ISMB 500 weight and dimensions

86.88 kg/m · 58.38 lb/ft

ISMB 500 is a 500 mm deep beam with a 180 mm flange, 10.2 mm web and 17.2 mm flange thickness. It weighs 86.88 kg per metre (58.38 lb/ft). It belongs to the ISMB medium weight beam series, Indian Standard (IS 808).

ISMB 500 weight calculator

Total weight
—

Weight of standard lengths

Pieces6 m each (kg)12 m each (kg)
1521.31,042.6
52,606.45,212.8
105,212.810,425.6
2010,425.620,851.2
5026,064.052,128.0

Pieces per tonne

6 m lengths per metric tonne1.9
12 m lengths per metric tonne1.0
Length per tonne11.5 m

Useful for converting a tonnage order into a number of bars.

Surface area for painting

Per metre of length1.670 m²/m
Per foot of length5.48 ft²/ft
Per tonne of steel19.2 m²/t
A 12 m length20.04 m²

Outside perimeter × length, all faces, calculated from the dimensions. Use it to estimate paint, primer, fireproofing or galvanizing quantities.

Cross-section

ISMB 500 cross-section, drawn to scaleh 500b 180tw 10.2tf 17.2r 17

Drawn to scale. Dimensions in mm.

Dimensions

Depth h 500 mm 19.685 in
Flange width b 180 mm 7.087 in
Web thickness tw 10.2 mm 0.402 in
Flange thickness tf 17.2 mm 0.677 in
Root radius r 17 mm 0.669 in
Toe radius r2 8.5 mm 0.335 in
Flange slope (deg) 98°
Mass86.88 kg/m58.38 lb/ft

Section properties

PropertyValueUnit
Area110cm²
Moment of inertia Ix45,200cm⁴
Moment of inertia Iy1,360cm⁴
Elastic modulus Zx1,800cm³
Elastic modulus Zy152cm³
Plastic modulus Zpx2,070cm³
Plastic modulus Zpy259cm³
Radius of gyration rx20.20cm
Radius of gyration ry3.51cm
Torsion constant J103cm⁴

Equivalent sections in other standards

The closest sections by depth and weight. They are not direct substitutes: check bending, buckling and connection details before swapping one for another.

Overlay of ISMB 500, IPE 500, IPE 450, S20x66, drawn to the same scaleISMB 500IPE 500IPE 450S20x66ISMB 500 — 86.88 kg/mIPE 500 — 90.68 kg/mIPE 450 — 77.57 kg/mS20x66 — 98.2 kg/m

ISMB 500 and its closest equivalents, drawn over each other at the same scale.

SectionStandardDepth (mm)kg/mWeight vs ISMB 500
ISMB 500IS50086.88—
IPE 500 EN 500 90.68 +4.4%
IPE 450 EN 450 77.57 -10.7%
S20x66 AISC 508 98.20 +13.0%
W21x57 AISC 536 85.00 -2.2%

ISMB series weights

061121 ISMB 100: 8.95 kg/m 100 ISMB 125: 13.35 kg/m 125 ISMB 150: 14.96 kg/m 150 ISMB 175: 19.5 kg/m 175 ISMB 200: 24.17 kg/m 200 ISMB 225: 31.15 kg/m 225 ISMB 250: 37.3 kg/m 250 ISMB 300: 46.02 kg/m 300 ISMB 350: 52.33 kg/m 350 ISMB 400: 61.55 kg/m 400 ISMB 450: 72.38 kg/m 450 ISMB 500: 86.88 kg/m 500 ISMB 550: 103.64 kg/m 550 ISMB 600: 121 kg/m 600 kg/m

Next lighter: ISMB 450 (72.38 kg/m). Next heavier: ISMB 550 (103.64 kg/m).

Stiffness and strength per kilogram

The elastic section modulus Zx governs bending strength. Dividing it by the weight shows how efficiently each size uses its steel: higher is better when weight is the cost driver.

Sectionkg/mIx (cm⁴)Zx (cm³)Zx per kg/m
ISMB 350 52.3313,600779.0 14.89
ISMB 400 61.5520,4001,020.0 16.57
ISMB 450 72.3830,4001,350.0 18.65
ISMB 500 86.8845,2001,800.0 20.72
ISMB 550 103.6464,9002,360.0 22.77
ISMB 600 121.0090,2003,000.0 24.79

Full table: ISMB weight chart (PDF).

How the weight is calculated

Mass per metre = cross-sectional area × density of steel = 110.00 cm² × 0.785 kg/(cm²·m) = 86.35 kg/m.

Rolled sections are made to a nominal mass, and the actual mass can differ by a few percent within the tolerances of IS 1852. For purchasing, invoicing by weight or checking deliveries, use the producer's stated mass.

Typical uses

Beams of this shape are used as floor and roof beams, lintels, crane girders and frame members, where bending about the strong axis governs.

Steel I-beams being erected as bridge girders over a highway
Photo: MassDOT, Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weight of ISMB 500 per metre?

ISMB 500 weighs 86.88 kg/m, which is 58.38 lb/ft.

How much does a 6 m or 12 m length of ISMB 500 weigh?

A 6 m length weighs about 521.3 kg and a 12 m length about 1,042.6 kg.

What is the equivalent of ISMB 500 in other standards?

By depth and weight the closest match is IPE 500 (90.68 kg/m, 500 mm deep). Check section properties before substituting one for the other.

Source: IS 808:2021; earlier values from IS 808:1989 and SP 6(1):1964. Values are nominal; verify with the producer before ordering.