W 12X152 vs HE 300 M
W 12X152 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 300 M is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 300 M carries more bending: 4080 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3982.1 cm³, 2.4% more. W 12X152 is the lighter of the two at 226.2 kg/m against 238 kg/m, a saving of 5.0% on steel weight. W 12X152 is deeper, 348 mm against 340 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 12X152 W | HE 300 M HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 226.2 kg/m | 238 kg/m | -5.0% |
| Depth | 348 mm | 340 mm | +2.4% |
| Width | 317.5 mm | 310 mm | +2.4% |
| Web thickness | 22.1 mm | 21 mm | +5.2% |
| Flange thickness | 35.6 mm | 39 mm | -8.7% |
| Area | 288.4 cm² | 303 cm² | -4.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 59,521 cm⁴ | 59,200 cm⁴ | +0.5% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,982.1 cm³ | 4,080 cm³ | -2.4% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 3,424.9 cm³ | 3,480 cm³ | -1.6% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 18,897 cm⁴ | 19,400 cm⁴ | -2.6% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 1,819 cm³ | 1,910 cm³ | -4.8% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 8.1 cm | 8 cm | +1.2% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 1,074 cm⁴ | 1,410 cm⁴ | -23.8% |
W 12X152 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 300 M to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 300 M.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 12X152 has the larger second moment of area: 59,521 cm⁴ against 59,200 cm⁴, a difference of 0.5%. This matters more often than the strength comparison, because on normal floor spans deflection rather than bending capacity sets the beam size - so if the two are close on modulus but apart on inertia, the stiffer one is usually the better answer even when it is not the stronger one.
Measured as bending capacity per kilogram of steel, W 12X152 is the more efficient section: 17.6 against 17.1 cm³ per kg/m, 2.7% better. Over a floor of repeated beams that difference is real tonnage, though it is often outweighed by whichever section the fabricator can actually source.
These come from different catalogues, so treat the swap as a design change rather than a like-for-like substitution. W sections are specified to AISC Shapes Database v16.0 and HE to EN 10365 · Continental Steel; the steel grades, tolerances and available lengths differ, connection details and bolt gauges are set out differently, and the two are rarely both stocked in the same market. Check availability before changing a section on a drawing to save 5.0% weight.
In short, HE 300 M is the stronger section and W 12X152 is the lighter one; where those are the same section, it is the clear choice, and where they are not, decide on whether your design is governed by capacity or by tonnage.