Steel Channel (C and U) Sizes and Weight Chart
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Steel Channel (C and U) Sizes and Weight Chart
Steel channels — the C-shaped ISMC sections — are everywhere in fabrication: purlins, frames, bracing, and built-up members. This guide gives the standard channel sizes with weight per metre, and explains how to pick the right one.
ISMC channel weight chart
Here are the commonly used ISMC channel sizes with approximate weight per metre under IS 808. Confirm against the current standard and your mill certificate before ordering.
- ISMC 75 — approx. 7.14 kg/m
- ISMC 100 — approx. 9.56 kg/m
- ISMC 125 — approx. 13.1 kg/m
- ISMC 150 — approx. 16.8 kg/m
- ISMC 175 — approx. 19.6 kg/m
- ISMC 200 — approx. 22.1 kg/m
- ISMC 250 — approx. 30.6 kg/m
- ISMC 300 — approx. 36.3 kg/m
- ISMC 400 — approx. 49.4 kg/m
As with beams, the number is the channel depth in millimetres — ISMC 200 is 200 mm deep.
How to calculate channel weight
Use the same method as for beams:
Total weight (kg) = weight per metre (kg/m) × length (m)
An ISMC 100 that’s 6 metres long weighs about 9.56 × 6 = 57.4 kg. Multiply across all pieces for the full order weight.
Choosing the right channel
Channels are open sections, so they’re ideal where you need to bolt or weld to a flat face — purlins, girts, frames, and trims. For heavier or load-bearing duty, channels are often paired back-to-back to form a stronger symmetrical member. Where you need a primary spanning member instead, an I-beam is usually the better choice — see C-channel vs I-beam for the full comparison.
Channels are typically rolled in IS 2062 structural grades, the same family used for I-beams, so grade should be specified alongside size.
FAQ
What is the weight of ISMC 100? Approximately 9.56 kg per metre.
When should I pair two channels? When you need a stronger, symmetrical built-up section for load-bearing use.
Are channel weights exact? They’re nominal; actual weight varies within rolling tolerance, so verify against mill data.
Need channels in a specific size and grade? Explore our structural steel beams and channels, or request a quote. For the complete structural overview, see our structural steel beams guide.
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A: Carbon steel relies on carbon content alone for its properties. Alloy steel adds elements like chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and vanadium to achieve specific improvements — higher strength, better low-temperature toughness, creep resistance, or corrosion resistance — giving it a far broader performance range than carbon steel.
A: For ambient to 400°C service, ASTM A516 Grade 70 is the standard choice. For high-temperature refinery or power plant use (up to 600°C), ASTM A387 Grade 11 or 22 (chrome-moly) applies. For cryogenic service down to -196°C, 9% nickel steel (ASTM A553) is required.
A: Wear-resistant grades like AR400/AR500 are quenched to martensitic hardness of 370–500 HB — 3–4× harder than structural grades like A572-50. They resist abrasive wear in mining and construction equipment but have limited weldability and are not suitable as primary structural members.
A: CE (= C + Mn/6 + (Cr+Mo+V)/5 + (Ni+Cu)/15) predicts susceptibility to hydrogen-induced cold cracking during welding. Sheets with CE above ~0.40 require preheating to slow cooling and allow hydrogen diffusion, preventing weld cracking. Always develop a qualified WPS based on the specific CE value.
