W24x162 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W24x162 is an American wide-flange beam 25 inches (635 mm) deep with a 13 in (330.2 mm) flange, weighing 162 pounds per foot (241.1 kg/m) — that is what the "162" 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 | 25 in (635 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 13 in (330.2 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.705 in (17.9 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.22 in (31 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 162 lb/ft (241.1 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 3,240 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 6,480 lb |
| Area A | 47.8 in² (308.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 5,170 in⁴ (215,191 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 414 in³ (6,784 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 10.4 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 443 in⁴ (18,439 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 68.4 in³ (1,121 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 3.05 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W24x146 | 24.7 × 12.9 | 146 | 4,580 | 371 | −10 % | −11 % |
| W24x162 (this page) | 25 × 13 | 162 | 5,170 | 414 | — | — |
| W24x176 | 25.2 × 12.9 | 176 | 5,680 | 450 | +9 % | +10 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W24x162 spanning 40 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.15 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 5,170 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.33 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W24x162 beam weigh?
W24x162 weighs 162 pounds per foot (241.1 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 3,240 lb and a 40 ft bar 6,480 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W24x162?
W24x162 is 25 in (635 mm) deep with a 13 in (330.2 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.71 in thick and the flanges are 1.22 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W24 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W24x162 in mm?
W24x162 is 635 mm deep with a 330.2 mm wide flange; the web is 17.9 mm and the flange 31 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 215,191 cm⁴, Sx = 6,784 cm³.
How much does a W24x162 weigh in kg?
241.1 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,447 kg and a 12 m bar 2,893 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W24x162?
About the strong axis, Ix = 5,170 in⁴ (215,191 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 414 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 443 in⁴ and Sy = 68.4 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W24x162 or W24x176 — what does one size up change?
W24x176 is about 9% heavier (176 vs 162 lb/ft) but about 10% stiffer (Ix 5,680 vs 5,170 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