W21x62 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W21x62 is an American wide-flange beam 21 inches (533.4 mm) deep with a 8.24 in (209.3 mm) flange, weighing 62 pounds per foot (92.3 kg/m) — that is what the "62" 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 | 21 in (533.4 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 8.24 in (209.3 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.4 in (10.2 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.615 in (15.6 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 62 lb/ft (92.3 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 1,240 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 2,480 lb |
| Area A | 18.3 in² (118.1 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 1,330 in⁴ (55,359 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 127 in³ (2,081 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 8.54 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 57.5 in⁴ (2,393 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 14 in³ (229 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.77 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W21x57 | 21.1 × 6.56 | 57 | 1,170 | 111 | −8 % | −12 % |
| W21x62 (this page) | 21 × 8.24 | 62 | 1,330 | 127 | — | — |
| W21x68 | 21.1 × 8.27 | 68 | 1,480 | 140 | +10 % | +11 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W21x62 spanning 34 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.37 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 1,330 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.13 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W21x62 beam weigh?
W21x62 weighs 62 pounds per foot (92.3 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 1,240 lb and a 40 ft bar 2,480 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W21x62?
W21x62 is 21 in (533.4 mm) deep with a 8.24 in (209.3 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.4 in thick and the flanges are 0.62 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W21 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W21x62 in mm?
W21x62 is 533.4 mm deep with a 209.3 mm wide flange; the web is 10.2 mm and the flange 15.6 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 55,359 cm⁴, Sx = 2,081 cm³.
How much does a W21x62 weigh in kg?
92.3 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 554 kg and a 12 m bar 1,107 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W21x62?
About the strong axis, Ix = 1,330 in⁴ (55,359 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 127 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 57.5 in⁴ and Sy = 14 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W21x62 or W21x68 — what does one size up change?
W21x68 is about 10% heavier (68 vs 62 lb/ft) but about 11% stiffer (Ix 1,480 vs 1,330 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