How to Use the Steel Channel (C-Shape) Weight Calculator
A steel channel (AISC C-shape, e.g. C10x15.3) has flanges projecting from only one side of the web, but the cross section is still built from one web and two flanges β the same components as a wide flange beam. Enter the depth (d), flange width (bf), web thickness (tw), flange thickness (tf), and length to get the theoretical weight.
The area is two flanges (width Γ flange thickness Γ 2) plus the web ((depth β flange thickness Γ 2) Γ web thickness). Multiply by the standard steel density factor 3.4028 (from 490 lb/ftΒ³) for weight per foot, then by total length for the full run weight.
This approximation ignores the fillet radius where the web meets the flanges, so results can differ from the AISC manual's published weight by around 1-3%. Confirm exact figures against the AISC Steel Construction Manual for procurement, and have a licensed structural engineer verify any load-bearing application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Add the area of both flanges (flange width Γ flange thickness Γ 2) to the web area ((depth β flange thickness Γ 2) Γ web thickness), then multiply the total by the steel density factor 3.4028 to get weight per foot.
Yes, both have one web and two flanges, so the area formula is identical. The only difference is that a channel's flanges project to one side instead of both.