The dimensionsand weight ofH-beam steelcan be determined through severalmethods. Themost common approachis to calculatethe cross-sectional areausing the formula:
A = t1(H-2t2)+2Bt2+0.858r2
Where:
- Hrepresents theheight of theweb
- B representsthe width ofthe flange
- t1 represents thethickness ofthe web
- t2represents thethickness ofthe flange
- rrepresents theradius of thefillet
Once thecross-sectional area(A) is obtained, the weightper unit lengthof the H-beam canbe easily calculated by multiplying Aby the densityof steel, whichis typically7.85 g/cm3 or0.00785 kg/cm3. Thisstraightforward calculationprovides an accurateestimate of theH-beam’s weightbased on itsspecific dimensions.
To simplify the process of determining the weight of H-beam steel, manufacturers often provide detailed theoretical weight tables for various standard sizes. These tables list the weight per meter for each H-beam specification, making it easy to find the information you need.
For instance, an H-beam with dimensions of 350mm in height and 175mm in width (350175mm) has a theoretical weight of 41.8kg per meter. Similarly, an H-beam measuring 400mm in height and 150mm in width (400150mm) weighs 55.8kg per meter.
These examples demonstrate that the weight of an H-beam is directly related to its dimensions. As the size of the H-beam changes, so does its theoretical weight per unit length. By referring to these weight tables, engineers and contractors can quickly estimate the total weight of the H-beams required for their projects, ensuring accurate material ordering and cost estimation.
While the cross-sectional area formula is the most widely used method for calculating the weight of H-beam steel, there are alternative approaches that can provide similar results. One such method involves using formulas that consider the width of the web plate and the base plate.
Another option is to refer to the standard section sizes and their corresponding weights, which are readily available in reference materials. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these calculations may have slight discrepancies when compared to the actual weight of the H-beam.
Typically, the difference between the theoretical weight and the actual weight falls within a range of 0.2% to 0.7%. This minor variance is due to factors such as manufacturing tolerances and variations in steel density. Despite these potential discrepancies, the formulas and reference tables provide a reliable means of estimating the weight of H-beam steel for practical applications.
What is the specific formula to calculate the weight of H-beam steel based on the width of the web plate and the base plate?
For those who prefer to calculate the weight of H-beam steel using the dimensions of the web plate and base plate, the following formula can be employed:
Weight (kg/m) = 0.00785 × (2.5 × a × t1 + (b – 2 × t1) × t2)
Where:
- ‘a’ is the width of the web plate in millimeters (mm)
- ‘b’ is the width of the base plate in millimeters (mm)
- ‘t1’ is the thickness of the web plate in millimeters (mm)
- ‘t2’ is the thickness of the base plate in millimeters (mm)
This formula takes into account the height and width of the web plate, as well as the width and thickness of the base plate. By inputting these parameters, the formula calculates the weight of the H-beam steel per meter length.
The constant 0.00785 in the formula represents the density of steel in kg/cm³, which is used to convert the volume of the H-beam (calculated using the plate dimensions) into its corresponding weight.
This alternative method provides a convenient way to determine the weight of H-beam steel when the dimensions of the web and base plates are readily available, offering an additional tool for engineers and manufacturers to accurately estimate the material requirements for their projects.
