W16x26 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W16x26 is an American wide-flange beam 15.7 inches (398.8 mm) deep with a 5.5 in (139.7 mm) flange, weighing 26 pounds per foot (38.7 kg/m) — that is what the "26" 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 | 15.7 in (398.8 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 5.5 in (139.7 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.345 in (8.8 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 26 lb/ft (38.7 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 520 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 1,040 lb |
| Area A | 7.68 in² (49.5 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 301 in⁴ (12,529 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 38.4 in³ (629 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.26 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 9.59 in⁴ (399 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 3.49 in³ (57 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.12 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W16x26 (this page) | 15.7 × 5.5 | 26 | 301 | 38.4 | — | — |
| W16x31 | 15.9 × 5.53 | 31 | 375 | 47.2 | +19 % | +25 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W16x26 spanning 25 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.64 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 301 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.83 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W16x26 beam weigh?
W16x26 weighs 26 pounds per foot (38.7 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 520 lb and a 40 ft bar 1,040 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W16x26?
W16x26 is 15.7 in (398.8 mm) deep with a 5.5 in (139.7 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.25 in thick and the flanges are 0.35 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W16 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W16x26 in mm?
W16x26 is 398.8 mm deep with a 139.7 mm wide flange; the web is 6.4 mm and the flange 8.8 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 12,529 cm⁴, Sx = 629 cm³.
How much does a W16x26 weigh in kg?
38.7 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 232 kg and a 12 m bar 464 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W16x26?
About the strong axis, Ix = 301 in⁴ (12,529 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 38.4 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 9.59 in⁴ and Sy = 3.49 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W16x26 or W16x31 — what does one size up change?
W16x31 is about 19% heavier (31 vs 26 lb/ft) but about 25% stiffer (Ix 375 vs 301 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