HSS — American Hollow Structural Section Chart
ASTM A500 square and rectangular tube dimensions and section properties
American HSS designations read outside dimensions then wall: an HSS4x4x1/4 is 4×4 inches with a nominal 1/4 in wall. This chart covers 37 square and 26 rectangular sizes — the ones service centers actually stock — each linking to a full datasheet with metric conversions, bar weights, and a worked deflection example.
One A500 quirk matters in design: the design wall thickness is 0.93× the nominal (a "1/4 in" wall counts as 0.233 in structurally), and all section properties here already reflect that. European projects use the metric EN 10219 cousins instead — our SHS and RHS tables mirror this page for those.
Square HSS (HSS2x2x1/8 – HSS12x12x5/8)
Rectangular HSS (HSS3x2x1/4 – HSS16x8x1/2)
Frequently asked questions
How do I read an HSS designation like HSS6x4x3/8?
Outside height × outside width × nominal wall thickness, all in inches: 6 in tall, 4 in wide, 3/8 in wall. Weight is not in the name (unlike W-shapes) — an HSS6x4x3/8 happens to weigh 22.37 lb/ft, the same as any A500 tube with a 20 in perimeter and that wall.
Why is the design wall thickness 0.93 times nominal?
ASTM A500 permits a wall tolerance of −10%, so AISC requires design calculations to use 0.93×nominal. The section properties in this chart (A, Ix, Sx…) are the official values computed with the design wall — you can use them directly without further reduction.
What is the difference between HSS and European SHS/RHS tubes?
Same concept, different standards. HSS follows ASTM A500 in imperial sizes with the 0.93 design-wall rule; SHS/RHS follow EN 10219 in metric sizes with no such reduction (EN uses the nominal wall). The sections are not interchangeable in a design — our SHS/RHS tables cover the metric side.
When should I use HSS instead of a W-shape?
Compression and torsion. A square HSS has the same radius of gyration in every direction, so columns and braces get more capacity per pound. Closed sections also resist twist far better and are easier to keep clean and painted. For pure bending, a W-shape usually gives more stiffness per pound.
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