Steel angles run from L2x2x1/8 (1.65 lb/ft) up to L12x12x1-3/8 (105 lb/ft) in the AISC catalog, which lists 142 angle sections — 63 equal-leg and 79 unequal-leg. The designation reads legs-then-thickness: an L4x3x1/4 has a 4" leg, a 3" leg, and 1/4" thickness, weighing 5.8 lb/ft. Metric catalogs cover the same ground in millimetres: EN equal angles run L45x45x4 (2.7 kg/m) to L300x300x35 (154 kg/m), and the UK Blue Book (BS EN 10056-1) adds smaller sizes down to L20x20x3 at 0.88 kg/m.
The full charts are below. If you just need one weight fast, the free steel weight calculator covers every listed angle in all three standards.
What Sizes Do AISC Steel Angles Come In?
Equal-leg angles first. Rows are leg size, columns are thickness, cells are weight in lb/ft. A dash means AISC doesn't list that combination.
| Legs | 1/4 | 5/16 | 3/8 | 1/2 | 5/8 | 3/4 | 1 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | L2x2 | 3.19 | 3.92 | 4.7 | — | — | — | — | | L2-1/2x2-1/2 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 7.7 | — | — | — | | L3x3 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 9.4 | — | — | — | | L3-1/2x3-1/2 | 5.8 | 7.2 | 8.5 | 11.1 | — | — | — | | L4x4 | 6.6 | 8.2 | 9.8 | 12.8 | 15.7 | 18.5 | — | | L5x5 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 12.3 | 16.2 | 20.0 | 23.6 | — | | L6x6 | 9.8 | 12.4 | 14.9 | 19.6 | 24.2 | 28.7 | 37.4 | | L8x8 | — | — | — | 26.4 | 32.7 | 38.9 | 51.0 | | L10x10 | — | — | — | — | — | 49.1 | 64.7 | | L12x12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 77.8 |
Off-chart thicknesses exist at the extremes: L2x2x1/8 (1.65 lb/ft), 3/16" thickness for L2 through L3 sizes, 7/16" for L3 through L6, 9/16" and 7/8" in the mid-range, and heavy sections up to L10x10x1-3/8 (87.1 lb/ft) and L12x12x1-3/8 (105 lb/ft).
Unequal-leg angles, same layout:
| Legs | 1/4 | 5/16 | 3/8 | 1/2 | 5/8 | 3/4 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | L2-1/2x1-1/2 | 3.19 | — | — | — | — | — | | L2-1/2x2 | 3.62 | 4.5 | 5.3 | — | — | — | | L3x2 | 4.1 | 5.0 | 5.9 | 7.7 | — | — | | L3x2-1/2 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 8.5 | — | — | | L3-1/2x2-1/2 | 4.9 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 9.4 | — | — | | L3-1/2x3 | 5.4 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 10.2 | — | — | | L4x3 | 5.8 | 7.2 | 8.5 | 11.1 | 13.6 | — | | L4x3-1/2 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 9.1 | 11.9 | — | — | | L5x3 | 6.6 | 8.2 | 9.8 | 12.8 | — | — | | L5x3-1/2 | 7.0 | 8.7 | 10.4 | 13.6 | 16.8 | 19.8 | | L6x3 | — | — | 10.3 | 13.6 | — | — | | L6x3-1/2 | — | 9.8 | 11.7 | 15.3 | — | — | | L6x4 | 8.2 | 10.3 | 12.3 | 16.2 | 20.0 | 23.6 | | L7x4 | — | — | 13.6 | 17.9 | 22.1 | 26.2 | | L8x4 | — | — | — | 19.6 | 24.2 | 28.7 | | L8x6 | — | — | — | 23.0 | 28.5 | 33.8 |
L8x4 and L8x6 also come in 7/16", 9/16", 7/8", and 1" — L8x6x1 tops the unequal list at 44.2 lb/ft. For the rest of the AISC catalog beyond angles, see the AISC shape database guide.
How Do You Read an Angle Designation Like L4x3x1/4?
