W21x44 is a wide flange steel beam that is 20.7 in deep with a 6.5 in flange and weighs 44 lb/ft (66 kg/m). Its metric designation is W530x66. All values below come from the AISC Shapes Database v16.0.
W21x44 Dimensions
| Property | Symbol | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominal weight | W | 44 lb/ft | 66 kg/m |
| Cross-sectional area | A | 13 in² | 8,390 mm² |
| Depth | d | 20.7 in | 526 mm |
| Flange width | bf | 6.5 in | 165 mm |
| Web thickness | tw | 0.35 in | 8.89 mm |
| Flange thickness | tf | 0.45 in | 11.4 mm |
| Distance to web toe of fillet (design) | kdes | 0.95 in | 24.1 mm |
| Distance to web toe of fillet (detailing) | kdet | 1.125 in | 28.6 mm |
| Web center line to flange toe of fillet | k1 | 0.8125 in | 20.6 mm |
| Distance between web toes of fillets | T | 18.375 in | 467 mm |
| Workable gage (inner holes) | WGi | 3.5 in | 88.9 mm |
W21x44 Section Properties
| Property | Symbol | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moment of inertia, x-axis | Ix | 843 in⁴ | 351 ×10⁶ mm⁴ |
| Elastic section modulus, x-axis | Sx | 81.6 in³ | 1,340 ×10³ mm³ |
| Plastic section modulus, x-axis | Zx | 95.4 in³ | 1,560 ×10³ mm³ |
| Radius of gyration, x-axis | rx | 8.06 in | 205 mm |
| Moment of inertia, y-axis | Iy | 20.7 in⁴ | 8.62 ×10⁶ mm⁴ |
| Elastic section modulus, y-axis | Sy | 6.37 in³ | 104 ×10³ mm³ |
| Plastic section modulus, y-axis | Zy | 10.2 in³ | 167 ×10³ mm³ |
| Radius of gyration, y-axis | ry | 1.26 in | 32 mm |
| Torsional constant | J | 0.77 in⁴ | 320 ×10³ mm⁴ |
| Warping constant | Cw | 2,110 in⁶ | 567 ×10⁹ mm⁶ |
| Effective radius of gyration | rts | 1.6 in | 40.6 mm |
| Distance between flange centroids | ho | 20.3 in | 516 mm |
| Flange slenderness | bf/2tf | 7.22 | 7.22 |
| Web slenderness | h/tw | 53.6 | 53.6 |
W21x44 Weight Calculator
Enter a length to get the total weight of a W21x44 beam. A 20 ft length weighs 880 lb.
Uses the AISC nominal weight: 44 lb/ft (66 kg/m).
Beams Similar to W21x44
| Shape | Weight (lb/ft) | Depth (in) | Flange width (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| W21x48 | 48 | 20.6 | 8.14 |
| W21x50 | 50 | 20.8 | 6.53 |
| W21x55 | 55 | 20.8 | 8.22 |
Compare all W shapes in the wide flange beam sizes chart. Working in millimetres? W21x44 is listed as W530x66 in the metric wide flange beam sizes chart.
W21x44 FAQ
What does W21x44 mean?
W means wide flange. The first number (21) is the nominal depth in inches, and the second number (44) is the weight in pounds per foot. The actual depth of W21x44 is 20.7 in. How to read steel beam sizes.
How much does a W21x44 beam weigh?
W21x44 weighs 44 lb per foot (66 kg per meter). A 20 ft beam weighs about 880 lb. Use the calculator above for any length.
What is the metric equivalent of W21x44?
The metric (SI) designation is W530x66: 526 mm deep with a 165 mm flange and 66 kg/m.
How far can a W21x44 beam span?
Span depends on the load, support conditions, deflection limits and local building code, so it cannot be read from a size table. A licensed structural engineer must size any beam that carries a load.
Source: AISC Shapes Database v16.0, consistent with the AISC Steel Construction Manual, 16th Edition. Last updated: September 2026.
This page is reference information only and is not engineering advice. Do not use it for a specific design without verification by a licensed engineer or architect. Full disclaimer.