W14x48 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x48 is an American wide-flange beam 13.8 inches (350.5 mm) deep with a 8.03 in (204 mm) flange, weighing 48 pounds per foot (71.4 kg/m) — that is what the "48" 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 | 13.8 in (350.5 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 8.03 in (204 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.34 in (8.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.595 in (15.1 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 48 lb/ft (71.4 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 960 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 1,920 lb |
| Area A | 14.1 in² (91 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 484 in⁴ (20,146 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 70.2 in³ (1,150 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 5.85 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 51.4 in⁴ (2,139 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 12.8 in³ (210 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.91 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x43 | 13.7 × 8 | 43 | 428 | 62.6 | −10 % | −12 % |
| W14x48 (this page) | 13.8 × 8.03 | 48 | 484 | 70.2 | — | — |
| W14x53 | 13.9 × 8.06 | 53 | 541 | 77.8 | +10 % | +12 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x48 spanning 22 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.27 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 484 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.73 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W14x48 beam weigh?
W14x48 weighs 48 pounds per foot (71.4 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 960 lb and a 40 ft bar 1,920 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x48?
W14x48 is 13.8 in (350.5 mm) deep with a 8.03 in (204 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.34 in thick and the flanges are 0.6 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x48 in mm?
W14x48 is 350.5 mm deep with a 204 mm wide flange; the web is 8.6 mm and the flange 15.1 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 20,146 cm⁴, Sx = 1,150 cm³.
How much does a W14x48 weigh in kg?
71.4 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 429 kg and a 12 m bar 857 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x48?
About the strong axis, Ix = 484 in⁴ (20,146 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 70.2 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 51.4 in⁴ and Sy = 12.8 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x48 or W14x53 — what does one size up change?
W14x53 is about 10% heavier (53 vs 48 lb/ft) but about 12% stiffer (Ix 541 vs 484 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