Three numbers, always in the same order: long leg x short leg x thickness, all in inches. So L4x3x1/4 is a 4-inch leg, a 3-inch leg, and 1/4-inch material through both legs. Equal angles just repeat the leg dimension: L4x4x1/4.
Two things trip people up on drawings:
- Leg order matters for orientation, not identity. L4x3 and L3x4 are the same bar of steel, but detailers write the vertical leg first (LLV — long leg vertical — or LLH for horizontal). When a drawing note says "L4x3x5/16 LLV," the 4" leg is the upright one. It's the same catalog section either way, so it prices the same.
- Thickness is uniform. Unlike a channel or W-shape, an angle has one thickness for both legs. If a callout looks like it has four numbers, you're probably reading a length or a hole gauge tacked onto the mark.
Metric designations work identically in millimetres: L100x100x10 is 100 mm legs at 10 mm thick, 15.0 kg/m. Multiply kg/m by 0.672 to get lb/ft when you need to compare across catalogs.
What Are the EN and BS Metric Angle Sizes?
The EN catalog (rolled to EN 10056-1, ArcelorMittal programme) lists 129 angle sections. Equal legs dominate — here's the range per size:
| Size (mm) | Thicknesses (mm) | Weight range (kg/m) | |---|---|---| | L45x45 | 4 | 2.7 | | L50x50 | 4–6 | 3.1 – 4.5 | | L60x60 | 4–8 | 3.7 – 7.1 | | L75x75 | 4–10 | 4.7 – 11.1 | | L80x80 | 5–10 | 6.2 – 11.9 | | L90x90 | 6–11 | 8.3 – 14.7 | | L100x100 | 7–12 | 10.7 – 17.8 | | L120x120 | 8–15 | 14.7 – 26.6 | | L130x130 | 10–16 | 19.8 – 30.8 | | L140x140 | 9–18 | 19.3 – 37.2 | | L150x150 | 10–20 | 23.0 – 44.2 | | L160x160 | 12–20 | 29.3 – 47.3 | | L180x180 | 13–22 | 35.7 – 58.6 | | L200x200 | 13–28 | 39.8 – 82.0 | | L250x250 | 17–35 | 64.4 – 128 | | L300x300 | 27–35 | 121 – 154 |
EN unequal angles are a short list — L120x80 (12.2–17.8 kg/m), L200x100 (23.0–35.9 kg/m), and L250x90 (31.2–40.9 kg/m).
The UK Blue Book supplement (UKA angles to BS EN 10056-1) fills in the small and unequal end that the EN programme skips. Common UKA unequal sizes with weights at standard thicknesses:
| Size (mm) | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | L200x150 | — | — | — | 32.0 | 39.6 | | L200x100 | — | — | 23.0 | 27.3 | 33.8 | | L150x90 | — | — | 18.2 | 21.6 | — | | L150x75 | — | — | 17.0 | 20.2 | 24.8 | | L125x75 | — | 12.2 | 15.0 | 17.8 | — | | L100x75 | — | 10.6 | 13.0 | 15.4 | — | | L100x65 | — | 9.94 | 12.3 | — | — | | L100x50 | 6.84 | 8.97 | — | — | — | | L80x40 | 5.41 | 7.07 | — | — | — | | L75x50 | 5.65 | 7.39 | — | — | — |
UKA equal angles run from L20x20x3 (0.88 kg/m) up through L200x200x24 (71.1 kg/m), overlapping the EN list at the common sizes. Australian and New Zealand shops use a different EA/UA series again — covered in the PFC, EA and UA size guide for Australia.
What Is the Difference Between Equal and Unequal Angles?
Structurally, an equal angle has the same stiffness about both legs, which makes it the default for bracing and general framing where load direction is symmetric or unpredictable. An unequal angle puts more material in one direction — the long leg carries the bending, the short leg does the attaching.
Practically, the split on a real job looks like this:
- Equal angles show up as X-bracing, kickers, frames around openings, and edge trim. L3x3 and L4x4 in 1/4" and 5/16" are the workhorses.
