Metric Steel Sections — Complete Size Guide (IPE, HEA, HEB, UB, UC, SHS, CHS)

Engineers working outside North America need metric section properties. While AISC tables give everything in inches and kips, Eurocode, British Standard, and Australian Standard designs use millimetres and kilonewtons. This page covers the five families of metric I-sections, two families of channel sections, and the full range of metric hollow sections — with sizes, weights, and key section properties in a single reference.

All dimensional data on this page draws from the governing product standards: EN 10365 (European I and channel sections), BS 4-1 (UK sections), AS/NZS 3679.1 (Australian sections), and EN 10210 / AS/NZS 1163 (hollow sections).

How to Read Metric Section Designations

Metric section designations follow a consistent pattern across standards, though the leading letters change:

The number is the nominal depth in millimetres. European sections use depth only (IPE 300 = 300 mm deep). British and Australian sections use depth × width × mass (UB 203×133×25 = 203 mm deep, 133 mm wide, 25 kg/m). Australian sections use the designation prefix followed by mass in kg/m (200 UB 25.4).

Critical difference: European IPE sections are narrow-flange and relatively light. HEA/HEB sections are wide-flange, much heavier, and roughly equivalent to UC (column) sections in UK/Australian nomenclature. UB sections (universal beams) are closer to wide-flange but lighter than HEB.

European I-Sections — IPE (Narrow Flange, EN 10365)

IPE sections have parallel flange inner surfaces and relatively narrow flanges. They are efficient for beam bending applications and are the most common open section used in European construction for roof beams, floor beams, and purlins.

Key characteristics: Depth range 80–600 mm. Flange width approximately 0.5× depth for smaller sizes, increasing to ~0.37× for IPE 600. Mass range 6.0–122 kg/m.

IPE Section Properties — Selected Sizes

Notes: Iy = major axis second moment of area. Wpl,y = plastic section modulus (major axis). iy = radius of gyration about major axis. All values per EN 10365 and SCI Blue Book. IPE sections use S235–S460 grades per EN 10025. The root radius r is included in geometric property calculations.

European I-Sections — HEA (Wide Flange, Light Series, EN 10365)

HEA sections have wider, thicker flanges than IPE sections of the same depth. They are commonly used as columns (the wide flange gives good minor-axis buckling resistance) and as beams where lateral-torsional buckling is a concern. HEA sections are the lightest of the three HE series.

Key characteristics: Depth range 100–1000 mm. Flange width approximately equal to depth (b ≈ h). Mass range 16.7–272 kg/m. The near-square profile makes HEA excellent for bi-axial bending applications.

HEA Section Properties — Selected Sizes

European I-Sections — HEB (Wide Flange, Standard Series, EN 10365)

HEB sections use the same depth range as HEA but with thicker flanges and webs. They are approximately 25–40% heavier than the equivalent HEA section. HEB is the standard choice for heavily loaded columns and transfer beams where HEA would be too slender.

HEB Section Properties — Selected Sizes

Note: HEM sections (the heaviest of the HE series) are also available for depths 100–1000 mm. HEM 300, for example, has a mass of 238 kg/m (approximately double HEB 300). HEM sections use flange thicknesses up to 49 mm and are used for heavily loaded multi-storey columns, bridge piers, and transfer structures.

European Channel Sections — UPE and UPN (EN 10365)

European standard channels come in two series: UPE (parallel flange, narrower) and UPN (tapered flange, wider). UPE channels match better with IPE beams for bolted connections. UPN channels are the legacy series with a 8% flange slope.

UPE Channel Properties — Selected Sizes

UK Sections — UB, UC, PFC (BS 4-1)

UK sections use the same rolling profile geometry as European sections but are designated differently. Universal Beams (UB) and Universal Columns (UC) match the HE family from EN 10365 with minor dimensional variations. Parallel Flange Channels (PFC) are the UK equivalent of UPE.

