deep with a 2.16 in (54.9 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.44 in thick; the tapered flanges average 0.34 in. Unlike W-shapes, C-channel depths are exact — a C10 is always 10.00 in deep.
What are the dimensions of a C6x13 in mm?
C6x13 is 152.4 mm deep with a 54.9 mm wide flange; the web is 11.1 mm and the flange 8.7 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 720 cm⁴, Sx = 95 cm³.
How much does a C6x13 weigh in kg?
19.3 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 116 kg and a 12 m bar 232 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a C6x13?
About the strong axis, Ix = 17.3 in⁴ (720 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 5.78 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 1.05 in⁴ and Sy = 0.64 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
C6x13 or C6x10.5 — what does one size down change?
C6x10.5 is about 19% lighter (10.5 vs 13 lb/ft) but about 13% less stiff (Ix 15.1 vs 17.3 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