W30x148 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W30x148 is an American wide-flange beam 30.7 inches (779.8 mm) deep with a 10.5 in (266.7 mm) flange, weighing 148 pounds per foot (220.3 kg/m) — that is what the "148" 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 | 30.7 in (779.8 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 10.5 in (266.7 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.65 in (16.5 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.18 in (30 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 148 lb/ft (220.3 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 2,960 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 5,920 lb |
| Area A | 43.6 in² (281.3 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 6,680 in⁴ (278,042 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 436 in³ (7,145 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 12.4 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 227 in⁴ (9,448 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 43.3 in³ (710 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 2.28 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W30x132 | 30.3 × 10.5 | 132 | 5,770 | 380 | −11 % | −14 % |
| W30x148 (this page) | 30.7 × 10.5 | 148 | 6,680 | 436 | — | — |
Deflection example
A simply supported W30x148 spanning 49 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.22 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 6,680 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.63 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W30x148 beam weigh?
W30x148 weighs 148 pounds per foot (220.3 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 2,960 lb and a 40 ft bar 5,920 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W30x148?
W30x148 is 30.7 in (779.8 mm) deep with a 10.5 in (266.7 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.65 in thick and the flanges are 1.18 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W30 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W30x148 in mm?
W30x148 is 779.8 mm deep with a 266.7 mm wide flange; the web is 16.5 mm and the flange 30 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 278,042 cm⁴, Sx = 7,145 cm³.
How much does a W30x148 weigh in kg?
220.3 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,322 kg and a 12 m bar 2,643 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W30x148?
About the strong axis, Ix = 6,680 in⁴ (278,042 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 436 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 227 in⁴ and Sy = 43.3 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W30x148 or W30x132 — what does one size down change?
W30x132 is about 11% lighter (132 vs 148 lb/ft) but about 14% less stiff (Ix 5,770 vs 6,680 in⁴). Check deflection before downsizing — stiffness falls much faster than weight.
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