H Beam Sizes and Weight Chart
H-steel is categorized into fourmain types based on the widthof the flange:
- WideFlange H-steel (HW)
- MediumFlange H-steel (HM)
- Narrow Flange H-steel (HN)
- Thin-wall H-steel (HT)
The cross-sectional diagrambelow illustrates the keydimensions and symbols used to describeH-steel:
Key dimensions:
- H: Heightof the web
- B: Width of theflange
- t1: Thicknessof the web
- t2: Thickness ofthe flange
- r: Radius of thefillet
- cx: Locationof the centroid
These dimensionsare crucial fordetermining thesize and weightof H-beam steel. The followingtable providesa comprehensivelist of standard H-beam sizesand their correspondingweights for eachtype of H-steel.Type Model Height
（H)Width
（B)Web
thickness
（t1)Flange
thickness
（t2)Radius
（r)Theoretical
weight
(kg/m)HW Wide flange 100×100 100 100 6 8 8 16.9 HW Wide flange 125×125 125 125 6.5 9 8 23.6 HW Wide flange 150×150 150 150 7 10 8 31.1 HW Wide flange 175×175 175 175 7.5 11 13 40.4 HW Wide flange 200×200 200 200 8 12 13 49.9 HW Wide flange 200×200 200 204 12 12 13 56.2 HW Wide flange 250×250 244 252 11 11 13 63.8 HW Wide flange 250×250 250 250 9 14 13 71.8 HW Wide flange 250×250 250 255 14 14 13 81.6 HW Wide flange 300×300 294 302 12 12 13 83.5 HW Wide flange 300×300 300 300 10 15 13 93 HW Wide flange 300×300 300 305 15 15 13 104.8 HW Wide flange 350×350 338 351 13 13 13 104.6 HW Wide flange 350×350 344 348 10 16 13 113 HW Wide flange 350×350 344 354 16 16 13 129.3 HW Wide flange 350×350 350 350 12 19 13 134.9 HW Wide flange 350×350 350 357 19 19 13 154.2 HW Wide flange 400×400 388 402 15 15 22 140.1 HW Wide flange 400×400 394 398 11 18 22 146.6 HW Wide flange 400×400 394 405 18 18 22 168.3 HW Wide flange 400×400 400 400 13 21 22 171.7 HW Wide flange 400×400 400 408 21 21 22 196.8 HW Wide flange 400×400 414 405 18 28 22 231.9 HW Wide flange 400×400 428 407 20 35 22 283.1 HW Wide flange 400×400 458 417 30 50 22 414.9 HW Wide flange 400×400 498 432 45 70 22 604.5 HW Wide flange 500×500 492 465 15 20 22 202.5 HW Wide flange 500×500 502 465 15 25 22 239 HW Wide flange 500×500 502 470 20 25 22 258.7 HM Middle flange 150×100 148 100 6 9 8 20.7 HM Middle flange 200×150 194 150 6 9 8 29.9 HM Middle flange 250×175 244 175 7 11 13 43.6 HM Middle flange 300×200 294 200 8 12 13 55.8 HM Middle flange 350×250 340 250 9 14 13 78.1 HM Middle flange 400×300 390 300 10 16 13 104.6 HM Middle flange 450×300 440 300 11 18 13 120.8 HM Middle flange 500×300 482 300 11 15 13 110.8 HM Middle flange 500×300 488 300 11 18 13 124.9 HM Middle flange 550×300 544 300 11 15 13 116.2 HM Middle flange 550×300 550 300 11 18 13 130.3 HM Middle flange 600×300 582 300 12 17 13 132.8 HM Middle flange 600×300 588 300 12 20 13 147 HM Middle flange 600×300 594 302 14 23 13 170.4 HN Narrow flange 100×50 100 50 5 7 8 9.3 HN Narrow flange 125×60 125 60 6 8 8 13.1 HN Narrow flange 150×75 150 75 5 7 8 14 HN Narrow flange 175×90 175 90 5 8 8 18 HN Narrow flange 200×100 198 99 4.5 7 8 17.8 HN Narrow flange 200×100 200 100 5.5 8 8 20.9 HN Narrow flange 250×125 248 124 5 8 8 25.1 HN Narrow flange 250×125 250 125 6 9 8 29 HN Narrow flange 300×150 298 149 5.5 8 13 32 HN Narrow flange 300×150 300 150 6.5 9 13 36.7 HN Narrow flange 350×175 346 174 6 9 13 41.2 HN Narrow flange 350×175 350 175 7 11 13 49.4 HN Narrow flange 400×150 400 150 8 13 13 55.2 HN Narrow flange 400×200 396 199 7 11 13 56.1 HN Narrow flange 400×200 400 200 8 13 13 65.4 HN Narrow flange 450×200 446 199 8 12 13 65.1 HN Narrow flange 450×200 450 200 9 14 13 74.9 HN Narrow flange 500×200 496 199 9 14 13 77.9 HN Narrow flange 500×200 500 200 10 16 13 88.1 HN Narrow flange 500×200 506 201 11 19 13 101.5 HN Narrow flange 550×200 546 199 9 14 13 81.5 HN Narrow flange 550×200 550 200 10 16 13 92 HN Narrow flange 600×200 596 199 10 15 13 92.4 HN Narrow