W44x262 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W44x262 is an American wide-flange beam 43.3 inches (1,099.8 mm) deep with a 15.8 in (401.3 mm) flange, weighing 262 pounds per foot (389.9 kg/m) — that is what the "262" 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 | 43.3 in (1,099.8 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 15.8 in (401.3 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.785 in (19.9 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 1.42 in (36.1 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 262 lb/ft (389.9 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 5,240 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 10,480 lb |
| Area A | 77.2 in² (498.1 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 24,100 in⁴ (1,003,114 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 1,110 in³ (18,190 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 17.7 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 923 in⁴ (38,418 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 117 in³ (1,917 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 3.47 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W44x230 | 42.9 × 15.8 | 230 | 20,800 | 971 | −12 % | −14 % |
| W44x262 (this page) | 43.3 × 15.8 | 262 | 24,100 | 1,110 | — | — |
| W44x290 | 43.6 × 15.8 | 290 | 27,000 | 1,240 | +11 % | +12 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W44x262 spanning 69 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.17 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 24,100 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 2.3 in — the shape passes this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W44x262 beam weigh?
W44x262 weighs 262 pounds per foot (389.9 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 5,240 lb and a 40 ft bar 10,480 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W44x262?
W44x262 is 43.3 in (1,099.8 mm) deep with a 15.8 in (401.3 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.79 in thick and the flanges are 1.42 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W44 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W44x262 in mm?
W44x262 is 1,099.8 mm deep with a 401.3 mm wide flange; the web is 19.9 mm and the flange 36.1 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 1,003,114 cm⁴, Sx = 18,190 cm³.
How much does a W44x262 weigh in kg?
389.9 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 2,339 kg and a 12 m bar 4,679 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W44x262?
About the strong axis, Ix = 24,100 in⁴ (1,003,114 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 1,110 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 923 in⁴ and Sy = 117 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W44x262 or W44x290 — what does one size up change?
W44x290 is about 11% heavier (290 vs 262 lb/ft) but about 12% stiffer (Ix 27,000 vs 24,100 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