W12x22 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W12x22 is an American wide-flange beam 12.3 inches (312.4 mm) deep with a 4.03 in (102.4 mm) flange, weighing 22 pounds per foot (32.7 kg/m) — that is what the "22" 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 | 12.3 in (312.4 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 4.03 in (102.4 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.26 in (6.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.425 in (10.8 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 22 lb/ft (32.7 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 440 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 880 lb |
| Area A | 6.48 in² (41.8 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 156 in⁴ (6,493 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 25.4 in³ (416 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 4.91 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 4.66 in⁴ (194 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 2.31 in³ (38 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.85 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W12x19 | 12.2 × 4.01 | 19 | 130 | 21.3 | −14 % | −17 % |
| W12x22 (this page) | 12.3 × 4.03 | 22 | 156 | 25.4 | — | — |
| W12x26 | 12.2 × 6.49 | 26 | 204 | 33.4 | +18 % | +31 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W12x22 spanning 20 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.64 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 156 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.67 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W12x22 beam weigh?
W12x22 weighs 22 pounds per foot (32.7 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 440 lb and a 40 ft bar 880 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x22?
W12x22 is 12.3 in (312.4 mm) deep with a 4.03 in (102.4 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.26 in thick and the flanges are 0.43 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W12 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W12x22 in mm?
W12x22 is 312.4 mm deep with a 102.4 mm wide flange; the web is 6.6 mm and the flange 10.8 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 6,493 cm⁴, Sx = 416 cm³.
How much does a W12x22 weigh in kg?
32.7 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 196 kg and a 12 m bar 393 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W12x22?
About the strong axis, Ix = 156 in⁴ (6,493 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 25.4 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 4.66 in⁴ and Sy = 2.31 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W12x22 or W12x26 — what does one size up change?
W12x26 is about 18% heavier (26 vs 22 lb/ft) but about 31% stiffer (Ix 204 vs 156 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