Steel I-Beam Cost
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Steel I-Beam Cost
A steel beam costs $100 to $400 per foot to install or $1,200 to $4,200 on average for residential construction. Replacing a load-bearing wall with a support beam costs $4,000 to $10,000. Steel I-beam prices are $6 to $18 per foot for just the materials.
Extra costs apply for knocking down walls, rerouting utilities, or adding underpinnings for support.
Support beam cost installed -chart
| Type | Per Foot Installed | Total Cost Installed |
|---|---|---|
| LVL Beam | $50 – $200 | $800 – $2,500 |
| Steel I-Beam | $100 – $400 | $1,200 – $4,200 |
| Steel I-Beam (Complex) | $500+ | $6,000 – $10,000 |
*Depends on if it's installed flush or hidden, and if underpinnings are added for support.
Steel I-beam material prices per foot - chart
| Size | Weight Per Foot (pounds) | Material Cost Per Foot* |
|---|---|---|
| S3 x 5.7 | 5.7 | $6 – $8 |
| S4 x 7.7 | 7.7 | $7 – $12 |
| S6 x 12.5 | 12.5 | $12 – $18 |
*Beam only.
Steel beams offer many advantages over traditional wood structural beams.
- They provide higher weight-bearing capacity and are fire and rot-resistant.
- Steel beams will increase the strength of your home's structure, and give you design options to open up walls or support heavier building materials.
- Steel beams allow you to use extended roof lines or longer balconies without support columns below. No other material can match the engineering options provided by steel.
Cost To Install A Steel Beam
The average cost to install a steel beam is $1,200 to $4,200 or $100 to $400 per foot, including a structural engineer's inspection, permits, the beam, delivery, and installation.
Highly complex steel beam installations with underpinnings or long spans cost $500+ per foot or $6,000 to $10,000.
Average cost to install a steel beam - chart
| National Average Cost | $2,900 |
| Minimum Cost | $800 |
| Maximum Cost | $10,000 |
| Average Range | $1,200 to $4,200 |
Steel beams are long-lasting, require little maintenance, and are the strongest and best option for long spans.
To install a steel support beam, you first need to have a contractor custom-order the steel beam type specified by a structural engineer.
Steel Beam Installation Cost Breakdown
| Item | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Steel I-Beam | $60 – $180 |
| Delivery | $80 – $400+ |
| Installation | $500 – $2,000 |
| Structural Engineer | $300 – $1,000 |
| Permits | $75 – $500 |
| Total Cost | $1,015 – $4,080 |
Steel support beam installation for house residential construction
The total cost and method of installing a new beam can include:
- Your city council's permit fees
- Inspections from a structural engineer to determine the type of beam needed
- Labor and disposal fees for removing any old beam
- Fees to remove a load-bearing wall when replacing it with a beam
- Labor costs to add more support, such as underpinnings and columns
- The cost of the beam itself and delivery fees for ordering custom steel or LVL beams
- Crane rental fees to lift a new steel beam into place
- Labor and materials to refinish your ceiling, floors, and walls after the beam installation is complete
Steel Beam Cost Calculator
A structural engineer inspection costs $250 to $1,000 to calculate how much weight your beam needs to support and how much space your building design allows for the beam. Steel beam prices are influenced by:
- The length, flange width, and thickness of the beam
- Whether it's an I-beam, H-beam, U-beam, or another shape
- The weight, grade, and quality of the steel
- The current market value of steel, or current stock of the beam supplier
- Ordering a painted beam or a galvanized one, coated with zinc
- Shipping or local delivery costs depending on the weight of the beam
Steel Beam Cost Per Foot
Steel I-beams cost $6 to $18 per foot, while stronger H-beams cost $11 to $80 per foot. Steel I-beams are cheaper than H-beams due to their differences in shape, weight, span, and weight-bearing capacity.
| Type | Size | Weight Per Foot (pounds) | Cost Per Linear Foot* |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-Beam | S3 x 5.7' | 5.7 | $6 – $8 |
| I-Beam | S4 x 7.7' | 7.7 | $7 – $12 |
| I-Beam | S6 x 12.5' | 12.5 | $12 – $18 |
| H-Beam | W4 x 13' | 13 | $11 – $16 |
| H-Beam | W6 x 12' | 12 | $12 – $14 |
| H-Beam | W12 x 65' | 65 | $24 – $80 |
*Beam only. Steel prices fluctuate according to the current world market values.
