About

Structural steel channels, often referred to as C-Channels or U-Channels, are standardized beams used in construction and machinery. Calculating the weight of these members is vital for logistics, crane capacity planning, and dead load analysis in engineering designs.

This tool covers the two most globally dominant standards: The American Standard Channel (C-Shape), defined by ASTM standards where the name implies weight (e.g., C3x4.1 is 3 inches deep and weighs 4.1 lbs/ft), and the European Standard (UPN/UPE), defined by DIN 1026, which uses metric designations (kg/m).

Formulas

The total weight (W) is the product of the linear density (λ) and the length (L).

W = L × λ_profile

Reference Data

Standard	Profile	Depth (h)	Weight (lbs/ft)	Weight (kg/m)
American	C3 x 4.1	3"	4.1	6.1
American	C4 x 5.4	4"	5.4	8.0
American	C6 x 8.2	6"	8.2	12.2
European	UPN 80	80mm	5.8	8.64
European	UPN 100	100mm	7.1	10.6
European	UPN 120	120mm	9.0	13.4
European	UPN 200	200mm	17.0	25.3

Frequently Asked Questions

This is the AISC designation. "C" stands for Channel. "3" indicates the depth of the web in inches. "4.1" indicates the weight per foot in pounds. This naming convention makes weight estimation straightforward for American profiles.

UPN is the standard European Channel with tapered flanges (sloped inside). UPE is the parallel flange channel, which has straight flanges and is generally lighter and easier to bolt to.

No. The weights provided are for plain carbon steel (approx density 7850 kg/m³). Hot-dip galvanization typically adds 3-5% to the total weight of the steel member.