UK Universal Beams (UB) — Selected Sizes

UK Universal Columns (UC) — Selected Sizes

UK Parallel Flange Channels (PFC) — Selected Sizes

Australian Sections — UB, UC, PFC (AS/NZS 3679.1)

Australian hot-rolled sections follow the same designation scheme as UK sections (UB, UC, PFC) but are produced to AS/NZS 3679.1 tolerances. While dimensions are generally compatible with British sections of the same designation, Australian mills roll to slightly different tolerances, and Grade 300 / Grade 350 steels have different yield strengths than S275 / S355.

Key difference from UK sections: Australian sections typically have slightly larger root radii and may vary by 1–3 mm on some dimensions. Section property values (Iy, Iz, Wpl,y) should be checked against Australian-specific tables from the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) Design Capacity Tables when designing to AS 4100.

Australian UB Sections — Selected Sizes

Australian UC Sections — Selected Sizes

Australian PFC Sections — Selected Sizes

Hollow Sections — SHS, RHS, CHS (Metric)

Metric hollow sections are designated by outer dimensions and wall thickness in millimetres. The European standard is EN 10210 (hot-finished) and EN 10219 (cold-formed). Australian/NZ standard is AS/NZS 1163. Both standards share the same dimensional notation:

• SHS (Square Hollow Section): Width × Width × Thickness, e.g., SHS 100×100×6
• RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section): Depth × Width × Thickness, e.g., RHS 200×100×6
• CHS (Circular Hollow Section): OD × Thickness, e.g., CHS 168.3×5.0

SHS (Square Hollow Sections) — Selected Metric Sizes

RHS (Rectangular Hollow Sections) — Selected Metric Sizes

CHS (Circular Hollow Sections) — Selected Metric Sizes

Steel Grades for Metric Sections

Steel grade selection determines the design yield strength fy and ultimate tensile strength fu used in Eurocode (EN 1993-1-1), AS 4100, and BS 5950 designs. Metric sections are manufactured in the following standard grades:

EN 10025 Structural Steel Grades

Subgrade suffix meanings:

• JR: 27 J Charpy at +20 C (indoor, non-fatigue applications)
• J0: 27 J Charpy at 0 C (outdoor with moderate exposure)
• J2: 27 J Charpy at -20 C (standard for UK/European structures)
• K2: 40 J Charpy at -20 C (bridges, fatigue-loaded)
• M/N/Q: Thermomechanical rolled / Normalized / Quenched and tempered (delivery condition for S420/S460)

Thickness effect: Note the yield strength reduction for sections thicker than 16 mm. For example, S355 drops from 355 MPa (t ≤ 16) to 345 MPa (16 < t ≤ 40), 335 MPa (40 < t ≤ 63), 325 MPa (63 < t ≤ 80), and 315 MPa (80 < t ≤ 100). Always check the flange and web thickness bracket per EN 1993-1-1 Table 3.1.

AS/NZS 3678 and AS/NZS 3679.1 — Australian Structural Steel Grades

AS/NZS 3679.1 (hot-rolled sections) uses Grade 300 and Grade 350 as standard. Grade 350 is the Australian equivalent of A992 (50 ksi) and S355JR/J0 — with the same caveats about chemistry and Charpy toughness.

Grade Equivalents Across Standards

Imperial-to-Metric Conversion Table

Quick conversions:

• Multiply in⁴ × 41.62 to get cm⁴
• Multiply lb/ft × 1.488 to get kg/m
• Multiply ksi × 6.895 to get MPa
• Divide mm by 25.4 to get inches

Equivalent Sections Across Standards — Comparison Table

Metric and imperial sections do not have exact 1:1 equivalents, but the following table provides the closest matches used in practice when substituting between design standards. Always re-check capacity when substituting.

Important: These equivalences are approximate. For substitution, check: (1) section depth matches connection geometry, (2) flange width fits within required clearances, (3) web and flange thickness satisfy local buckling limits, (4) section modulus and plastic modulus are adequate for the design moment, and (5) member mass does not exceed fabrication/lifting capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IPE, HEA, and HEB sections?

