ISMC channel weight chart

20 sizes · 7.14 to 50.10 kg/m

Weight per metre, dimensions and section properties of ISMC medium weight channels to IS 808:2021, including the heavier wagon sections. Sections are listed from lightest to heaviest; Indian Standard (IS 808).

Download PDF Weight of 6 m / 12 m lengths FAQ

Section	h (mm)	b (mm)	tw (mm)	tf (mm)	kg/m	lb/ft	A (cm²)	Ix (cm⁴)	Iy (cm⁴)	Zx (cm³)	1989 kg/m	1964 kg/m
ISMC 75	75	40	4.8	7.5	7.14	4.80	9.08	78.20	12.70	20.90	7.14	6.8
ISMC 100	100	50	5	7.7	9.56	6.42	12.10	191	26.30	38.40	9.56	9.2
ISMC 125	125	65	5.3	8.2	13.10	8.80	16.60	424	60.30	67.90	13.10	12.7
ISMC 125 (heavy, 13.7 kg/m)	125	66	6	8.1	13.70	9.21	17.40	433	63.70	69.40	—	—
ISMC 150	150	75	5.7	9	16.80	11.29	21.30	786	102	104	16.80	16.4
ISMC 150 (heavy, 17.7 kg/m)	150	76	6.5	9	17.70	11.89	22.50	810	108	108	—	—
ISMC 175	175	75	6	10.2	19.60	13.17	24.80	1,230	120	141	19.60	19.1
ISMC 175 (heavy, 21.4 kg/m)	175	76	7.5	10.2	21.40	14.38	27.30	1,290	130	147	—	—
ISMC 200	200	75	6.2	11.4	22.30	14.98	28.40	1,820	139	182	22.30	22.1
ISMC 200 (heavy, 24.3 kg/m)	200	76	7.5	11.4	24.30	16.33	30.90	1,900	149	190	—	—
ISMC 225	225	80	6.5	12.4	26.10	17.54	33.20	2,700	185	240	26.10	25.9
ISMC 250	250	80	7.2	14.1	30.60	20.56	38.90	3,820	218	306	30.60	30.4
ISMC 225 (heavy, 30.7 kg/m)	225	82	9	12.4	30.70	20.63	38.70	2,920	210	260	—	—
ISMC 250 (heavy, 34.2 kg/m)	250	82	9	14.1	34.20	22.98	43.40	4,060	242	325	—	—
ISMC 300	300	90	7.8	13.6	36.30	24.39	46.20	6,400	311	427	36.30	35.8
ISMC 250 (heavy, 38.1 kg/m)	250	83	11	14.1	38.10	25.60	48.10	4,280	258	342	—	—
ISMC 300 (heavy, 41.5 kg/m)	300	92	10	13.6	41.50	27.89	52.70	6,880	344	458	—	—
ISMC 350	350	100	8.3	13.5	42.70	28.69	54.30	10,000	429	575	42.70	42.1
ISMC 300 (heavy, 46.2 kg/m)	300	93	12	13.6	46.20	31.04	58.40	7,260	363	484	—	—
ISMC 400	400	100	8.8	15.3	50.10	33.67	63.70	15,100	504	758	50.10	49.4

Source: IS 808:2021; earlier weights from IS 808:1989 and SP 6(1):1964, as published by Public.Resource.Org. Nominal values for estimating; verify with the producer. steelweight-calculator.com

Weight across the series

Weight per metre of every size, lightest to heaviest. ISMC 100, the size looked up most often, is highlighted.

How to read this chart

ISMC 100, drawn to scale (mm)

h: overall depth in mm
b: flange width in mm
tw: web thickness in mm
tf: flange thickness in mm (mean value for taper flanges)
kg/m, lb/ft: nominal weight per unit length
A: cross-sectional area in cm²; weight = 0.785 × A kg/m
Ix: second moment of area about the strong axis in cm⁴, which governs bending stiffness and deflection
Iy: second moment of area about the weak axis in cm⁴, which matters for buckling and columns
Zx: elastic section modulus in cm³; bending moment capacity is roughly Zx × allowable stress

Channels are used as purlins, girts, stair stringers, trimmers, frames and bracing, and back to back as built-up columns.

