W14x550 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W14x550 is an American wide-flange beam 20.2 inches (513.1 mm) deep with a 17.2 in (436.9 mm) flange, weighing 550 pounds per foot (818.5 kg/m) — that is what the "550" 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 | 20.2 in (513.1 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 17.2 in (436.9 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 2.38 in (60.5 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 3.82 in (97 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 550 lb/ft (818.5 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 11,000 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 22,000 lb |
| Area A | 162 in² (1,045.2 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 9,430 in⁴ (392,505 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 931 in³ (15,256 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 7.63 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 3,250 in⁴ (135,275 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 378 in³ (6,194 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 4.49 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W14x500 | 19.6 × 17 | 500 | 8,210 | 838 | −9 % | −13 % |
| W14x550 (this page) | 20.2 × 17.2 | 550 | 9,430 | 931 | — | — |
| W14x605 | 20.9 × 17.4 | 605 | 10,800 | 1,040 | +10 % | +15 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W14x550 spanning 32 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.04 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 9,430 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.07 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W14x550 beam weigh?
W14x550 weighs 550 pounds per foot (818.5 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 11,000 lb and a 40 ft bar 22,000 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W14x550?
W14x550 is 20.2 in (513.1 mm) deep with a 17.2 in (436.9 mm) wide flange. The web is 2.38 in thick and the flanges are 3.82 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W14 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W14x550 in mm?
W14x550 is 513.1 mm deep with a 436.9 mm wide flange; the web is 60.5 mm and the flange 97 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 392,505 cm⁴, Sx = 15,256 cm³.
How much does a W14x550 weigh in kg?
818.5 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 4,911 kg and a 12 m bar 9,822 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W14x550?
About the strong axis, Ix = 9,430 in⁴ (392,505 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 931 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 3,250 in⁴ and Sy = 378 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W14x550 or W14x605 — what does one size up change?
W14x605 is about 10% heavier (605 vs 550 lb/ft) but about 15% stiffer (Ix 10,800 vs 9,430 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