W 12X50 vs HP 12X53
W 12X50 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HP 12X53 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. HP 12X53 carries more bending: 1212.6 cm³ of plastic modulus against 1178.2 cm³, 2.8% more. W 12X50 is the lighter of the two at 74.4 kg/m against 78.9 kg/m, a saving of 5.7% on steel weight. W 12X50 is deeper, 309.9 mm against 299.7 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 12X50 W | HP 12X53 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 74.4 kg/m | 78.9 kg/m | -5.7% |
| Depth | 309.9 mm | 299.7 mm | +3.4% |
| Width | 205.2 mm | 304.8 mm | -32.7% |
| Web thickness | 9.4 mm | 11 mm | -14.5% |
| Flange thickness | 16.3 mm | 11 mm | +48.2% |
| Area | 94.2 cm² | 100 cm² | -5.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 16,275 cm⁴ | 16,358 cm⁴ | -0.5% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,178.2 cm³ | 1,212.6 cm³ | -2.8% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,052 cm³ | 1,093 cm³ | -3.8% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 2,343 cm⁴ | 5,286 cm⁴ | -55.7% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 349.04 cm³ | 527.66 cm³ | -33.9% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 4.98 cm | 7.26 cm | -31.4% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 71.18 cm⁴ | 46.62 cm⁴ | +52.7% |
W 12X50 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HP 12X53 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 12X53.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HP 12X53 has the larger second moment of area: 16,358 cm⁴ against 16,275 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 12X50 is the more efficient section: 15.8 against 15.4 cm³ per kg/m, 3.0% 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: HP 12X53 has 527.66 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 349.04 cm³, 33.9% more. If the member sees any minor-axis bending, or if it is unrestrained over a long length and lateral-torsional buckling governs, that gap decides the comparison even though the major-axis numbers looked equivalent.
In short, HP 12X53 is the stronger section and W 12X50 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.