W12x152 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W12x152 is an American wide-flange beam 13.7 inches (348 mm) deep with a 12.5 in (317.5 mm) flange, weighing 152 pounds per foot (226.2 kg/m) — that is what the "152" 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 | 13.7 in (348 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 12.5 in (317.5 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.87 in (22.1 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.4 in (35.6 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 152 lb/ft (226.2 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 3,040 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 6,080 lb |
| Area A | 44.7 in² (288.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 1,430 in⁴ (59,521 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 209 in³ (3,425 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 5.66 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 454 in⁴ (18,897 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 72.8 in³ (1,193 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 3.19 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W12x136 | 13.4 × 12.4 | 136 | 1,240 | 186 | −11 % | −13 % |
| W12x152 (this page) | 13.7 × 12.5 | 152 | 1,430 | 209 | — | — |
| W12x170 | 14 × 12.6 | 170 | 1,650 | 235 | +12 % | +15 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W12x152 spanning 22 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.09 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 1,430 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.73 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W12x152 beam weigh?
W12x152 weighs 152 pounds per foot (226.2 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 3,040 lb and a 40 ft bar 6,080 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x152?
W12x152 is 13.7 in (348 mm) deep with a 12.5 in (317.5 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.87 in thick and the flanges are 1.4 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W12 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W12x152 in mm?
W12x152 is 348 mm deep with a 317.5 mm wide flange; the web is 22.1 mm and the flange 35.6 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 59,521 cm⁴, Sx = 3,425 cm³.
How much does a W12x152 weigh in kg?
226.2 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,357 kg and a 12 m bar 2,714 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W12x152?
About the strong axis, Ix = 1,430 in⁴ (59,521 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 209 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 454 in⁴ and Sy = 72.8 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W12x152 or W12x170 — what does one size up change?
W12x170 is about 12% heavier (170 vs 152 lb/ft) but about 15% stiffer (Ix 1,650 vs 1,430 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