Steel Column Calculator — ft, load, section
How to use this calculator
Pick a section type, choose a common AISC size, enter the cut length in feet and inches, and the number of columns. The result is weight per foot, weight per column, and total tonnage — the numbers used to size the crane pick, write the lift list, and price the structural-steel line. Use the elevation length, not the floor-to-floor architectural height, so the takeoff matches the fabricated piece.
Cost — enter price per pound or per linear foot to get total material cost.
Base Plate — optionally estimate a simplified base plate size based on the column section.
Steel Grade — A992 (50 ksi) for W-shapes, A500 for HSS, A53 for pipe.
Saved Calculations
| Time | Section | Height | Qty | Wt/col | Total lbs | Cost |
|---|
How to Calculate Steel Column Weight
Column weight is the section's nominal weight per foot multiplied by the cut length. Pick the shape tab, choose the size, and enter the clear height plus any base-plate and cap-plate stick length so the takeoff reflects the fabricated piece, not just the architectural floor-to-floor. Total weight drives crane pick selection, erection sequencing, and the structural-steel line of the estimate.
Formula
Weight per column = w × H, where w is the AISC nominal weight (lb/ft) and H is the column length in feet. Total weight = w × H × N for N columns; tons = total ÷ 2000. For a W10×49 at 12 ft: 49 × 12 = 588 lb each. HSS and pipe weights already include the wall area, so no separate area calculation is needed. Cross-check member sizing with the steel beam weight calculator for the connecting framing.
Section Types & Grades
W-shapes (W8×31 to W14×90) in ASTM A992 (Fy 50 ksi) are the default for braced and moment frames. HSS square (A500 Gr. B/C) gives equal strong/weak-axis capacity for slender unbraced columns; round HSS and A53 pipe suit exposed architectural columns. Slenderness KL/r still governs allowable load — this tool sizes weight and cost, not axial capacity.
Base Plate Sizing
The optional base plate uses a simplified rule: plan dimensions = column depth + 6 in each side, with user-set thickness, weighed at 490 lb/ft³ (40.8 lb/ft² per inch of plate). Final design per AISC Design Guide 1 must check concrete bearing, plate bending, and anchor rods — see the bolt pattern calculator for anchor-rod layout and the steel plate weight calculator for stiffeners and shear tabs.
On the jobsite
Three estimator mistakes that show up on the punch list. Forgot the base plate & cap plate — a W12×65 column gets a 14×14×1″ base plate (≈70 lb) plus a 12×12×½″ cap plate (≈25 lb); skip them and the lift list is 5–8% light. Pricing by $/lb without fabrication — mill steel is $0.50–$1.50/lb in 2025 USA, but a fabricated-and-delivered column with welded base plate, drilled bolt holes, and shop primer runs $2.00–$4.50/lb; use the $/column tab for sub-bids. Anchor-bolt template not ordered — A325 anchor rods need a setting template and 10–12″ embedment per ACI 318-19 §17.6; pour-stop dimensions and rod projection must match the AISC Design Guide 1 base-plate detail before the slab is wet. Cross-check the bolt pattern calculator for anchor layout, the steel beam weight calculator for the connecting framing, and the rebar calculator for pier ties on composite columns.
FAQ
Does the weight include base and cap plates? No — the main result is the rolled section only. Turn on the Base Plate option for a simplified plate weight, and add cap/stiffener plate weight separately.
Why does my mill cert differ slightly? AISC nominal weights are theoretical; actual rolled weight varies about ±2.5% per ASTM A6 rolling tolerance.
Which grade for HSS columns? A500 Gr. C (Fy 50 ksi) is now the common production grade for square/rectangular HSS in the US.
