W36x232 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W36x232 is an American wide-flange beam 37.1 inches (942.3 mm) deep with a 12.1 in (307.3 mm) flange, weighing 232 pounds per foot (345.3 kg/m) — that is what the "232" 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 | 37.1 in (942.3 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 12.1 in (307.3 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.87 in (22.1 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.57 in (39.9 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 232 lb/ft (345.3 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 4,640 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 9,280 lb |
| Area A | 68.1 in² (439.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 15,000 in⁴ (624,345 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 809 in³ (13,257 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 14.8 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 468 in⁴ (19,480 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 77.2 in³ (1,265 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 2.62 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W36x210 | 36.7 × 12.2 | 210 | 13,200 | 719 | −9 % | −12 % |
| W36x232 (this page) | 37.1 × 12.1 | 232 | 15,000 | 809 | — | — |
Deflection example
A simply supported W36x232 spanning 59 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.17 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 15,000 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 1.97 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W36x232 beam weigh?
W36x232 weighs 232 pounds per foot (345.3 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 4,640 lb and a 40 ft bar 9,280 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W36x232?
W36x232 is 37.1 in (942.3 mm) deep with a 12.1 in (307.3 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.87 in thick and the flanges are 1.57 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W36 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W36x232 in mm?
W36x232 is 942.3 mm deep with a 307.3 mm wide flange; the web is 22.1 mm and the flange 39.9 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 624,345 cm⁴, Sx = 13,257 cm³.
How much does a W36x232 weigh in kg?
345.3 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 2,072 kg and a 12 m bar 4,143 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W36x232?
About the strong axis, Ix = 15,000 in⁴ (624,345 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 809 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 468 in⁴ and Sy = 77.2 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W36x232 or W36x210 — what does one size down change?
W36x210 is about 9% lighter (210 vs 232 lb/ft) but about 12% less stiff (Ix 13,200 vs 15,000 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