What steel profile should I use for a 10-meter span beam?
Design & Analysis
For a 10 m span with moderate loads (2-4 kN/m² tributary), you typically need a deep wide-flange section. Rule of thumb: depth ≥ span/20 to span/25 for steel beams, so roughly 400-500 mm deep. Common choices: W 360×51 (American), HEB 400 / IPE 500 (European), ISMB 500 (Indian). The exact profile depends on your load combinations, lateral bracing, and deflection limits (L/360 for live load is typical). Heavier loads or longer spans may need W 460×60 or HEB 500. Always verify moment capacity, shear, lateral-torsional buckling and deflection using the applicable code. CalcSteel will compute these checks automatically when you model the beam and apply loads.
Key takeaways
- For a ~10 m beam, deflection (serviceability) typically governs the section size, not bending strength.
- Section tables (IPE, HEA, UB, W) trace back to Henry Grey's 1897 mill and Bethlehem Steel's 1908 production — and to Euler-Bernoulli beam theory from around 1750.
- A correct answer requires loads, spacing, bracing and the target code (NBR 8800, AISC 360, Eurocode 3, IS 800) — a single profile name is never universal.
- Modern browser tools like CalcSteel run all the checks — bending, lateral-torsional buckling, shear and deflection — against a catalog of 1,140+ profiles in seconds.
Full guide
What Steel Profile for a 10 m Beam?
Step-by-step with figures and sources — 9 min read
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