W36x160 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W36x160 is an American wide-flange beam 36 inches (914.4 mm) deep with a 12 in (304.8 mm) flange, weighing 160 pounds per foot (238.1 kg/m) — that is what the "160" 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 | 36 in (914.4 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 12 in (304.8 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.65 in (16.5 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.02 in (25.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 160 lb/ft (238.1 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 3,200 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 6,400 lb |
| Area A | 47 in² (303.2 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 9,760 in⁴ (406,240 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 542 in³ (8,882 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 14.4 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 295 in⁴ (12,279 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 49.1 in³ (805 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W36x150 | 35.9 × 12 | 150 | 9,040 | 504 | −6 % | −7 % |
| W36x160 (this page) | 36 × 12 | 160 | 9,760 | 542 | — | — |
| W36x170 | 36.2 × 12 | 170 | 10,500 | 581 | +6 % | +8 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W36x160 spanning 58 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.25 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 9,760 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.93 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W36x160 beam weigh?
W36x160 weighs 160 pounds per foot (238.1 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 3,200 lb and a 40 ft bar 6,400 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W36x160?
W36x160 is 36 in (914.4 mm) deep with a 12 in (304.8 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.65 in thick and the flanges are 1.02 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W36 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W36x160 in mm?
W36x160 is 914.4 mm deep with a 304.8 mm wide flange; the web is 16.5 mm and the flange 25.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 406,240 cm⁴, Sx = 8,882 cm³.
How much does a W36x160 weigh in kg?
238.1 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 1,429 kg and a 12 m bar 2,857 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W36x160?
About the strong axis, Ix = 9,760 in⁴ (406,240 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 542 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 295 in⁴ and Sy = 49.1 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W36x160 or W36x170 — what does one size up change?
W36x170 is about 6% heavier (170 vs 160 lb/ft) but about 8% stiffer (Ix 10,500 vs 9,760 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