Steel Support Beam Prices By Length
A 10' steel I-beam costs $60 to $180, while a 30' steel I-beam costs $180 to $540. H-beams can cost as much as double but are stronger, and support spans up to 3 times longer. Steel beam prices are always fluctuating based on the current market conditions.
Steel I-beam prices by length - chart
| Length | I-Beam Cost* | H-Beam Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| 8' | $45 – $150 | $80 – $130 |
| 10' | $60 – $180 | $110 – $160 |
| 16' | $95 – $290 | $175 – $255 |
| 20' | $120 – $360 | $220 – $320 |
| 24' | $145 – $430 | $265 – $385 |
| 30' | $180 – $540 | $330 – $480 |
| 40' | $240 – $720 | $440 – $640 |
*Beam price only. Does not include shipping fees, local pickup charges, or crane rental fees for installation.
Structural Steel Prices
The cost of raw structural steel for common-size I-beams is $0.90 to $1.60 per pound, $2.00 to $3.40 per Kg when buying by the beam, or $90 per ton in bulk. Buying structural steel based on weight is reserved for bulk orders only, and prices change regularly due to market conditions.
| Unit | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Per Lb. | $0.90 – $1.60 |
| Per Kg. | $2.00 – $3.40 |
| Per Ton | $1,800 – $3,100 |
Steel Beam vs. Wood vs. LVL Cost
Softwoods and LVL beams are typically the most-affordable beams. Concrete beams are mid-range priced, while heavy timber and steel are the most expensive, but are the strongest.
The most significant cost difference is in the installation and delivery, not the beam.
Steel beams require higher shipping fees and may need cranes on-site to lift the beam into place.
Attaching the home's components to wood is much easier compared to steel. Steel needs fabricator-formed holes for bolts, which requires architectural planning up front.
Steel beam vs. wood vs. LVL cost - chart
| Material | Average Cost Per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| Steel | $6 – $18 |
| LVL (Engineered) | $3 – $12 |
| Glulam (Engineered) | $6 – $34 |
| Wood - Softwood | $5 – $30 |
| Wood - Hardwood | $9 – $21 |
| Concrete | $7 – $16 |
LVL beam installation for residential construction
Load-Bearing Support Beam Cost
A load-bearing support beam costs $5 to $20 per foot for the beam alone, or $50 to $200 per foot. Support beam materials other than steel include engineered beams like LVL or Glulam, wood, and concrete. LVL beams cost $3 to $12 per foot, while wood beams run $5 to $20.
Builders may combine and use multiple materials to create a custom beam that meets the building code requirements.
Steel beams are the most popular due to their durability and fire resistance.
Engineered Beam Cost
An engineered beam costs $3 to $34 per foot, depending on the size and type of composite structural lumber. Composite wood beams are multiple layers of wood bonded with strong glues. Glulam and LVL beams are the most popular type of engineered beams.
Engineered beam cost - chart
| Type | Cost Per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| LVL | $3 – $12 |
| Glulam | $6 – $34 |
Engineered beams are stronger than standard lumber and preferable to steel because they can be trimmed on-site to fit into irregularly shaped areas.
Steel pieces must fit exactly; resizing requires sending them back to the factory.
LVL Beams Cost
LVL beams cost $3 to $12 per linear foot. LVL beams are more affordable and stronger than wood beams. They're also fire-resistant, shrink-proof, and easy to install in long lengths.
"LVL" stands for laminated veneer lumber, which is a thick plank made of layers of thin plywood bonded together. They are also called "Microlam" or micro-laminated beams.
LVL beams cost per foot
| Size (Inches) | Cost Per Linear Foot* |
|---|---|
| 1.75 X 7.25-11.25 | $3 – $5 |
| 1.75 X 14-24 | $6 – $11 |
| 3.5+ | $10 – $12 |
*Materials only
When installing an LVL beam, never cut into the beam. Building inspectors consider any cut as compromising the strength of the beam and will require you to replace it with a new one.
Glulam Beam Cost
Glulam beams cost $6 to $34 per linear foot. Glulam means "glued laminated timber," and contains multiple thin layers of wood bonded together with strong glues. This type of engineered beam is very strong and highly customizable. It's even available in curved shapes for vaulted ceilings.
Glulam beam cost - chart
| Size (Inches) | Cost Per Linear Foot* |
|---|---|
| 3 x 6-12 | $6 – $14 |
| 5 x 12-18 | $17 – $34 |
| 6.75 x 12 | $23 – $38 |
*Materials only.
