There are 18 W10 wide flange shapes in the AISC catalog. The lightest is the W10x12 at 12 lb/ft (17.9 kg/m) and the heaviest is the W10x112 at 112 lb/ft (166.7 kg/m). Actual depth runs from 9.73" to 11.36", and flange width runs from 3.96" to 10.415". The heavy half of the W10 family, W10x49 and up, has a 10-inch flange on a 10-inch-deep section, which is why W10s are one of the standard column shapes for low-rise buildings.
Below is the complete chart, then how the family breaks down, where W10s appear on drawings, and how to handle them on a takeoff. Each size links to its page in the steel shapes reference.
W10 Beam Sizes Chart (All 18 AISC Sections)
Weights come from the AISC shape database. Metric weight is lb/ft × 1.488. Depth (d) and flange width (bf) are actual, not nominal.
| Section | Weight (lb/ft) | Weight (kg/m) | Depth d (in) | Flange width bf (in) | Area (in²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W10x12 | 12 | 17.9 | 9.87 | 3.96 | 3.54 |
| W10x15 | 15 | 22.3 | 9.99 | 4 | 4.41 |
| W10x17 | 17 | 25.3 | 10.11 | 4.01 | 4.99 |
| W10x19 | 19 | 28.3 | 10.24 | 4.02 | 5.62 |
| W10x22 | 22 | 32.7 | 10.17 | 5.75 | 6.49 |
| W10x26 | 26 | 38.7 | 10.33 | 5.77 | 7.61 |
| W10x30 | 30 | 44.6 | 10.47 | 5.81 | 8.84 |
| W10x33 | 33 | 49.1 | 9.73 | 7.96 | 9.71 |
| W10x39 | 39 | 58 | 9.92 | 7.985 | 11.5 |
| W10x45 | 45 | 67 | 10.10 | 8.02 | 13.3 |
| W10x49 | 49 | 72.9 | 9.98 | 10 | 14.4 |
| W10x54 | 54 | 80.4 | 10.09 | 10.03 | 15.8 |
| W10x60 | 60 | 89.3 | 10.22 | 10.08 | 17.6 |
| W10x68 | 68 | 101.2 | 10.40 | 10.13 | 20 |
| W10x77 | 77 | 114.6 | 10.60 | 10.19 | 22.6 |
| W10x88 | 88 | 131 | 10.84 | 10.265 | 25.9 |
| W10x100 | 100 | 148.8 | 11.10 | 10.34 | 29.4 |
| W10x112 | 112 | 166.7 | 11.36 | 10.415 | 32.9 |
Check any row with area × 3.4028. A W10x49 has 14.4 in² of area, and 14.4 × 3.4028 = 49.0 lb/ft. A W10x12 has 3.54 in², and 3.54 × 3.4028 = 12.05. If a supplier sheet or old spreadsheet fails that test, trust the chart.
How to Read a W10 Designation
W10x49 is a wide flange, nominal 10 inches deep, 49 pounds per linear foot. The weight is exact. The depth is not: the 18 W10s range from 9.73" to 11.36" deep. Metric drawings list the same shapes by millimetre depth and kg/m, so a W10x22 is called a W250x32.7. If you're converting a metric set, the W-shape metric equivalents guide has the full list.
The Four W10 Flange Families
W10s come in four flange widths. Each family shares roughly the same inside dimension between flanges, and adding weight makes the flanges and web thicker.
| Family | Sections | Flange width | Typical role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narrow | W10x12, W10x15, W10x17, W10x19 | about 4" | Roof infill, secondary beams, struts |
| Medium-narrow | W10x22, W10x26, W10x30 | about 5.75" | Short floor and roof beams, lintels |
| Medium | W10x33, W10x39, W10x45 | about 8" | Beams and light columns |
| Column | W10x49 through W10x112 | about 10" to 10.4" | Columns, posts, heavy short beams |
The depth reset between families catches people. The W10x33 is 9.73" deep, shallower than the W10x30 (10.47") that weighs 3 lb/ft less. The W10x49 is 9.98" deep, shallower than the W10x45 (10.10"). On a detail where fit-up matters, pull the actual depth.
Where W10s Show Up on Drawings
- Columns on one- to three-story buildings. W10x33 through W10x60 are common interior and perimeter columns on retail, office, and light industrial work. The W10x49 in particular shows up constantly. Columns are often called out in a schedule rather than on the plan; the column schedule guide covers how to read one.
