W12x16 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W12x16 is an American wide-flange beam 12 inches (304.8 mm) deep with a 3.99 in (101.3 mm) flange, weighing 16 pounds per foot (23.8 kg/m) — that is what the "16" 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 | 12 in (304.8 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 3.99 in (101.3 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.22 in (5.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.265 in (6.7 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 16 lb/ft (23.8 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 320 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 640 lb |
| Area A | 4.71 in² (30.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 103 in⁴ (4,287 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 17.1 in³ (280 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 4.67 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 2.82 in⁴ (117 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 1.41 in³ (23 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.77 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W12x14 | 11.9 × 3.97 | 14 | 88.6 | 14.9 | −12 % | −14 % |
| W12x16 (this page) | 12 × 3.99 | 16 | 103 | 17.1 | — | — |
| W12x19 | 12.2 × 4.01 | 19 | 130 | 21.3 | +19 % | +26 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W12x16 spanning 19 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.83 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 103 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 W12x16 beam weigh?
W12x16 weighs 16 pounds per foot (23.8 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 320 lb and a 40 ft bar 640 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x16?
W12x16 is 12 in (304.8 mm) deep with a 3.99 in (101.3 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.22 in thick and the flanges are 0.27 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W12 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W12x16 in mm?
W12x16 is 304.8 mm deep with a 101.3 mm wide flange; the web is 5.6 mm and the flange 6.7 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 4,287 cm⁴, Sx = 280 cm³.
How much does a W12x16 weigh in kg?
23.8 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 143 kg and a 12 m bar 286 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W12x16?
About the strong axis, Ix = 103 in⁴ (4,287 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 17.1 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 2.82 in⁴ and Sy = 1.41 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W12x16 or W12x19 — what does one size up change?
W12x19 is about 19% heavier (19 vs 16 lb/ft) but about 26% stiffer (Ix 130 vs 103 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