W14x159 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x159 is an American wide-flange beam 15 inches (381 mm) deep with a 15.6 in (396.2 mm) flange, weighing 159 pounds per foot (236.6 kg/m) — that is what the "159" 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 in (381 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 15.6 in (396.2 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.745 in (18.9 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.19 in (30.2 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 159 lb/ft (236.6 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 3,180 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 6,360 lb |
| Area A | 46.7 in² (301.3 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 1,900 in⁴ (79,084 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 254 in³ (4,162 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.38 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 748 in⁴ (31,134 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 96.2 in³ (1,576 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 4 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x145 | 14.8 × 15.5 | 145 | 1,710 | 232 | −9 % | −10 % |
| W14x159 (this page) | 15 × 15.6 | 159 | 1,900 | 254 | — | — |
| W14x176 | 15.2 × 15.7 | 176 | 2,140 | 281 | +11 % | +13 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x159 spanning 24 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.09 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 1,900 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 W14x159 beam weigh?
W14x159 weighs 159 pounds per foot (236.6 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 3,180 lb and a 40 ft bar 6,360 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x159?
W14x159 is 15 in (381 mm) deep with a 15.6 in (396.2 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.75 in thick and the flanges are 1.19 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x159 in mm?
W14x159 is 381 mm deep with a 396.2 mm wide flange; the web is 18.9 mm and the flange 30.2 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 79,084 cm⁴, Sx = 4,162 cm³.
How much does a W14x159 weigh in kg?
236.6 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,420 kg and a 12 m bar 2,839 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x159?
About the strong axis, Ix = 1,900 in⁴ (79,084 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 254 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 748 in⁴ and Sy = 96.2 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x159 or W14x176 — what does one size up change?
W14x176 is about 11% heavier (176 vs 159 lb/ft) but about 13% stiffer (Ix 2,140 vs 1,900 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