W 12X58 vs HP 12X63
W 12X58 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HP 12X63 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. HP 12X63 carries more bending: 1447 cm³ of plastic modulus against 1415.8 cm³, 2.2% more. W 12X58 is the lighter of the two at 86.3 kg/m against 93.8 kg/m, a saving of 8.0% on steel weight. W 12X58 is deeper, 309.9 mm against 302.3 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 12X58 W | HP 12X63 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 86.3 kg/m | 93.8 kg/m | -8.0% |
| Depth | 309.9 mm | 302.3 mm | +2.5% |
| Width | 254 mm | 307.3 mm | -17.3% |
| Web thickness | 9.1 mm | 13.1 mm | -30.5% |
| Flange thickness | 16.3 mm | 13.1 mm | +24.4% |
| Area | 109.7 cm² | 118.7 cm² | -7.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 19,771 cm⁴ | 19,646 cm⁴ | +0.6% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,415.8 cm³ | 1,447 cm³ | -2.2% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,278.2 cm³ | 1,296.2 cm³ | -1.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 4,454 cm⁴ | 6,368 cm⁴ | -30.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 532.58 cm³ | 634.18 cm³ | -16.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.38 cm | 7.32 cm | -12.8% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 87.41 cm⁴ | 76.17 cm⁴ | +14.8% |
W 12X58 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HP 12X63 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 12X63.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 12X58 has the larger second moment of area: 19,771 cm⁴ against 19,646 cm⁴, a difference of 0.6%. 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 12X58 is the more efficient section: 16.4 against 15.4 cm³ per kg/m, 6.3% 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 12X63 has 634.18 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 532.58 cm³, 16.0% 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 12X63 is the stronger section and W 12X58 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.