W10x49 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W10x49 is an American wide-flange beam 9.98 inches (253.5 mm) deep with a 10 in (254 mm) flange, weighing 49 pounds per foot (72.9 kg/m) — that is what the "49" 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 | 9.98 in (253.5 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 10 in (254 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.34 in (8.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.56 in (14.2 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 49 lb/ft (72.9 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 980 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 1,960 lb |
| Area A | 14.4 in² (92.9 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 272 in⁴ (11,321 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 54.6 in³ (895 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 4.35 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 93.4 in⁴ (3,888 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 18.7 in³ (306 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 2.54 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W10x45 | 10.1 × 8.02 | 45 | 248 | 49.1 | −8 % | −9 % |
| W10x49 (this page) | 9.98 × 10 | 49 | 272 | 54.6 | — | — |
| W10x54 | 10.1 × 10 | 54 | 303 | 60 | +10 % | +11 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W10x49 spanning 16 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.19 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 272 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 W10x49 beam weigh?
W10x49 weighs 49 pounds per foot (72.9 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 980 lb and a 40 ft bar 1,960 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W10x49?
W10x49 is 9.98 in (253.5 mm) deep with a 10 in (254 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.34 in thick and the flanges are 0.56 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W10 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W10x49 in mm?
W10x49 is 253.5 mm deep with a 254 mm wide flange; the web is 8.6 mm and the flange 14.2 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 11,321 cm⁴, Sx = 895 cm³.
How much does a W10x49 weigh in kg?
72.9 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 438 kg and a 12 m bar 875 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W10x49?
About the strong axis, Ix = 272 in⁴ (11,321 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 54.6 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 93.4 in⁴ and Sy = 18.7 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W10x49 or W10x54 — what does one size up change?
W10x54 is about 10% heavier (54 vs 49 lb/ft) but about 11% stiffer (Ix 303 vs 272 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