W10x26 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W10x26 is an American wide-flange beam 10.3 inches (261.6 mm) deep with a 5.77 in (146.6 mm) flange, weighing 26 pounds per foot (38.7 kg/m) — that is what the "26" 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 | 10.3 in (261.6 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 5.77 in (146.6 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.26 in (6.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.44 in (11.2 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 26 lb/ft (38.7 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 520 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 1,040 lb |
| Area A | 7.61 in² (49.1 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 144 in⁴ (5,994 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 27.9 in³ (457 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 4.35 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 14.1 in⁴ (587 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 4.89 in³ (80 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.36 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W10x22 | 10.2 × 5.75 | 22 | 118 | 23.2 | −15 % | −18 % |
| W10x26 (this page) | 10.3 × 5.77 | 26 | 144 | 27.9 | — | — |
| W10x30 | 10.5 × 5.81 | 30 | 170 | 32.4 | +15 % | +18 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W10x26 spanning 16 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.35 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 144 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.53 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W10x26 beam weigh?
W10x26 weighs 26 pounds per foot (38.7 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 520 lb and a 40 ft bar 1,040 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W10x26?
W10x26 is 10.3 in (261.6 mm) deep with a 5.77 in (146.6 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.26 in thick and the flanges are 0.44 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W10 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W10x26 in mm?
W10x26 is 261.6 mm deep with a 146.6 mm wide flange; the web is 6.6 mm and the flange 11.2 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 5,994 cm⁴, Sx = 457 cm³.
How much does a W10x26 weigh in kg?
38.7 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 232 kg and a 12 m bar 464 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W10x26?
About the strong axis, Ix = 144 in⁴ (5,994 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 27.9 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 14.1 in⁴ and Sy = 4.89 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W10x26 or W10x30 — what does one size up change?
W10x30 is about 15% heavier (30 vs 26 lb/ft) but about 18% stiffer (Ix 170 vs 144 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