W12x252 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W12x252 is an American wide-flange beam 15.4 inches (391.2 mm) deep with a 13 in (330.2 mm) flange, weighing 252 pounds per foot (375 kg/m) — that is what the "252" 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 | 15.4 in (391.2 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 13 in (330.2 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 1.4 in (35.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 2.25 in (57.2 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 252 lb/ft (375 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 5,040 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 10,080 lb |
| Area A | 74 in² (477.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 2,720 in⁴ (113,215 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 353 in³ (5,785 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.06 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 828 in⁴ (34,464 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 127 in³ (2,081 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 3.34 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W12x230 | 15.1 × 12.9 | 230 | 2,420 | 321 | −9 % | −11 % |
| W12x252 (this page) | 15.4 × 13 | 252 | 2,720 | 353 | — | — |
| W12x279 | 15.9 × 13.1 | 279 | 3,110 | 393 | +11 % | +14 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W12x252 spanning 25 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.07 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 2,720 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.83 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W12x252 beam weigh?
W12x252 weighs 252 pounds per foot (375 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 5,040 lb and a 40 ft bar 10,080 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W12x252?
W12x252 is 15.4 in (391.2 mm) deep with a 13 in (330.2 mm) wide flange. The web is 1.4 in thick and the flanges are 2.25 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W12 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W12x252 in mm?
W12x252 is 391.2 mm deep with a 330.2 mm wide flange; the web is 35.6 mm and the flange 57.2 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 113,215 cm⁴, Sx = 5,785 cm³.
How much does a W12x252 weigh in kg?
375 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 2,250 kg and a 12 m bar 4,500 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W12x252?
About the strong axis, Ix = 2,720 in⁴ (113,215 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 353 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 828 in⁴ and Sy = 127 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W12x252 or W12x279 — what does one size up change?
W12x279 is about 11% heavier (279 vs 252 lb/ft) but about 14% stiffer (Ix 3,110 vs 2,720 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