---- | -------------- | ---------- | ------------------- | | 3/4 | 0.32 | 0.094 | Light straps, clips | | 1 | 0.43 | 0.125 | Light brackets | | 1-1/4 | 0.53 | 0.156 | Straps | | 1-1/2 | 0.64 | 0.188 | Light ties | | 2 | 0.85 | 0.250 | Straps, clips | | 2-1/2 | 1.06 | 0.313 | Tie straps | | 3 | 1.28 | 0.375 | Medium brackets | | 4 | 1.70 | 0.500 | Medium straps |

3/16 in (0.1875 in) Thick

Width (in) Weight (lb/ft) Area (in²)
3/4 0.48 0.141
1 0.64 0.188
1-1/2 0.96 0.281
2 1.28 0.375
2-1/2 1.59 0.469
3 1.91 0.563
4 2.55 0.750

1/4 in (0.250 in) Thick

Width (in) Weight (lb/ft) Area (in²) Common Use
3/4 0.64 0.188 Clips, ties
1 0.85 0.250 Standard brackets
1-1/4 1.06 0.313 Gusset straps
1-1/2 1.28 0.375 Connection angles
2 1.70 0.500 Base angles
2-1/2 2.13 0.625 Medium brackets
3 2.55 0.750 Shear tabs (light)
4 3.40 1.000 Standard brackets
5 4.25 1.250 Heavy straps
6 5.10 1.500 Beam clips

3/8 in (0.375 in) Thick

Width (in) Weight (lb/ft) Area (in²)
1 1.28 0.375
1-1/2 1.91 0.563
2 2.55 0.750
2-1/2 3.19 0.938
3 3.83 1.125
4 5.10 1.500
5 6.38 1.875
6 7.65 2.250

1/2 in (0.500 in) Thick

Width (in) Weight (lb/ft) Area (in²) Common Use
1 1.70 0.500 Connection plates
1-1/2 2.55 0.750 Clip angles
2 3.40 1.000 Base plates (small)
2-1/2 4.25 1.250 Gusset plates
3 5.10 1.500 Shear tabs
4 6.80 2.000 Connection plates
5 8.50 2.500 Bracket plates
6 10.20 3.000 Heavy connections

3/4 in to 2 in Thick

Width × Thickness Weight (lb/ft) Area (in²)
2 × 3/4 5.10 1.500
3 × 3/4 7.65 2.250
4 × 3/4 10.20 3.000
2 × 1 6.80 2.000
3 × 1 10.20 3.000
4 × 1 13.60 4.000
6 × 1 20.40 6.000
4 × 1-1/2 20.40 6.000
6 × 1-1/2 30.60 9.000
6 × 2 40.80 12.000

ASTM Specifications

Spec Grade Fy (ksi) Use
A36 — 36 General purpose, most flat bar
A572 Gr 50 50 Higher strength connections
A588 — 50 Weathering, exposed applications

Most structural flat bar is A36. Availability decreases for sizes above 6 in wide or 1 in thick.

Available Lengths

Form Standard Lengths
Cut-to-length bars 20 ft, 24 ft (mill)
Bar-in-coil Continuous (for small sizes)
Cut pieces Per order (1 ft to 20 ft)

Design Applications

Application Typical Size Design Consideration
Shear tabs 3/8 × 4 to 1/2 × 6 Check bolt bearing, block shear
Clip angles 3/8 × 2 to 1/2 × 4 Eccentricity on weld group
Base angles 1/4 × 3 to 3/8 × 4 Bolt tension and bearing
Straps and ties 1/8 × 1 to 1/4 × 3 Tension yielding and fracture
Bracket plates 1/2 × 4 to 3/4 × 6 Flexure and shear
Stiffener bars 3/8 × 3 to 1/2 × 4 Local buckling
Tie rods (flat) 1/4 × 1 to 1/2 × 2 Tension capacity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the standard length of a steel flat bar? Mill standard is 20 or 24 feet. Steel suppliers cut to length per order. Smaller sizes may be available in coil form for continuous feeding.

What is the difference between flat bar and plate? Flat bar is rolled to specific widths (typically under 12 inches) with rounded edges. Plate is flat with square edges, available in any width. Plate is typically specified by thickness alone, while flat bar is specified by width and thickness.

How much does a 1/4 × 4 steel flat bar weigh per foot? 1/4 in × 4 in = 0.250 × 4 × 3.40 = 3.40 lb/ft.

Can flat bar be used for structural connections? Yes, flat bar is widely used for shear tabs, clip angles, gusset plates, base angles, and other connection elements. The designer must check all applicable limit states (yielding, fracture, bearing, block shear, weld capacity).

What grade of steel is flat bar? Most structural flat bar is ASTM A36 (Fy = 36 ksi). A572 Grade 50 (Fy = 50 ksi) is available for higher strength. Check with the supplier for grade certification.

Try it now: Check your steel flat bar with our free Steel Weight calculator →

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Disclaimer

This is a calculation tool, not a substitute for professional engineering certification. All results must be independently verified by a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Structural Engineer (SE) before use in construction, fabrication, or permit documents. The user is responsible for the accuracy of all inputs and the verification of all outputs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the recommended design procedure for this structural element?

The standard design procedure follows: (1) establish design criteria including applicable code, material grade, and loading; (2) determine loads and applicable load combinations; (3) analyze the structure for internal forces; (4) check member strength for all applicable limit states; (5) verify serviceability requirements; and (6) detail connections. Computer analysis is recommended for complex structures, but hand calculations should be used for verification of critical elements.

How do different design codes compare for this calculation?

AISC 360 (US), EN 1993 (Eurocode), AS 4100 (Australia), and CSA S16 (Canada) follow similar limit states design philosophy but differ in specific resistance factors, slenderness limits, and partial safety factors. Generally, EN 1993 uses partial factors on both load and resistance sides (γM0 = 1.0, γM1 = 1.0, γM2 = 1.25), while AISC 360 uses a single resistance factor (φ). Engineers should verify which code is adopted in their jurisdiction.