flange 600×200 600 200 11 17 13 103.4 HN Narrow flange 600×200 606 201 12 20 13 117.6 HN Narrow flange 650×300 646 299 10 15 13 119.9 HN Narrow flange 650×300 650 300 11 17 13 134.4 HN Narrow flange 650×300 656 301 12 20 13 153.7 HN Narrow flange 700×300 692 300 13 20 18 162.9 HN Narrow flange 700×300 700 300 13 24 18 181.8 HN Narrow flange 750×300 734 299 12 16 18 143.4 HN Narrow flange 750×300 742 300 13 20 18 168 HN Narrow flange 750×300 750 300 13 24 18 186.9 HN Narrow flange 750×300 758 303 16 28 18 223.6 HN Narrow flange 800×300 792 300 14 22 18 188 HN Narrow flange 800×300 800 300 14 26 18 206.8 HN Narrow flange 850×300 834 298 14 19 18 178.6 HN Narrow flange 850×300 842 299 15 23 18 203.9 HN Narrow flange 850×300 850 300 16 27 18 229.3 HN Narrow flange 850×300 858 301 17 31 18 254.9 HN Narrow flange 900×300 890 299 15 23 18 209.5 HN Narrow flange 900×300 900 300 16 28 18 240.1 HN Narrow flange 900×300 912 302 18 34 18 282.6 HN Narrow flange 1000×300 970 297 16 21 18 216.7 HN Narrow flange 1000×300 980 298 17 26 18 247.7 HN Narrow flange 1000×300 990 298 17 31 18 271.1 HN Narrow flange 1000×300 1000 300 19 36 18 310.2 HN Narrow flange 1000×300 1008 302 21 40 18 344.8 HT Thin-wall 100×50 95 48 3.2 4.5 8 6 HT Thin-wall 100×50 97 49 4 5.5 8 7.4 HT Thin-wall 100×100 96 99 4.5 6 8 12.7 HT Thin-wall 125×60 118 58 3.2 4.5 8 7.3 HT Thin-wall 125×60 120 59 4 5.5 8 8.9 HT Thin-wall 125×125 119 123 4.5 6 8 15.8 HT Thin-wall 150×75 145 73 3.2 4.5 8 9 HT Thin-wall 150×75 147 74 4 5.5 8 11.1 HT Thin-wall 150×100 139 97 3.2 4.5 8 10.5 HT Thin-wall 150×100 142 99 4.5 6 8 14.3 HT Thin-wall 150×150 144 148 4.5 6 8 21.8 HT Thin-wall 150×150 147 149 5 7 8 26.4 HT Thin-wall 175×90 168 88 3.2 4.5 8 10.6 HT Thin-wall 175×90 171 89 4 6 8 13.8 HT Thin-wall 175×175 167 173 5 7 13 26.2 HT Thin-wall 175×175 172 175 6.5 9.5 13 35 HT Thin-wall 200×100 193 98 3.2 4.5 8 12 HT Thin-wall 200×100 196 99 4 6 8 15.5 HT Thin-wall 200×150 188 149 4.5 6 8 20.7 HT Thin-wall 200×200 192 198 6 8 13 34.3 HT Thin-wall 250×125 238 173 4.5 6 8 20.3 HT Thin-wall 250×175 238 173 4.5 8 13 30.7 HT Thin-wall 300×150 294 148 4.5 6 13 25 HT Thin-wall 300×200 286 198 6 8 13 38.7 HT Thin-wall 350×175 340 173 4.5 6 13 29 HT Thin-wall 400×150 390 148 6 8 13 37.3 HT Thin-wall 400×200 390 198 6 8 13 43.6 HL Light-weight 80×40 77 40 3 3.5 5 4.01 HL Light-weight 100×50 97 50 2.3 3.2 6 4.39 HL Light-weight 100×50 97 50 3 3.5 6 5.11 HL Light-weight 100×50 100 50 3.2 4.5 8 6.06 HL Light-weight 100×100 97 100 4.5 6 8 12.85 HL Light-weight 120×60 117 60 3.2 4.5 8 7.38 HL Light-weight 120×60 120 60 4.5 6 8 9.9 HL Light-weight 120×120 117 120 3.2 4.5 8 11.62 HL Light-weight 120×120 120 120 4.5 6 8 15.55 HL Light-weight 140×70 137 70 3.2 4.5 8 8.59 HL Light-weight 140×70 140 70 4.5 6 8 11.55 HL Light-weight 150×75 147 75 3.2 4.5 8 9.2 HL Light-weight 150×75 150 75 4.5 6 8 12.37 HL Light-weight 150×100 147 100 3.2 4.5 8 10.96 HL Light-weight 150×100 150 100 4.5 6 8 14.73 HL Light-weight 150×150 147 149 6 8.5 13 27.15 HL Light-weight 175×90 172 90 4.5 6.5 10 15.5 HL Light-weight 175×175 172 175 6.5 9.5 13 35.05 HL Light-weight 200×100 196 99 4.5 6 13 16.96 HL Light-weight 200×150 191 149 5 7.5 16 26.18 HL Light-weight 200×200 197 199 7 10.5 16 44.2 HL Light-weight 250×125 246 124 4.5 7 13 22.96 HL Light-weight 250×175 241 175 6 9.5 16 38.28 HL Light-weight 300×150 296 148 4.5 7 16 27.95 HL Light-weight 300×200 291 199 7 10.5 20 50.34 HL Light-weight 350×175 343 174 5.5 7.5 16 36.37 HL Light-weight 400×150 396 149 7 11 16 48.01 HL Light-weight 400×200 393 199 6 9.5 16 49.02
- Download H Beam Size Chart in PDF
By referringto this table, engineers and contractorscan easily selectthe appropriateH-beam size fortheir specificproject requirements, ensuring optimalstrength, stability, and cost-effectiveness.