Wood Support Beams Cost
Wood support beams cost $5 to $30 per linear foot on average, with some exotic wood species ranging between $30 and $90 per foot. Wood I-beam prices mainly depend on the wood type and beam size. Lightweight softwoods are in greater supply, which is a major cost factor.
Wood support beam cost - chart
| Wood Type | Size (Inches) | Cost Per Linear Foot* |
|---|---|---|
| Softwood | 6 x 6 | $5 – $30 |
| Softwood | 6 x 12 | $10 – $60 |
| Softwood | 12 x 12 | $20 – $90 |
| Hardwood | 4 x 2-19 | $9 – $18 |
| Hardwood | 6 x 6 | $9 – $21 |
| Hardwood | 6 x 12 | $19 – $33+ |
*Materials only.
Softwoods – Light structural lumber is typically cheaper but bears the least weight of all beams. Species include Spruce, Hemlock, Pine, Douglas Fir, and Cedar. Builders may combine multiple softwood beams to make a custom beam, but only once they have approval from a structural engineer.
Hardwoods – Hardwoods or heavy timber beams are typically stronger, denser, and more fire-resistant than softwoods. Common hardwood species include Hickory, Oak, Maple, Mahogany, Walnut, and Teak.
Softwoods can shrink in dry climates, pulling away from the joists and making drywall crack.
Cost of Reclaimed Wood Beams
The cost of 6" x 6" reclaimed wood beams is $6 to $15 per linear foot, while 10" x 10" upcycled beams cost $45 to $60 per linear foot. The most common reclaimed wood beams are hickory, oak, and maple wood, which can support greater loads and are more fire-resistant.
Concrete Beam Prices
Precast or prestressed concrete beams cost $7 to $16 per linear foot and are reinforced with rebar inside for extra structural strength.
For additional soundproofing, order "ICF" beams, or insulated concrete forms with insulation foam hiding the steel rebar frame and concrete inside.
Concrete beam prices - chart
| Size (Inches) | Cost Per Linear Foot |
|---|---|
| 12 x 6 | $7 – $8 |
| 12 x 12 | $14 – $16 |
Builders make custom concrete beams by pouring concrete into handmade forms and then mounting them after the concrete cures.
Masons also construct concrete-block columns to support beams since they are stronger than wood posts, and can be made in any size needed.
Types of Steel Support Beams
Steel beams come in two main beam designs, the I-beam and the H-beam. I-beams are the most common choice for residential construction and are available up to 100' in length. H-beams are heavier, stronger, and support weight up to 300', but cost more per foot.
To decode a steel beam name:
The first letter indicates the shape of the beam.
The first number is the beam height in inches.
The second number is the beam's weight per linear foot.
For example, a W4x13 steel beam is an H-beam 4 inches high that weighs 13 pounds per linear foot. If the beam is 10 feet long, it weighs 130 pounds.
I-Beams / S-Beams
- I-beams cost $6 to $18 per linear foot and weigh 6 to 12 pounds per foot. I-beams are more commonly used in residential construction since they're lightweight and support spans up to 96 feet. I-beams, or Junior beams, are also used to reinforce a house's foundation.
- I-beams often have tapered edges and have a longer beam height than their flange width, or the width of the flat side or base.
- Unlike H-beams, I-beams are not suitable for columns because they only support weight in one direction.
- New steel I-beams up close
Subtypes of I-beams:
- S-beams – The letter "S" refers to the rounded inside corners of certain types of I-beams, which look like a C channel. Some suppliers call I-beams the "American Standard Steel Beam."
- RSJ-beams – RJS stands for "rolled steel joist," which means they're often made by rolling one piece of steel into the final shape. RSJ beams cost the same as I-beams.
H-Beams / W-Beams
H-beams cost $11 to $16 per linear foot, and are stronger than I-beams, but weigh more at 13 to 15 pounds per foot. H-beams, also called W-beams, are for columns and longer beam spans up to 300' due to their weight-bearing capacity.
- The most common H-beams have extra-wide flanges or bases and are more square-shaped with nearly the same height and width.
- H-beams are used in large houses, deep foundations, or framing commercial buildings.
If you have any needs regarding Steel I-Beam projects, please contact us promptly! We have a professional technical team ready to serve you 24 hours a day!