Weight of standard lengths

Sections are usually supplied in 6 m and 12 m lengths. The weight of one piece is the weight per metre times the length; the last column converts a tonnage order into a number of 12 m bars.

Section	6 m length (kg)	12 m length (kg)	12 m lengths per tonne
ISMC 75	42.8	85.7	11.7
ISMC 100	57.4	114.7	8.7
ISMC 125	78.6	157.2	6.4
ISMC 125 (heavy, 13.7 kg/m)	82.2	164.4	6.1
ISMC 150	100.8	201.6	5.0
ISMC 150 (heavy, 17.7 kg/m)	106.2	212.4	4.7
ISMC 175	117.6	235.2	4.3
ISMC 175 (heavy, 21.4 kg/m)	128.4	256.8	3.9
ISMC 200	133.8	267.6	3.7
ISMC 200 (heavy, 24.3 kg/m)	145.8	291.6	3.4
ISMC 225	156.6	313.2	3.2
ISMC 250	183.6	367.2	2.7
ISMC 225 (heavy, 30.7 kg/m)	184.2	368.4	2.7
ISMC 250 (heavy, 34.2 kg/m)	205.2	410.4	2.4
ISMC 300	217.8	435.6	2.3
ISMC 250 (heavy, 38.1 kg/m)	228.6	457.2	2.2
ISMC 300 (heavy, 41.5 kg/m)	249.0	498.0	2.0
ISMC 350	256.2	512.4	2.0
ISMC 300 (heavy, 46.2 kg/m)	277.2	554.4	1.8
ISMC 400	300.6	601.2	1.7

How the weight is calculated

The weight of a steel section is its cross-sectional area times the density of steel, 7850 kg/m³. With the area in cm² this simplifies to:

weight (kg/m) = 0.785 × A (cm²)

Example: ISMC 100 has an area of 12.10 cm², so 0.785 × 12.10 = 9.50 kg/m. The standard gives 9.56 kg/m, and a 12 m length weighs about 114.7 kg.

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.

More on the method: steel weight formula · density of steel · steel weight calculator

Old and new weights: 1964, 1989 and 2021

Many ISMC weight charts in circulation still use the 1964 ISI Handbook SP 6(1). IS 808 was revised in 1989 (and again in 2021), and several sizes were rolled to different dimensions. These 8 sizes differ by more than 1 % from the current standard:

Section	1964 kg/m	1989 kg/m	2021 kg/m	1964 vs 2021	per 12 m
ISMC 75	6.8	7.14	7.14	-4.8 %	-4.1 kg
ISMC 100	9.2	9.56	9.56	-3.8 %	-4.3 kg
ISMC 125	12.7	13.10	13.10	-3.1 %	-4.8 kg
ISMC 150	16.4	16.80	16.80	-2.4 %	-4.8 kg
ISMC 175	19.1	19.60	19.60	-2.6 %	-6.0 kg
ISMC 300	35.8	36.30	36.30	-1.4 %	-6.0 kg
ISMC 350	42.1	42.70	42.70	-1.4 %	-7.2 kg
ISMC 400	49.4	50.10	50.10	-1.4 %	-8.4 kg

When a supplier quotes weights, ask which table they use, and check the mill test certificate for the dimensions actually rolled. For estimates and design, use the current standard.

Equivalent sections in other standards

The closest section in each other standard by depth and weight. These are starting points for substitution, not drop-in replacements: flange width, thickness and section properties differ, so check the design.