- Roof beams and infill. W10x12 through W10x19 as secondary roof framing, frames at roof openings, and edge beams.
- Short floor beams. W10x22 through W10x30 on mezzanines, stair landings, and short bays.
- Lintels and door frames. W10s over wide masonry openings and at overhead doors in warehouse walls.
- Pipe racks and equipment platforms. W10 columns and beams are a common industrial combination because the 10" flange on the column side gives room for bolted beam connections.
Everything here is for estimating and budgeting. Member selection belongs to the engineer of record; none of these are design recommendations.
How Estimators Price W10s
Pricing a W10 depends on whether it's a column or a beam, more than on its weight.
W10 columns carry a base plate, anchor rods, a cap plate or beam seats, and on taller buildings a splice. Those fittings add weight and a lot of shop time. Many estimators price columns as a separate line with their own labor rate, and carry base plates and anchor rods as separate items. The base plate and anchor bolt guide has a checklist for what to pick up at each column.
W10 beams are mostly two-clip or shear-tab pieces, so labor per piece is lower but the piece count is higher. On light roof framing, the per-piece handling cost dominates the material cost.
A worked example. A two-story office building has 22 W10x49 columns at 26'-0" (one tier, base to roof) and 40 W10x19 roof infill beams at 20'-0".
- Columns: 22 × 26 ft × 49 lb/ft = 28,028 lb
- Infill: 40 × 20 ft × 19 lb/ft = 15,200 lb
- Total: 43,228 lb, or about 21.6 tons before connections, plates, and waste
At an assumed material price of $0.60/lb, used only to illustrate the math, that is about $25,937 in main members. The columns are 65% of the weight but only 22 of the 62 pieces. The infill beams are 35% of the weight and 40 pieces. Split your labor by piece, not by ton, or the light beams will be underpriced. For real price ranges, see structural steel cost per ton.
Nesting. A 26-foot column doesn't nest well into 40s (one per stick, 14-foot drop) but fits two to a 60 with an 8-foot drop. Ask your supplier what they stock in W10 before you assume 60s. The stock lengths and nesting guide walks through the choice.
Takeoff Mistakes With W10s
Counting a column once when it spans two schedules. On a multi-story job, a column line might be W10x60 for the lower tier and W10x49 above the splice. If you pick up only the lower callout, the top tier is priced at the wrong weight. The multi-story frame estimating guide covers tier-by-tier takeoff.
Confusing W10x49 with W10x45. Four pounds per foot is only about a 9% weight difference, but the flange jumps from 8" to 10". If the detail shows a beam connecting to the column flange and the numbers look off, check which one the schedule actually calls.
W10 vs W12 misreads. On poor scans a W10x26 can read as W12x26. Same weight, different depth. It won't change your tonnage, but it will change the connection and the fit-up.
SteelFlo reads every W10 callout across a drawing set, whether it's on the plan, in a column schedule, or in a detail, and builds the takeoff with catalog weights attached. See how it handles your drawings.
For the lighter end of the family, the W8 beam sizes chart lists all 13 W8s, and the full wide flange chart covers every depth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a W10x49 weigh?
A W10x49 weighs 49 lb/ft, or 72.9 kg/m. It is 9.98" deep with a 10.0" flange and 14.4 in² of area. A 20-foot W10x49 weighs 980 lb.
What is the lightest W10 beam?
The W10x12 is the lightest W10 at 12 lb/ft (17.9 kg/m). It is 9.87" deep with a 3.96" flange. It usually appears as roof infill or secondary framing.
What is the heaviest W10 section?
The W10x112 is the heaviest W10 at 112 lb/ft (166.7 kg/m). It is 11.36" deep with a 10.415" flange and 32.9 in² of area. It's used as a heavy short column where the depth has to stay near 11 inches.
Why is a W10x33 shallower than a W10x30?
They belong to different flange families. The W10x30 is in the 5.75"-flange group and is 10.47" deep; the W10x33 starts the 8"-flange group and is 9.73" deep. Within a family, heavier shapes get deeper, but depth resets when the flange width changes.
Is a W10 a beam or a column?
Both. The narrow-flange W10s (W10x12 through W10x30) are mostly used as beams, and the wide-flange W10s (W10x49 through W10x112) are mostly used as columns. The W10x33 to W10x45 group shows up in either role.