W24x68 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W24x68 is an American wide-flange beam 23.7 inches (602 mm) deep with a 8.97 in (227.8 mm) flange, weighing 68 pounds per foot (101.2 kg/m) — that is what the "68" 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 | 23.7 in (602 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 8.97 in (227.8 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.415 in (10.5 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.585 in (14.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 68 lb/ft (101.2 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 1,360 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 2,720 lb |
| Area A | 20.1 in² (129.7 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 1,830 in⁴ (76,170 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 154 in³ (2,524 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 9.55 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 70.4 in⁴ (2,930 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 15.7 in³ (257 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.87 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W24x62 | 23.7 × 7.04 | 62 | 1,550 | 131 | −9 % | −15 % |
| W24x68 (this page) | 23.7 × 8.97 | 68 | 1,830 | 154 | — | — |
| W24x76 | 23.9 × 8.99 | 76 | 2,100 | 176 | +12 % | +15 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W24x68 spanning 38 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.37 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 1,830 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.27 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W24x68 beam weigh?
W24x68 weighs 68 pounds per foot (101.2 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 1,360 lb and a 40 ft bar 2,720 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W24x68?
W24x68 is 23.7 in (602 mm) deep with a 8.97 in (227.8 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.42 in thick and the flanges are 0.59 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W24 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W24x68 in mm?
W24x68 is 602 mm deep with a 227.8 mm wide flange; the web is 10.5 mm and the flange 14.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 76,170 cm⁴, Sx = 2,524 cm³.
How much does a W24x68 weigh in kg?
101.2 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 607 kg and a 12 m bar 1,214 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W24x68?
About the strong axis, Ix = 1,830 in⁴ (76,170 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 154 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 70.4 in⁴ and Sy = 15.7 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W24x68 or W24x76 — what does one size up change?
W24x76 is about 12% heavier (76 vs 68 lb/ft) but about 15% stiffer (Ix 2,100 vs 1,830 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