W14x38 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x38 is an American wide-flange beam 14.1 inches (358.1 mm) deep with a 6.77 in (172 mm) flange, weighing 38 pounds per foot (56.6 kg/m) — that is what the "38" 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 | 14.1 in (358.1 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 6.77 in (172 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.31 in (7.9 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.515 in (13.1 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 38 lb/ft (56.6 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 760 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 1,520 lb |
| Area A | 11.2 in² (72.3 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 385 in⁴ (16,025 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 54.6 in³ (895 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 5.87 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 26.7 in⁴ (1,111 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 7.88 in³ (129 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.55 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x34 | 14 × 6.75 | 34 | 340 | 48.6 | −11 % | −12 % |
| W14x38 (this page) | 14.1 × 6.77 | 38 | 385 | 54.6 | — | — |
| W14x43 | 13.7 × 8 | 43 | 428 | 62.6 | +13 % | +11 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x38 spanning 23 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.39 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 385 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 W14x38 beam weigh?
W14x38 weighs 38 pounds per foot (56.6 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 760 lb and a 40 ft bar 1,520 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x38?
W14x38 is 14.1 in (358.1 mm) deep with a 6.77 in (172 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.31 in thick and the flanges are 0.52 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x38 in mm?
W14x38 is 358.1 mm deep with a 172 mm wide flange; the web is 7.9 mm and the flange 13.1 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 16,025 cm⁴, Sx = 895 cm³.
How much does a W14x38 weigh in kg?
56.6 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 339 kg and a 12 m bar 679 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x38?
About the strong axis, Ix = 385 in⁴ (16,025 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 54.6 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 26.7 in⁴ and Sy = 7.88 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x38 or W14x43 — what does one size up change?
W14x43 is about 13% heavier (43 vs 38 lb/ft) but about 11% stiffer (Ix 428 vs 385 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