W14x500 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x500 is an American wide-flange beam 19.6 inches (497.8 mm) deep with a 17 in (431.8 mm) flange, weighing 500 pounds per foot (744.1 kg/m) — that is what the "500" 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 | 19.6 in (497.8 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 17 in (431.8 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 2.19 in (55.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 3.5 in (88.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 500 lb/ft (744.1 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 10,000 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 20,000 lb |
| Area A | 147 in² (948.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 8,210 in⁴ (341,725 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 838 in³ (13,732 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 7.48 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 2,880 in⁴ (119,874 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 339 in³ (5,555 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 4.43 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x455 | 19 × 16.8 | 455 | 7,190 | 756 | −9 % | −12 % |
| W14x500 (this page) | 19.6 × 17 | 500 | 8,210 | 838 | — | — |
| W14x550 | 20.2 × 17.2 | 550 | 9,430 | 931 | +10 % | +15 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x500 spanning 31 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.05 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 8,210 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.03 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W14x500 beam weigh?
W14x500 weighs 500 pounds per foot (744.1 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 10,000 lb and a 40 ft bar 20,000 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x500?
W14x500 is 19.6 in (497.8 mm) deep with a 17 in (431.8 mm) wide flange. The web is 2.19 in thick and the flanges are 3.5 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x500 in mm?
W14x500 is 497.8 mm deep with a 431.8 mm wide flange; the web is 55.6 mm and the flange 88.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 341,725 cm⁴, Sx = 13,732 cm³.
How much does a W14x500 weigh in kg?
744.1 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 4,465 kg and a 12 m bar 8,929 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x500?
About the strong axis, Ix = 8,210 in⁴ (341,725 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 838 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 2,880 in⁴ and Sy = 339 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x500 or W14x550 — what does one size up change?
W14x550 is about 10% heavier (550 vs 500 lb/ft) but about 15% stiffer (Ix 9,430 vs 8,210 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