TAHA Engineering Toolsby TAHA Knowledge Lab

Material Weight

C-Channel Weight Calculator

Theoretical weight per metre and total weight of a parallel-flange steel channel from its dimensions, including root and toe radii.

Inputs

C-channel cross-section: a vertical web on the left with two flanges pointing right, with dimensions h, b, tw, tf and the root radius r marked.bhtftwr — root radius
C-channel cross-section with parallel flanges: depth h, flange width b (measured over the web), web thickness tw, flange thickness tf and root radius r. Diagram not to scale.

Density used: 7,850 kg/m³ — nominal value used in steel section mass tables, e.g. EN 10210-2 and EN 10219-2 (7.85 kg/dm³).

The fillet between web and each flange (from the product table). Enter 0 for sharp corners.

Rounding at the tip of each flange, if the product table gives one. Usually 0 for parallel-flange channels.

Result

Theoretical weight per metre
22.7692
Weight per piece
136.615
Total weight
136.615
Cross-section area
29.0054
Density used
7,850
Working
Web h × tw = 1,200 mm² Flange outstands 2 × (b − tw) × tf = 1,628 mm² Root fillets 2 × (1 − π/4) × r² = 72.5354 mm² Area A = 2,900.54 mm² Weight per metre = A × ρ = 0.00290054 m² × 7,850 kg/m³ = 22.769 kg/m

This channel weighs about 22.7692 kg/m (theoretical). One 6 m piece weighs 136.615 kg.

Educational estimate — check the assumptions below.

About this calculator

A C-channel has a web and two flanges on the same side, like the letter C. This calculator works out the theoretical weight of a parallel-flange channel (such as UPE or PFC) from its dimensions, including the root radius inside each corner and an optional toe radius at the flange tips.

Channels with sloping (tapered) flanges, such as UPN and American Standard C-shapes, are not covered in this version.

Formula

A = h tw + 2 (b − tw) tf + 2 (1 − π/4)(r² − r₂²)    m′ = A × ρ

h = overall depth, b = flange width (over the web), tw = web thickness, tf = flange thickness, r = root radius, r₂ = toe radius. Each of the two root fillets adds (1 − π/4) r²; each rounded toe removes (1 − π/4) r₂².

Worked example

A channel 200 mm deep with 80 mm flanges, a 6 mm web, 11 mm flanges and a 13 mm root radius, in steel:

  • Web: 200 × 6 = 1200 mm²; flange outstands: 2 × 74 × 11 = 1628 mm²; fillets: 2 × (1 − π/4) × 13² = 72.5 mm²
  • A = 2900.5 mm² = 29.01 cm² → 22.77 kg/m; a 6 m piece weighs 136.6 kg

A published steel maker’s table lists 29.0 cm² and 22.8 kg/m for a channel with exactly these dimensions.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Theoretical (geometric) weight = area × density. Published masses are nominal; actual bars differ within rolling tolerances.
  • Parallel flanges only. Tapered-flange channels (UPN, C-shapes) are not covered in this version.
  • The outside corners are sharp; root and toe radii come from the product table.
  • No section list is built in: enter the dimensions from the manufacturer’s table or the product standard.

References

  • EN 10365 — Hot rolled steel channels, I and H sections: dimensions and masses (for comparison with table values).
  • Steel makers’ section tables list h, b, t_w, t_f, r and the nominal mass of each size.