H-Beam vs I-Beam - Which One for Your Project?
H-beam and I-beam look similar but behave differently. A practical guide to the difference, and how to choose the right section for your structure.
“Should I use an H-beam or an I-beam?” is one of the most common questions we get. They look alike - both are shaped like their letter - but they’re built for different jobs. Here’s the plain-language version.
The quick answer
- H-Beam → wider, parallel flanges. Best for columns and heavy axial (vertical) loads.
- I-Beam / Girder → narrower, tapered flanges and a taller web. Best for spanning distance and handling bending loads like floor and roof beams.
H-Beam: the column
An H-beam has flanges (the top and bottom) that are almost as wide as it is tall, and they’re parallel and thick. That wide, balanced shape resists buckling under vertical load, which is exactly what a column needs.
Use H-beams for:
- Building columns and portal frames
- Industrial sheds and mezzanines
- Heavy structures carrying big vertical loads
I-Beam / Girder: the span
An I-beam (girder) is taller and narrower, with tapered flanges. That deep web is very efficient at resisting bending, which is what happens when a beam spans a gap and carries load across it.
Use I-beams / girders for:
- Floor and roof beams
- Bridge and gantry girders
- Crane runway beams
How to decide
Ask one question: is the steel mostly pushing down its length (a column), or bending across a span (a beam)?
- Pushing down → H-beam
- Bending across → I-beam / girder
For anything structural, always confirm the section and size with your engineer against the actual load and span. Once you know what you need, we’ll supply it - cut to length and weighed in full.
Weights matter for budgeting
Both sections are sold by weight, so knowing the kg/ft helps you budget. For example, an 8×8” H-beam is about 16.5 kg/ft, while a 12×6” girder is about 17 kg/ft. Our weight calculator works out the total for your lengths and quantity.
Not sure which to order? Send us your span and load on WhatsApp - we’ll help you pick, then weigh it in front of you.