W12x14 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W12x14 is an American wide-flange beam 11.9 inches (302.3 mm) deep with a 3.97 in (100.8 mm) flange, weighing 14 pounds per foot (20.8 kg/m) — that is what the "14" 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 | 11.9 in (302.3 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 3.97 in (100.8 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.2 in (5.1 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.225 in (5.7 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 14 lb/ft (20.8 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 280 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 560 lb |
| Area A | 4.16 in² (26.8 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 88.6 in⁴ (3,688 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 14.9 in³ (244 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 4.62 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 2.36 in⁴ (98 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 1.19 in³ (20 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.75 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W12x14 (this page) | 11.9 × 3.97 | 14 | 88.6 | 14.9 | — | — |
| W12x16 | 12 × 3.99 | 16 | 103 | 17.1 | +14 % | +16 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W12x14 spanning 19 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.96 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 88.6 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.63 in — the shape does NOT pass this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W12x14 beam weigh?
W12x14 weighs 14 pounds per foot (20.8 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 280 lb and a 40 ft bar 560 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x14?
W12x14 is 11.9 in (302.3 mm) deep with a 3.97 in (100.8 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.2 in thick and the flanges are 0.23 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W12 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W12x14 in mm?
W12x14 is 302.3 mm deep with a 100.8 mm wide flange; the web is 5.1 mm and the flange 5.7 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 3,688 cm⁴, Sx = 244 cm³.
How much does a W12x14 weigh in kg?
20.8 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 125 kg and a 12 m bar 250 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W12x14?
About the strong axis, Ix = 88.6 in⁴ (3,688 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 14.9 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 2.36 in⁴ and Sy = 1.19 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W12x14 or W12x16 — what does one size up change?
W12x16 is about 14% heavier (16 vs 14 lb/ft) but about 16% stiffer (Ix 103 vs 88.6 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