IPE (I Profile European) has narrow flanges, making it efficient for beams where lateral-torsional buckling is restrained. HEA (wide flange, light series) has wider flanges than IPE — roughly equal to the section depth — giving much better minor-axis buckling resistance for columns. HEB (wide flange, standard series) is the same geometry as HEA but with 25–40% heavier flanges and webs, for columns carrying higher loads. HEM is the heaviest series, approximately double the mass of the same-depth HEB, used for heavily loaded high-rise columns and transfer structures.

Can I substitute a UB for an IPE section?

Usually not directly. UB (Universal Beam) sections have wider flanges than IPE sections of similar depth. A 203×133×25 UB has Iy = 2340 cm⁴ vs IPE 200 at 1940 cm⁴ — the UB is 21% stiffer in major-axis bending. More importantly, the flange width differs (133 mm vs 100 mm), which affects bolted connection geometry. If substituting, re-check: bending capacity, shear capacity, deflection (IPE may deflect more), connection detailing, and lateral-torsional buckling resistance. The UB is generally a slightly heavier, somewhat stiffer alternative to the equivalent-depth IPE.

What steel grade should I specify for metric sections in the UK?

S355J2 to EN 10025-2 is the standard structural steel grade for UK building structures, specified by the SCI and the National Annex to EN 1993-1-1. It provides 27 J Charpy impact toughness at -20 C, which satisfies the ductility requirements for most building applications. S275J2 may be used for lightly loaded members where S355 would be oversized. For bridges and fatigue-loaded structures, S355K2 (40 J at -20 C) is typically required. Always check the project specification and National Annex, as requirements vary between EU member states despite a common Eurocode framework.

Are Australian UB/UC sections interchangeable with UK sections?

The dimensional series are based on the same historical British rolling profiles, so connection geometry is generally compatible. However, Australian sections are rolled to AS/NZS 3679.1 tolerances, which may differ by 1–3 mm on some dimensions from BS 4-1. For design: Australian Grade 350 has fy = 350 MPa (t <= 40 mm) vs UK S355 at 355 MPa — a 1.4% difference that is negligible in practical design. But Australian sections use different minimum Charpy values and chemistry limits. When designing to AS 4100, always use Australian section property tables. When designing to BS 5950 or EN 1993, use UK tables.

Use Our Free Metric Section Tools

Look up exact section properties for 2,300+ shapes including metric IPE, HEA, HEB, UB, UC, and SHS/RHS/CHS hollow sections:

→ Steel Section Properties Lookup — search by designation, filter by shape family, compare properties across standards.

→ Steel Weight Calculator — calculate kg/m and total weight for any metric section. Enter length per piece, quantity, and waste percentage for fabrication weight.

→ Beam Capacity Calculator — bending, shear, LTB, and deflection checks for metric beams per EN 1993-1-1, AS 4100, or BS 5950.

→ Column Capacity Calculator — axial compression capacity with effective length for metric UC, HEA, HEB, and SHS columns.

Related Pages

• Steel Section Properties Lookup — search 2,300+ sections across AISC, EN, BS, and AS standards
• Steel Weight Calculator — instant weight calculation for any metric shape
• Beam Capacity Calculator — bending and shear per EN 1993-1-1
• Column Capacity Calculator — compression capacity for metric UC/HEA/HEB columns
• HSS Section Properties — AISC, metric SHS/RHS/CHS, grades, and b/t limits
• EN 1993 Steel Grades Reference — S235–S460 grade chart with fy/fu values
• Steel Section Types Guide — comparison of all structural steel shape families
• IPE vs HEA vs UB Steel Sections — Expert Comparison — deep dive into section selection
• Wide Flange Beam Sizes (Imperial) — AISC W-shapes for North American design
• Steel Angle Sizes — metric and imperial angle properties
• Structural Steel Weight Tables — weight per metre for all metric shapes

Educational reference only. Section dimensions and properties are drawn from published product standards and manufacturers' data. Always verify dimensions with the current edition of EN 10365, BS 4-1, AS/NZS 3679.1, EN 10210, or AS/NZS 1163 as applicable to your project, and confirm availability with your steel supplier before finalising a design.

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