Section	kg/m	European (EN)	American (AISC / ASTM A6)
ISMC 75	7.14	UPN 65 (7.1 kg/m)	C3x5 (7.4 kg/m)
ISMC 100	9.56	UPN 100 (10.6 kg/m)	C4x6.25 (9.3 kg/m)
ISMC 125	13.10	UPN 120 (13.3 kg/m)	C5x9 (13.0 kg/m)
ISMC 125 (heavy, 13.7 kg/m)	13.70	UPN 120 (13.3 kg/m)	C5x9 (13.0 kg/m)
ISMC 150	16.80	UPN 140 (16.0 kg/m)	MC6x12 (17.9 kg/m)
ISMC 150 (heavy, 17.7 kg/m)	17.70	UPN 160 (18.9 kg/m)	MC6x12 (17.9 kg/m)
ISMC 175	19.60	UPN 180 (21.9 kg/m)	C7x12.25 (18.2 kg/m)
ISMC 175 (heavy, 21.4 kg/m)	21.40	UPN 180 (21.9 kg/m)	C7x14.75 (22.0 kg/m)
ISMC 200	22.30	UPN 200 (25.3 kg/m)	C8x13.75 (20.5 kg/m)
ISMC 200 (heavy, 24.3 kg/m)	24.30	UPN 200 (25.3 kg/m)	MC8x18.7 (27.8 kg/m)
ISMC 225	26.10	UPN 220 (29.4 kg/m)	C9x20 (30.0 kg/m)
ISMC 250	30.60	UPN 240 (33.2 kg/m)	C10x20 (30.0 kg/m)
ISMC 225 (heavy, 30.7 kg/m)	30.70	UPN 220 (29.4 kg/m)	C9x20 (30.0 kg/m)
ISMC 250 (heavy, 34.2 kg/m)	34.20	UPN 240 (33.2 kg/m)	MC10x22 (33.0 kg/m)
ISMC 300	36.30	UPN 300 (46.1 kg/m)	C12x25 (37.0 kg/m)
ISMC 250 (heavy, 38.1 kg/m)	38.10	UPN 260 (37.9 kg/m)	C10x25 (37.0 kg/m)
ISMC 300 (heavy, 41.5 kg/m)	41.50	UPN 300 (46.1 kg/m)	C12x30 (45.0 kg/m)
ISMC 350	42.70	UPN 300 (46.1 kg/m)	MC13x31.8 (47.3 kg/m)
ISMC 300 (heavy, 46.2 kg/m)	46.20	UPN 300 (46.1 kg/m)	MC12x31 (46.0 kg/m)
ISMC 400	50.10	UPN 380 (63.1 kg/m)	C15x33.9 (50.4 kg/m)

Full matching tables: steel section equivalents.

Choosing a size

For a beam, bending capacity grows with the elastic section modulus Zx, while cost grows with weight. Per kilogram of steel, the most efficient sizes in this chart are ISMC 400 (15.1 cm³ per kg/m), ISMC 350 (13.5 cm³ per kg/m), ISMC 300 (11.8 cm³ per kg/m). Deeper, lighter sections usually win in bending; wider flanges (or a heavier section of the same depth) help where lateral buckling, column loads or limited depth govern. Deflection depends on Ix.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weight of ISMC 100?

ISMC 100 weighs 9.56 kg/m (6.42 lb/ft). A 6 m length is about 57.4 kg and a 12 m length about 114.7 kg.

What are the lightest and heaviest sizes in this chart?

The lightest is ISMC 75 at 7.14 kg/m (4.80 lb/ft) and the heaviest is ISMC 400 at 50.1 kg/m (33.67 lb/ft). The chart lists 20 sizes.

How is the weight of an ISMC medium weight channel calculated?

Weight per metre is the cross-sectional area times the density of steel, 7850 kg/m³. With the area in cm², that is mass = 0.785 × A kg/m. For ISMC 100, A = 12.10 cm², so 0.785 × 12.10 = 9.50 kg/m. Multiply by the length in metres for the weight of a piece.

Why do different ISMC charts show different weights?

Older charts copy the 1964 ISI handbook SP 6(1). IS 808 was revised in 1989 and several sizes changed: ISMC 100 was 9.2 kg/m in 1964 and is 9.56 kg/m in IS 808:2021. 8 of the 20 sizes differ by more than 1 %. This chart uses IS 808:2021 and lists the older figures alongside.

Which ISMC gives the most bending strength per kilogram?

Measured by elastic section modulus per kg of weight, ISMC 400 is the most efficient in this chart (Zx = 758 cm³ for 50.1 kg/m). Deeper sections are generally more efficient in bending; check deflection, lateral buckling and available depth before choosing.

Is there a printable ISMC channel weight chart?

Yes. The PDF version of this chart (steelweight-calculator.com/charts/ismc-weight-chart.pdf) has the same table on A4 pages and can be printed or saved for site use.