ISWB wide flange beam weight chart

14 sizes · 17.00 to 145.06 kg/m

Weight per metre and properties of ISWB wide flange beams to IS 808:2021. 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)
ISWB 150	150	100	5.4	7	17.00	11.42	21.60	839	94.70	111
ISWB 175	175	125	5.8	7.4	22.06	14.82	28.10	1,510	188	172
ISWB 200	200	140	6.1	9	28.80	19.35	36.70	2,620	328	262
ISWB 225	225	150	6.4	9.9	33.93	22.80	43.20	3,920	448	348
ISWB 250	250	200	6.7	9	40.84	27.44	52.00	5,940	857	475
ISWB 300	300	200	7.4	10	48.12	32.34	61.30	9,820	990	654
ISWB 200 (203 x 152, 52.09 kg/m)	203	152	8.9	16.5	52.09	35.00	66.40	4,780	809	470
ISWB 350	350	200	8	11.4	56.89	38.23	72.40	15,500	1,170	887
ISWB 400	400	200	8.6	13	66.71	44.83	85.00	23,400	1,380	1,170
ISWB 450	450	200	9.2	15.4	79.52	53.43	101.00	35,100	1,700	1,560
ISWB 500	500	250	9.9	14.7	95.12	63.92	121.00	52,200	2,980	2,090
ISWB 550	550	250	10.5	17.6	112.48	75.58	143.00	74,900	3,740	2,720
ISWB 600	600	250	11.2	21.3	133.70	89.84	170.00	106,000	4,700	3,540
ISWB 600 (600 x 250, 145.06 kg/m)	600	250	11.8	23.6	145.06	97.48	184.00	115,000	5,290	3,850

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. ISWB 350, the size looked up most often, is highlighted.

How to read this chart

ISWB 350, 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

Wide flange sections like this are used as columns, heavy beams and transfer girders, where stiffness about both axes matters.

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
ISWB 150	102.0	204.0	4.9
ISWB 175	132.4	264.7	3.8
ISWB 200	172.8	345.6	2.9
ISWB 225	203.6	407.2	2.5
ISWB 250	245.0	490.1	2.0
ISWB 300	288.7	577.4	1.7
ISWB 200 (203 x 152, 52.09 kg/m)	312.5	625.1	1.6
ISWB 350	341.3	682.7	1.5
ISWB 400	400.3	800.5	1.2
ISWB 450	477.1	954.2	1.0
ISWB 500	570.7	1,141.4	0.9
ISWB 550	674.9	1,349.8	0.7
ISWB 600	802.2	1,604.4	0.6
ISWB 600 (600 x 250, 145.06 kg/m)	870.4	1,740.7	0.6

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: ISWB 350 has an area of 72.40 cm², so 0.785 × 72.40 = 56.83 kg/m. The standard gives 56.89 kg/m, and a 12 m length weighs about 682.7 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

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)
ISWB 150	17.00	IPE 160 (15.8 kg/m)	W6x12 (18.0 kg/m)
ISWB 175	22.06	IPE 180 (18.8 kg/m)	W6x16 (24.0 kg/m)
ISWB 200	28.80	IPE 200 (22.4 kg/m)	S8x18.4 (27.4 kg/m)
ISWB 225	33.93	IPE 240 (30.7 kg/m)	S8x23 (34.0 kg/m)
ISWB 250	40.84	IPE 270 (36.1 kg/m)	S10x25.4 (37.8 kg/m)
ISWB 300	48.12	IPE 300 (42.2 kg/m)	S12x31.8 (47.3 kg/m)
ISWB 200 (203 x 152, 52.09 kg/m)	52.09	HEA 220 (50.5 kg/m)	HP8x36 (53.0 kg/m)
ISWB 350	56.89	IPE 360 (57.1 kg/m)	W14x38 (57.8 kg/m)
ISWB 400	66.71	IPE 400 (66.3 kg/m)	W16x45 (67.0 kg/m)
ISWB 450	79.52	IPE 450 (77.6 kg/m)	S18x54.7 (81.4 kg/m)
ISWB 500	95.12	IPE 500 (90.7 kg/m)	S20x66 (98.2 kg/m)
ISWB 550	112.48	IPE 550 (105.5 kg/m)	W21x73 (109.0 kg/m)
ISWB 600	133.70	IPE 600 (122.5 kg/m)	S24x90 (134.0 kg/m)
ISWB 600 (600 x 250, 145.06 kg/m)	145.06	IPE 600 (122.5 kg/m)	S24x100 (149.0 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 ISWB 600 (600 x 250, 145.06 kg/m) (26.5 cm³ per kg/m), ISWB 600 (26.5 cm³ per kg/m), ISWB 550 (24.2 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 ISWB 350?

ISWB 350 weighs 56.89 kg/m (38.23 lb/ft). A 6 m length is about 341.3 kg and a 12 m length about 682.7 kg.

What are the lightest and heaviest sizes in this chart?

The lightest is ISWB 150 at 17 kg/m (11.42 lb/ft) and the heaviest is ISWB 600 (600 x 250, 145.06 kg/m) at 145.06 kg/m (97.48 lb/ft). The chart lists 14 sizes.

How is the weight of an ISWB wide flange beam 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 ISWB 350, A = 72.40 cm², so 0.785 × 72.40 = 56.83 kg/m. Multiply by the length in metres for the weight of a piece.

Which ISWB gives the most bending strength per kilogram?

Measured by elastic section modulus per kg of weight, ISWB 600 (600 x 250, 145.06 kg/m) is the most efficient in this chart (Zx = 3,850 cm³ for 145.06 kg/m). Deeper sections are generally more efficient in bending; check deflection, lateral buckling and available depth before choosing.

Is there a printable ISWB wide flange beam weight chart?

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