W6x16 — Dimensions, Weight & Section Properties
American wide-flange (W) beam per ASTM A6 / AISC Steel Construction Manual
W6x16 is an American wide-flange beam 6.28 inches (159.5 mm) deep with a 4.03 in (102.4 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 | 6.28 in (159.5 mm) |
| Flange width bf | 4.03 in (102.4 mm) |
| Web thickness tw | 0.26 in (6.6 mm) |
| Flange thickness tf | 0.405 in (10.3 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 | 4.74 in² (30.6 cm²) |
Section Properties (strong / weak axis)
| Moment of inertia Ix | 32.1 in⁴ (1,336 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sx | 10.2 in³ (167 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration rx | 2.6 in |
| Moment of inertia Iy | 4.43 in⁴ (184 cm⁴) |
| Section modulus Sy | 2.2 in³ (36 cm³) |
| Radius of gyration ry | 0.97 in |
Compared with the neighbouring sizes
| Shape | d × bf (in) | lb/ft | Ix (in⁴) | Sx (in³) | Δ weight | Δ Ix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W6x15 | 5.99 × 5.99 | 15 | 29.1 | 9.72 | −6 % | −9 % |
| W6x16 (this page) | 6.28 × 4.03 | 16 | 32.1 | 10.2 | — | — |
| W6x20 | 6.2 × 6.02 | 20 | 41.4 | 13.4 | +25 % | +29 % |
Deflection example
A simply supported W6x16 spanning 10 ft with a 10 kip point load at midspan deflects 0.39 in (E = 29,000 ksi, Ix = 32.1 in⁴). The L/360 serviceability limit for this span is 0.33 in — the shape does NOT pass this quick check.
Calculate with your own span and load →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a W6x16 beam weigh?
W6x16 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 W6x16?
W6x16 is 6.28 in (159.5 mm) deep with a 4.03 in (102.4 mm) wide flange. The web is 0.26 in thick and the flanges are 0.41 in thick. Note the actual depth differs from the nominal W6 label — always design with the actual value.
What are the dimensions of a W6x16 in mm?
W6x16 is 159.5 mm deep with a 102.4 mm wide flange; the web is 6.6 mm and the flange 10.3 mm thick. In metric section properties: Ix = 1,336 cm⁴, Sx = 167 cm³.
How much does a W6x16 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 W6x16?
About the strong axis, Ix = 32.1 in⁴ (1,336 cm⁴) with section modulus Sx = 10.2 in³. About the weak axis, Iy = 4.43 in⁴ and Sy = 2.2 in³. Use the beam deflection calculator to turn these into deflection and stress for your span and load.
W6x16 or W6x20 — what does one size up change?
W6x20 is about 25% heavier (20 vs 16 lb/ft) but about 29% stiffer (Ix 41.4 vs 32.1 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