W16x36 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W16x36 is an American wide-flange beam 15.9 inches (403.9 mm) deep with a 6.99 in (177.5 mm) flange, weighing 36 pounds per foot (53.6 kg/m) — that is what the "36" 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 | 15.9 in (403.9 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 6.99 in (177.5 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.295 in (7.5 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.43 in (10.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 36 lb/ft (53.6 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 720 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 1,440 lb |
| Area A | 10.6 in² (68.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 448 in⁴ (18,647 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 56.5 in³ (926 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 6.51 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 24.5 in⁴ (1,020 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 7 in³ (115 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.52 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W16x31 | 15.9 × 5.53 | 31 | 375 | 47.2 | −14 % | −16 % |
| W16x36 (this page) | 15.9 × 6.99 | 36 | 448 | 56.5 | — | — |
| W16x40 | 16 × 7 | 40 | 518 | 64.7 | +11 % | +16 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W16x36 spanning 25 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.43 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 448 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 W16x36 beam weigh?
W16x36 weighs 36 pounds per foot (53.6 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 720 lb and a 40 ft bar 1,440 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W16x36?
W16x36 is 15.9 in (403.9 mm) deep with a 6.99 in (177.5 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.3 in thick and the flanges are 0.43 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W16 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W16x36 in mm?
W16x36 is 403.9 mm deep with a 177.5 mm wide flange; the web is 7.5 mm and the flange 10.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 18,647 cm⁴, Sx = 926 cm³.
How much does a W16x36 weigh in kg?
53.6 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 321 kg and a 12 m bar 643 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W16x36?
About the strong axis, Ix = 448 in⁴ (18,647 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 56.5 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 24.5 in⁴ and Sy = 7 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W16x36 or W16x40 — what does one size up change?
W16x40 is about 11% heavier (40 vs 36 lb/ft) but about 16% stiffer (Ix 518 vs 448 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