W33x169 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W33x169 is an American wide-flange beam 33.8 inches (858.5 mm) deep with a 11.5 in (292.1 mm) flange, weighing 169 pounds per foot (251.5 kg/m) — that is what the "169" 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 | 33.8 in (858.5 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 11.5 in (292.1 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.67 in (17 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.22 in (31 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 169 lb/ft (251.5 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 3,380 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 6,760 lb |
| Area A | 49.5 in² (319.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 9,290 in⁴ (386,678 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 549 in³ (8,996 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 13.7 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 310 in⁴ (12,903 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 53.9 in³ (883 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 2.5 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W33x152 | 33.5 × 11.6 | 152 | 8,160 | 487 | −10 % | −12 % |
| W33x169 (this page) | 33.8 × 11.5 | 169 | 9,290 | 549 | — | — |
Deflection example
A simply supported W33x169 spanning 54 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.21 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 9,290 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.8 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W33x169 beam weigh?
W33x169 weighs 169 pounds per foot (251.5 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 3,380 lb and a 40 ft bar 6,760 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W33x169?
W33x169 is 33.8 in (858.5 mm) deep with a 11.5 in (292.1 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.67 in thick and the flanges are 1.22 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W33 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W33x169 in mm?
W33x169 is 858.5 mm deep with a 292.1 mm wide flange; the web is 17 mm and the flange 31 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 386,678 cm⁴, Sx = 8,996 cm³.
How much does a W33x169 weigh in kg?
251.5 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,509 kg and a 12 m bar 3,018 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W33x169?
About the strong axis, Ix = 9,290 in⁴ (386,678 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 549 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 310 in⁴ and Sy = 53.9 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W33x169 or W33x152 — what does one size down change?
W33x152 is about 10% lighter (152 vs 169 lb/ft) but about 12% less stiff (Ix 8,160 vs 9,290 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