CommonH-Beam Specificationsby Flange Width
H-beams are further classified based on their flange width, with each category having its own set of commonly used specifications:
1. Wide Flange H-Beams (HW)
Wide flange H-beams are typically denoted by the product of their web height and flange width. Common models include:
- 100×100
- 125×125
- 150×150
- 175×175
- 250×250
- 300×300
- 350×350
The notation for wide flange H-beams follows the format: web height (H) × flange width (B) × web thickness (t1) × flange thickness (t2). A key characteristic of wide flange H-beams is that the height and width dimensions are often identical.
2. Medium Flange H-Beams (HM)
Medium flange H-beams are also represented by the product of their web height and flange width. Frequently used models include:
- 150×100
- 200×150
- 250×175
- 300×200
- 350×250
- 400×300
- 450×300
- 500×300
The notation for medium flange H-beams is similar to wide flange H-beams: web height (H) × flange width (B) × web thickness (t1) × flange thickness (t2). In medium flange H-beams, the height dimension is typically slightly larger than the width dimension.
3. Narrow Flange H-Beams (HN)
Narrow flange H-beams are denoted by the product of their web height and flange width. Standard models include:
- 100×50
- 125×60
- 150×75
- 175×90
- 200×100
- 250×125
- 300×150
- 350×175
- 400×200
- 500×200
The notation for narrow flange H-beams follows the same format as wide and medium flange H-beams: web height (H) × flange width (B) × web thickness (t1) × flange thickness (t2). Narrow flange H-beams are characterized by a higher height-to-width ratio compared to the other categories.
Understanding these common specifications and notation methods for each category of H-beam helps engineers, architects, and contractors select the most suitable H-beam for their specific project requirements, ensuring optimal structural performance and cost-efficiency.
Related reading:
- H Beam Weight Calculator
- I Beam Weight Calculator
What is an H-Beam?
H-beam steel is a highly efficient and cost-effective structural profile that offers an optimal distribution of sectional area and an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Its cross-section resembles the letter “H,” hence its name.The components of an H-beam are arranged at right angles, providing strong resistance to bending forces. This characteristic makes the construction process simple, cost-effective, and results in lightweight structural strength in all directions. Due to these advantages, H-beam steel is widely used in various construction applications.H-beam steel is also known by other names, such as:
- Universal beam
- Wide flange I-beam
- Parallel flange I-beam
The cross-section of an H-beam comprises a web plate and two flange plates, which contribute to its unique properties and performance.
International H-Beam Standards
Globally, H-beam product standards are divided into two main categories:
- Imperial system: Used in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom
- Metric system: Used in countries like China, Japan, Germany, and Russia
Despite the differences in measurement units between the imperial and metric systems, H-beams are generally characterized by four key dimensions:
- Height of the web (h)
- Width of the flange (b)
- Thickness of the web (d)
- Thickness of the flange (t)
Although the method of specifying the dimensions of H-beams may vary across different countries and regions, the actual size specifications and tolerances of the manufactured products remain largely consistent worldwide.
Related Resources
For more information on H-beams and related topics, consider exploring the following resources:
- H-Beam Weight Calculator
- I-Beam Weight Calculator
These tools can help you quickly determine the weight of H-beams and I-beams based on their specific dimensions, making it easier to plan and execute your construction projects efficiently.
