W14x120 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x120 is an American wide-flange beam 14.5 inches (368.3 mm) deep with a 14.7 in (373.4 mm) flange, weighing 120 pounds per foot (178.6 kg/m) — that is what the "120" 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 | 14.5 in (368.3 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 14.7 in (373.4 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.59 in (15 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.94 in (23.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 120 lb/ft (178.6 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 2,400 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 4,800 lb |
| Area A | 35.3 in² (227.7 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 1,380 in⁴ (57,440 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 190 in³ (3,114 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.24 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 495 in⁴ (20,603 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 67.5 in³ (1,106 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 3.74 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x109 | 14.3 × 14.6 | 109 | 1,240 | 173 | −9 % | −10 % |
| W14x120 (this page) | 14.5 × 14.7 | 120 | 1,380 | 190 | — | — |
| W14x132 | 14.7 × 14.7 | 132 | 1,530 | 209 | +10 % | +11 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x120 spanning 23 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.11 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 1,380 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.77 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W14x120 beam weigh?
W14x120 weighs 120 pounds per foot (178.6 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 2,400 lb and a 40 ft bar 4,800 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x120?
W14x120 is 14.5 in (368.3 mm) deep with a 14.7 in (373.4 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.59 in thick and the flanges are 0.94 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x120 in mm?
W14x120 is 368.3 mm deep with a 373.4 mm wide flange; the web is 15 mm and the flange 23.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 57,440 cm⁴, Sx = 3,114 cm³.
How much does a W14x120 weigh in kg?
178.6 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,072 kg and a 12 m bar 2,143 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x120?
About the strong axis, Ix = 1,380 in⁴ (57,440 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 190 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 495 in⁴ and Sy = 67.5 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x120 or W14x132 — what does one size up change?
W14x132 is about 10% heavier (132 vs 120 lb/ft) but about 11% stiffer (Ix 1,530 vs 1,380 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