W12x210 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W12x210 is an American wide-flange beam 14.7 inches (373.4 mm) deep with a 12.8 in (325.1 mm) flange, weighing 210 pounds per foot (312.5 kg/m) — that is what the "210" 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 | 14.7 in (373.4 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 12.8 in (325.1 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 1.18 in (30 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.9 in (48.3 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 210 lb/ft (312.5 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 4,200 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 8,400 lb |
| Area A | 61.8 in² (398.7 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 2,140 in⁴ (89,073 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 292 in³ (4,785 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 5.89 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 664 in⁴ (27,638 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 104 in³ (1,704 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 3.28 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W12x190 | 14.4 × 12.7 | 190 | 1,890 | 263 | −10 % | −12 % |
| W12x210 (this page) | 14.7 × 12.8 | 210 | 2,140 | 292 | — | — |
| W12x230 | 15.1 × 12.9 | 230 | 2,420 | 321 | +10 % | +13 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W12x210 spanning 24 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.08 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 2,140 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.8 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W12x210 beam weigh?
W12x210 weighs 210 pounds per foot (312.5 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 4,200 lb and a 40 ft bar 8,400 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x210?
W12x210 is 14.7 in (373.4 mm) deep with a 12.8 in (325.1 mm) wide flange. The web is 1.18 in thick and the flanges are 1.9 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W12 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W12x210 in mm?
W12x210 is 373.4 mm deep with a 325.1 mm wide flange; the web is 30 mm and the flange 48.3 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 89,073 cm⁴, Sx = 4,785 cm³.
How much does a W12x210 weigh in kg?
312.5 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,875 kg and a 12 m bar 3,750 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W12x210?
About the strong axis, Ix = 2,140 in⁴ (89,073 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 292 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 664 in⁴ and Sy = 104 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W12x210 or W12x230 — what does one size up change?
W12x230 is about 10% heavier (230 vs 210 lb/ft) but about 13% stiffer (Ix 2,420 vs 2,140 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