Structural Steel Shapes
Structural & HVAC · 8 specs
Direct Answer
AISC structural steel profiles standardize hot-rolled structural members including Wide Flange I-Beams (W-Shapes e.g. W8×10 = 8" nominal depth, 10 lb/ft), American Standard Beams (S-Shapes), Channels (C-Shapes), Hollow Structural Sections (HSS), and Angles (L-Shapes).
Source: AISC Steel Construction Manual (15th Edition) / ASTM A6/A6M · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Governing Standards | AISC 360 / ASTM A6/A6M / ASTM A992 (Grade 50 steel) |
| W-Shape Designation Code | W [Nominal Depth in Inches] × [Weight in Pounds per Linear Foot] |
| W8 × 10 (Residential Light Beam) | Depth: 7.89 in (200 mm) | Flange Width: 3.94 in | Weight: 10.0 lb/ft | Area: 2.96 sq in |
| W8 × 18 (Standard Basement Beam) | Depth: 8.14 in (207 mm) | Flange Width: 5.25 in | Weight: 18.0 lb/ft | Area: 5.26 sq in |
| W10 × 22 (Common Floor Girder) | Depth: 10.17 in (258 mm) | Flange Width: 5.75 in | Weight: 22.0 lb/ft | Area: 6.49 sq in |
| W12 × 26 (Heavy Residential / Light Comm) | Depth: 12.22 in (310 mm) | Flange Width: 6.49 in | Weight: 26.0 lb/ft | Area: 7.65 sq in |
| HSS (Hollow Structural Sections) | Square & Rectangular structural tubing e.g. HSS 4×4×1/4 (4" sq, 0.25" wall, 12.21 lb/ft) |
| Equal Leg Angle (L-Shape) | L [Leg 1] × [Leg 2] × [Thickness] e.g. L 3×3×1/4 (Lintel / Bracing) |
Common AISC Wide Flange (W-Beam) Dimension Matrix
| AISC Designation | Actual Beam Depth (d) | Flange Width (b_f) | Flange Thickness (t_f) | Web Thickness (t_w) | Weight per Foot (w) | Moment of Inertia (I_x) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W8 × 10 | 7.89" (200 mm) | 3.94" (100 mm) | 0.205" (5.2 mm) | 0.170" (4.3 mm) | 10.0 lb/ft | 30.8 in⁴ |
| W8 × 18 | 8.14" (207 mm) | 5.25" (133 mm) | 0.330" (8.4 mm) | 0.230" (5.8 mm) | 18.0 lb/ft | 61.9 in⁴ |
| W10 × 12 | 9.87" (251 mm) | 3.96" (101 mm) | 0.210" (5.3 mm) | 0.190" (4.8 mm) | 12.0 lb/ft | 53.8 in⁴ |
| W10 × 22 | 10.17" (258 mm) | 5.75" (146 mm) | 0.360" (9.1 mm) | 0.240" (6.1 mm) | 22.0 lb/ft | 118 in⁴ |
| W12 × 16 | 11.99" (305 mm) | 3.99" (101 mm) | 0.265" (6.7 mm) | 0.220" (5.6 mm) | 16.0 lb/ft | 103 in⁴ |
| W12 × 26 | 12.22" (310 mm) | 6.49" (165 mm) | 0.380" (9.7 mm) | 0.230" (5.8 mm) | 26.0 lb/ft | 204 in⁴ |
| W14 × 30 | 13.84" (352 mm) | 6.73" (171 mm) | 0.385" (9.8 mm) | 0.270" (6.9 mm) | 30.0 lb/ft | 291 in⁴ |
How to Read Structural Steel Callouts
AISC callouts decode the geometry and weight for structural calculation:
- Wide Flange (W-Beam): The prefix
Windicates parallel inner/outer flange surfaces. InW10 × 22, 10 is the nominal depth (10.17 inches actual), and 22 indicates that a 20-foot stick weighs exactly 440 lbs (20 × 22). - Moment of Inertia (I_x): Bending deflection resistance scales with the cube of depth (d³), not linear weight — a 12-inch beam (W12×26, I_x = 204 in⁴) deflects roughly 70% less under the same load than an 8-inch beam (W8×18, I_x = 61.9 in⁴), even though the two sections are not identical in weight per foot (26 vs 18 lb/ft).