W8x18 weight and dimensions

26.6 kg/m · 18.00 lb/ft

W8x18 is a 207 mm deep beam with a 133 mm flange, 5.84 mm web and 8.38 mm flange thickness. It weighs 26.6 kg per metre (18.00 lb/ft). It belongs to the W-shape wide flange beam series, American (AISC / ASTM A6).

W8x18 weight calculator

Total weight
—

Weight of standard lengths

Pieces20 ft each (lb)40 ft each (lb)
1357.5715.0
51,787.43,574.9
103,574.97,149.7
207,149.714,299.5
5017,874.435,748.7

Pieces per ton

20 ft lengths per short ton (2,000 lb)5.6
40 ft lengths per short ton (2,000 lb)2.8
Length per ton111.9 ft

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

Surface area for painting

Per metre of length0.922 m²/m
Per foot of length3.02 ft²/ft
Per tonne of steel34.7 m²/t
A 12 m length11.06 m²

Outside perimeter × length, all faces (AISC perimeter PB). Use it to estimate paint, primer, fireproofing or galvanizing quantities.

Cross-section

W8x18 cross-section, drawn to scaleh 207b 133tw 5.84tf 8.38r 7.6

Drawn to scale. Dimensions in mm.

Dimensions

Depth h 207 mm 8.150 in
Flange width b 133 mm 5.236 in
Web thickness tw 5.84 mm 0.230 in
Flange thickness tf 8.38 mm 0.330 in
Root radius r 7.6 mm 0.299 in
Mass26.6 kg/m18.00 lb/ft

Section properties

PropertyValueUnit
Area33.90cm²
Moment of inertia Ix2,580cm⁴
Moment of inertia Iy332cm⁴
Elastic modulus Zx249cm³
Elastic modulus Zy49.80cm³
Plastic modulus Zpx279cm³
Plastic modulus Zpy76.40cm³
Radius of gyration rx8.71cm
Radius of gyration ry3.12cm
Torsion constant J7.16cm⁴

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 W8x18, ISWB 200, ISMB 200, IPE 220, drawn to the same scaleW8x18ISWB 200ISMB 200IPE 220W8x18 — 26.6 kg/mISWB 200 — 28.8 kg/mISMB 200 — 24.17 kg/mIPE 220 — 26.2 kg/m

W8x18 and its closest equivalents, drawn over each other at the same scale.

SectionStandardDepth (mm)kg/mWeight vs W8x18
W8x18AISC20726.6—
ISWB 200 IS 200 28.80 +8.3%
ISMB 200 IS 200 24.17 -9.1%
IPE 220 EN 220 26.20 -1.5%
IPE 200 EN 200 22.36 -15.9%

W8 series weights

050100 W8x10: 15 kg/m W8x10 W8x13: 19.3 kg/m W8x13 W8x15: 22.5 kg/m W8x15 W8x18: 26.6 kg/m W8x18 W8x21: 31.3 kg/m W8x21 W8x24: 35.9 kg/m W8x24 W8x28: 41.7 kg/m W8x28 W8x31: 46.1 kg/m W8x31 W8x35: 52 kg/m W8x35 W8x40: 59 kg/m W8x40 W8x48: 71 kg/m W8x48 W8x58: 86 kg/m W8x58 W8x67: 100 kg/m W8x67 kg/m

Next lighter: W8x15 (22.5 kg/m). Next heavier: W8x21 (31.3 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
W8x10 15.001,280128.0 8.53
W8x13 19.301,650162.0 8.39
W8x15 22.502,000193.0 8.58
W8x18 26.602,580249.0 9.36
W8x21 31.303,130298.0 9.52
W8x24 35.903,440342.0 9.53
W8x28 41.704,080398.0 9.54

Full table: W-shape (wide flange) beam chart (PDF).

How the weight is calculated

Mass per metre = cross-sectional area × density of steel = 33.90 cm² × 0.785 kg/(cm²·m) = 26.61 kg/m.

Rolled sections are made to a nominal mass, and the actual mass can differ by a few percent within the tolerances of ASTM A6. 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 W8x18 per metre?

W8x18 weighs 26.6 kg/m, which is 18.00 lb/ft.

How much does a 6 m or 12 m length of W8x18 weigh?

A 6 m length weighs about 159.6 kg and a 12 m length about 319.2 kg.

What is the equivalent of W8x18 in other standards?

By depth and weight the closest match is ISWB 200 (28.8 kg/m, 200 mm deep). Check section properties before substituting one for the other.

Source: AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Values are nominal; verify with the producer before ordering.