TAHA Engineering Toolsby TAHA Knowledge Lab

Material Weight

H-Beam Weight Calculator

Theoretical weight per metre and total weight of an H-beam (wide-flange beam) from its dimensions, including the root radius.

Inputs

H-beam cross-section: two wide flanges joined by a central web, with dimensions h, b, tw, tf and the root radius r marked.bhtftwr — root radius
H-beam cross-section: depth h, flange width b, web thickness tw, flange thickness tf and root radius r (the fillet where web and flange meet). 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 flange of a rolled beam (from the product table). Enter 0 for a beam welded from plates.

Result

Theoretical weight per metre
61.2938
Weight per piece
367.763
Total weight
367.763
Cross-section area
78.0812
Density used
7,850
Working
Flanges 2 × b × tf = 6,000 mm² Web (h − 2tf) × tw = 1,530 mm² Root fillets (4 − π) × r² = 278.124 mm² Area A = 7,808.12 mm² Weight per metre = A × ρ = 0.00780812 m² × 7,850 kg/m³ = 61.294 kg/m

This H-beam weighs about 61.2938 kg/m (theoretical). One 6 m piece weighs 367.763 kg.

Educational estimate — check the assumptions below.

About this calculator

An H-beam (wide-flange beam, such as HE, UC or W sections) has flanges about as wide as the beam is deep, so its cross-section looks like an H. This calculator works out its theoretical weight from the dimensions you enter: area of the cross-section × density × length.

Rolled beams have a curved fillet, the root radius, where the web meets each flange. It adds material, so it is included. Published section masses are nominal values worked out the same way; real bars vary within the rolling tolerances of the product standard.

Formula

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

h = overall depth, b = flange width, tw = web thickness, tf = flange thickness, r = root radius, ρ = density, L = length. Each of the four root fillets adds (1 − π/4) r² of material. The flanges are taken as parallel (constant thickness).

Worked example

A beam 200 × 200 mm with a 9 mm web, 15 mm flanges and an 18 mm root radius, in steel (7850 kg/m³):

  • Flanges: 2 × 200 × 15 = 6000 mm²; web: (200 − 30) × 9 = 1530 mm²; fillets: (4 − π) × 18² = 278.1 mm²
  • A = 7808.1 mm² = 78.08 cm² → 78.08 × 10⁻⁴ × 7850 = 61.29 kg/m
  • A 6 m piece: 367.8 kg

A published European section table lists 78.08 cm² and 61.3 kg/m for a beam with exactly these dimensions.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Theoretical (geometric) weight = area × density. Published masses are nominal values; actual bars differ within the rolling tolerances of the product standard.
  • Parallel flanges of constant thickness; the outside corners of the flanges are sharp.
  • The root radius comes from the product table of the section you use. Enter 0 for a welded beam; weld metal is not included.
  • 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 (e.g. ArcelorMittal, British Steel) list h, b, t_w, t_f, r and the nominal mass of each size.