W14x311 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x311 is an American wide-flange beam 17.1 inches (434.3 mm) deep with a 16.2 in (411.5 mm) flange, weighing 311 pounds per foot (462.8 kg/m) — that is what the "311" 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 | 17.1 in (434.3 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 16.2 in (411.5 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 1.41 in (35.8 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 2.26 in (57.4 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 311 lb/ft (462.8 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 6,220 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 12,440 lb |
| Area A | 91.4 in² (589.7 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 4,330 in⁴ (180,228 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 506 in³ (8,292 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.88 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 1,610 in⁴ (67,013 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 199 in³ (3,261 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 4.2 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x283 | 16.7 × 16.1 | 283 | 3,840 | 459 | −9 % | −11 % |
| W14x311 (this page) | 17.1 × 16.2 | 311 | 4,330 | 506 | — | — |
| W14x342 | 17.5 × 16.4 | 342 | 4,900 | 559 | +10 % | +13 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x311 spanning 27 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.06 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 4,330 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.9 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W14x311 beam weigh?
W14x311 weighs 311 pounds per foot (462.8 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 6,220 lb and a 40 ft bar 12,440 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x311?
W14x311 is 17.1 in (434.3 mm) deep with a 16.2 in (411.5 mm) wide flange. The web is 1.41 in thick and the flanges are 2.26 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x311 in mm?
W14x311 is 434.3 mm deep with a 411.5 mm wide flange; the web is 35.8 mm and the flange 57.4 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 180,228 cm⁴, Sx = 8,292 cm³.
How much does a W14x311 weigh in kg?
462.8 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 2,777 kg and a 12 m bar 5,554 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x311?
About the strong axis, Ix = 4,330 in⁴ (180,228 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 506 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 1,610 in⁴ and Sy = 199 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x311 or W14x342 — what does one size up change?
W14x342 is about 10% heavier (342 vs 311 lb/ft) but about 13% stiffer (Ix 4,900 vs 4,330 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