W10x15 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W10x15 is an American wide-flange beam 9.99 inches (253.7 mm) deep with a 4 in (101.6 mm) flange, weighing 15 pounds per foot (22.3 kg/m) — that is what the "15" in the designation means. All values below are the standard AISC published section properties used in US structural design, with metric equivalents alongside.
Typical uses: floor and roof framing, columns, headers, and general steel construction. For a quick stiffness check, see the deflection example below or open the beam calculator with your own span and load.
Dimensions
| Depth d | 9.99 in (253.7 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 4 in (101.6 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.23 in (5.8 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.27 in (6.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 15 lb/ft (22.3 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 300 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 600 lb |
| Area A | 4.41 in² (28.5 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 68.9 in⁴ (2,868 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 13.8 in³ (226 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 3.95 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 2.89 in⁴ (120 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 1.45 in³ (24 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.81 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W10x12 | 9.87 × 3.96 | 12 | 53.8 | 10.9 | −20 % | −22 % |
| W10x15 (this page) | 9.99 × 4 | 15 | 68.9 | 13.8 | — | — |
| W10x17 | 10.1 × 4.01 | 17 | 81.9 | 16.2 | +13 % | +19 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W10x15 spanning 16 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.74 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 68.9 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.53 in — the shape does NOT pass this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W10x15 beam weigh?
W10x15 weighs 15 pounds per foot (22.3 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 300 lb and a 40 ft bar 600 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W10x15?
W10x15 is 9.99 in (253.7 mm) deep with a 4 in (101.6 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.23 in thick and the flanges are 0.27 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W10 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W10x15 in mm?
W10x15 is 253.7 mm deep with a 101.6 mm wide flange; the web is 5.8 mm and the flange 6.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 2,868 cm⁴, Sx = 226 cm³.
How much does a W10x15 weigh in kg?
22.3 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 134 kg and a 12 m bar 268 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W10x15?
About the strong axis, Ix = 68.9 in⁴ (2,868 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 13.8 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 2.89 in⁴ and Sy = 1.45 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W10x15 or W10x17 — what does one size up change?
W10x17 is about 13% heavier (17 vs 15 lb/ft) but about 19% stiffer (Ix 81.9 vs 68.9 in⁴). Going one step up within the same depth group is usually the cheapest way to cut deflection.
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