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Luxe Prestige Chronicle

steel i beam sizes

Author

Sophia Aguilar

Updated on May 25, 2026

The standard range of hot-rolled I-beams includes beams with a height of 100-710 mm, flange width of 55-440 mm, web thickness of 3.8-100 mm and beam length of 4-12 m.

What are the different sizes of I-beams?

Types of I-beam steel

According to the height ratio of flange to web, it is divided into wide, medium and narrow flange I-beams. The specifications of the first two are #10-60, that is, the corresponding height is 10cm-60cm. At the same height, the light I-beam has narrow flange, thin web and light weight.

How thick of a steel beam do I need?

To calculate the necessary depth of a beam, divide the span (in inches) by 20. For example, a 25′ span would be 25×12 / 20 = 15”. The width of this beam would be between 1/3 and ½ the depth. The dimensions of a girder would be the same, but the flange would be thicker.

How far can steel I beam span?

How far can a 12 inch i beam span:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines a 12 inch i steel beam or W12 or universal beam or w beam or I beam or UB’s or hot rolled section or Rolled steel joist (RSJ) can allow to span 20 feet far distance used for residential building projects or construction.

What size I-beam do I need?

Steel beam span rule of thumb:- as per general experience and thumb rule, to calculate the required and necessary depth of beam, divide the span length in mm by 18 to 20 such as span length in mm/ depth = 18 to 20 for primary beam and for secondary beam span length to depth ratio is about 15 to 18.

What size beam do I need for a 20 foot span?

For a 20-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 16 inches in depth and 8″ in width (4-2×16) used for residential building or projects.

What size steel beam do I need to span 12 feet?

As per general thumb rule, for 12 feet span size of steel beam or universal beam or w beam or I beam or UB’s or hot rolled section or Rolled steel joist (RSJ) should be ISMB 200 or UB 200×100 or W8 used for residential building or projects.

How thick is a standard I-beam?

We also offer I-beams in a variety of web and flange thicknesses, from 0.114″ to 1.060″.

What size steel beam do I need to span 26 feet?

LVL beam size for a 26 foot span:-as per general thumb rule, for a 26 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 14 to 16 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 14-16″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 26 feet and can use simple 2×16 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre as floor joists used

What size steel beam do I need for a 30 foot span?

As per general thumb rule, for 30 feet span size of steel beam or universal beam or w beam or I beam or UB’s or hot rolled section or Rolled steel joist (RSJ) should be ISMB 450 or UB 450×180 or W18 used for residential building or projects.

What size beam do I need for an 18 foot span?

Thus, for a 18 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×16 or 6×16 size of wood beam. For a 18-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 16 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×16) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

What size beam do I need for a 15 foot span?

Thus, for a 15 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×12 or 6×12 size of wood beam. For a 15-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 12 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×12) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

How big of a beam do I need to span 32 feet?

For 32 foot span, size of reinforced beam, using thumb rule is 12″×24″ or 16-18″ GLULAM or LVL, 2×18 dimensional lumber/wood beam at 16″ apart from centre as floor joists, ISMB 500 or UB 500×180 or W20 can span upto 32 feet that used in residential building.

What size steel beam do I need to span 24 feet?

For 24 foot span, size of simply supported beam for 2-3 storey residential building, using thumb rule, is about 15″×18″ in which beam width is 12″ and beam depth is 15″, if width will be kept 12″, depth should increased, then beam size 12″×24″ can be used, providing with 4nos of 16mm bar at top, 4nos of 20mm bar at …

What size steel beam do I need to span 16 feet?

For a 16 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×14 or 6×14 size of wood beam. Thus, a 3 nailed 2×14 or 3-2×14 or 6×14 wood beam can allow to span 16 feet.

How big of a beam do I need to span 28 feet?

What size lvl beam for a 28 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 28 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 15-16 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 15-16″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 28 feet used for residential building or projects.