W14x257 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x257 is an American wide-flange beam 16.4 inches (416.6 mm) deep with a 16 in (406.4 mm) flange, weighing 257 pounds per foot (382.5 kg/m) — that is what the "257" 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 | 16.4 in (416.6 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 16 in (406.4 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 1.18 in (30 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.89 in (48 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 257 lb/ft (382.5 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 5,140 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 10,280 lb |
| Area A | 75.6 in² (487.7 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 3,400 in⁴ (141,518 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 415 in³ (6,801 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.71 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 1,290 in⁴ (53,694 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 161 in³ (2,638 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 4.13 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x233 | 16 × 15.9 | 233 | 3,010 | 375 | −9 % | −11 % |
| W14x257 (this page) | 16.4 × 16 | 257 | 3,400 | 415 | — | — |
| W14x283 | 16.7 × 16.1 | 283 | 3,840 | 459 | +10 % | +13 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x257 spanning 26 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.06 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 3,400 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.87 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W14x257 beam weigh?
W14x257 weighs 257 pounds per foot (382.5 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 5,140 lb and a 40 ft bar 10,280 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x257?
W14x257 is 16.4 in (416.6 mm) deep with a 16 in (406.4 mm) wide flange. The web is 1.18 in thick and the flanges are 1.89 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x257 in mm?
W14x257 is 416.6 mm deep with a 406.4 mm wide flange; the web is 30 mm and the flange 48 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 141,518 cm⁴, Sx = 6,801 cm³.
How much does a W14x257 weigh in kg?
382.5 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 2,295 kg and a 12 m bar 4,590 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x257?
About the strong axis, Ix = 3,400 in⁴ (141,518 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 415 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 1,290 in⁴ and Sy = 161 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x257 or W14x283 — what does one size up change?
W14x283 is about 10% heavier (283 vs 257 lb/ft) but about 13% stiffer (Ix 3,840 vs 3,400 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