W5x16 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W5x16 is an American wide-flange beam 5.01 inches (127.3 mm) deep with a 5 in (127 mm) flange, weighing 16 pounds per foot (23.8 kg/m) — that is what the "16" 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 | 5.01 in (127.3 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 5 in (127 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.24 in (6.1 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.36 in (9.1 mm) |
Weight & Cross-Section
| Weight per foot | 16 lb/ft (23.8 kg/m) |
| 20 ft bar | 320 lb |
| 40 ft bar | 640 lb |
| Area A | 4.71 in² (30.4 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 21.4 in⁴ (891 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 8.55 in³ (140 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 2.13 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 7.51 in⁴ (313 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 3 in³ (49 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 1.26 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W5x16 (this page) | 5.01 × 5 | 16 | 21.4 | 8.55 | — | — |
| W5x19 | 5.15 × 5.03 | 19 | 26.3 | 10.2 | +19 % | +23 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W5x16 spanning 8 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.3 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 21.4 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.27 in — the shape does NOT pass this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W5x16 beam weigh?
W5x16 weighs 16 pounds per foot (23.8 kg/m). The number after the "x" in the designation is always the weight in lb/ft. A 20 ft bar weighs 320 lb and a 40 ft bar 640 lb.
What are the dimensions of a W5x16?
W5x16 is 5.01 in (127.3 mm) deep with a 5 in (127 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.24 in thick and the flanges are 0.36 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W5 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W5x16 in mm?
W5x16 is 127.3 mm deep with a 127 mm wide flange; the web is 6.1 mm and the flange 9.1 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 891 cm⁴, Sx = 140 cm³.
How much does a W5x16 weigh in kg?
23.8 kg per meter. A 6 m bar weighs 143 kg and a 12 m bar 286 kg — handy when ordering US shapes from metric suppliers.
What is the moment of inertia of a W5x16?
About the strong axis, Ix = 21.4 in⁴ (891 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 8.55 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 7.51 in⁴ and Sy = 3 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W5x16 or W5x19 — what does one size up change?
W5x19 is about 19% heavier (19 vs 16 lb/ft) but about 23% stiffer (Ix 26.3 vs 21.4 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