- Unequal angles show up where one leg needs reach and the other needs a bolt line: shelf angles on masonry (L6x4, L7x4, L8x4 with the long leg vertical), lintels, and seat angles. The LLV/LLH note tells you which way it's turned.
Weight-wise there's no penalty either way — an L6x4x3/8 (12.3 lb/ft) weighs the same as an L5x5x3/8 because it's the same cross-sectional area of steel folded differently.
What Are Steel Angles Used For?
On a typical structural package, angles land in five buckets:
| Use | Typical sizes | What to watch on takeoff | |---|---|---| | Clip angles (beam connections) | L3x3, L4x3, L4x3-1/2 x 1/4–3/8 | Usually in pairs — one each side of the web | | Bracing (X, K, chevron) | L3x3 to L6x6 | Often doubled back-to-back with a gusset between | | Shelf angles / relieving angles | L6x4, L7x4, L8x4 | Long continuous runs; price per foot, not per piece | | Lintels | L4x3-1/2 up to L8x4 | Frequently paired back-to-back over openings | | Kickers, frames, misc. steel | L2x2 to L4x4 | Small pieces that hide in details, not plans |
Clip angles deserve their own line item because they're a fabrication cost driver, not just a material one — the clip angle vs end plate comparison walks through when each connection type wins on shop hours.
Which Angle Sizes Are Actually Stocked?
The catalog lists 142 AISC angles; your service center stocks maybe 30 of them. From quoting steel week in and week out, the reliably-stocked US list is:
- Equal: L2x2, L2-1/2x2-1/2, L3x3, L4x4, L5x5, L6x6 in 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", and 1/2" (bigger sizes)
- Unequal: L3x2, L4x3, L5x3, L6x4 in 1/4" through 1/2", plus L6x3-1/2 and L8x4 at most regionals
The oddballs — 7/16" and 9/16" thicknesses, L3-1/2 legs, anything over L8 — are mill-order or long lead from a master distributor. If a drawing calls an L3-1/2x3-1/2x7/16 and you're pricing a two-piece quantity, quote the substitution conversation now: an L4x4x3/8 (9.8 lb/ft vs 9.8 lb/ft — identical weight, slightly different geometry) usually gets approved and ships tomorrow. Same story in metric: L100x100, L150x150, and L200x100 move; L130x130 and L160x160 sit on mill schedules.
Stocked lengths run 20', 25', and 40' in the US and 6 m / 12 m in metric markets — which matters because angle is usually nested, and drop on a 40' stick of L6x4x1/2 is real money at 16.2 lb/ft.
How Do You Take Off Angles From Drawings?
Angles are the easiest shape to undercount because they live in details and sections, not framing plans. Three habits that keep the count honest:
- Count the pairs. "2L3x3x1/4" or "(2) L4x3x5/16 B/B" means two angles, and back-to-back bracing doubles everything on the line — including the gusset bolts. A takeoff that logs the callout once is instantly 50% light on that item.
- Chase the typical details. A clip-angle connection detail marked "TYP" can represent every beam end on the job. Count beam ends, multiply by two clips each, and reconcile against the connection schedule if there is one.
- Separate loose angles from shop-attached. Shelf angles shipped loose price differently than clips welded on in the shop. Flag the difference at takeoff so the labor estimate doesn't absorb field material.
This is also where automated detection earns its keep: angle callouts are small text scattered across detail sheets, and SteelFlo's AI detection boxes every angle label on every page — including the ones buried in section cuts — then puts a human verification pass on top, which is how it holds 95-99% accuracy on the final count. Every size in the charts above resolves to a catalog weight automatically, across all 4,500+ sections in the shape library.
Need one angle weight right now, or a quick tonnage check on a bracing package? The free steel weight calculator covers every AISC, EN, and BS angle in this chart — pick the size, enter the length, get pounds or kilos instantly. No signup, and if you want to run a full drawing set, the first 3 takeoffs are free.