W 14X211 vs H-400x400x20x35
W 14X211 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-400x400x20x35 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. They are close to interchangeable in bending: 6391 cm³ against 6311 cm³ of plastic modulus, a difference of 1.3%. H-400x400x20x35 is the lighter of the two at 283 kg/m against 314 kg/m, a saving of 11.0% on steel weight. H-400x400x20x35 is deeper, 428 mm against 398.8 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 14X211 W | H-400x400x20x35 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 314 kg/m | 283 kg/m | +11.0% |
| Depth | 398.8 mm | 428 mm | -6.8% |
| Width | 401.3 mm | 407 mm | -1.4% |
| Web thickness | 24.9 mm | 20 mm | +24.5% |
| Flange thickness | 39.6 mm | 35 mm | +13.1% |
| Area | 400 cm² | 361 cm² | +10.8% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 110,718 cm⁴ | 119,200 cm⁴ | -7.1% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 6,391 cm³ | 6,311 cm³ | +1.3% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 5,538.8 cm³ | 5,570 cm³ | -0.6% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 42,872 cm⁴ | 39,360 cm⁴ | +8.9% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 3,244.6 cm³ | 2,941 cm³ | +10.3% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 10.34 cm | 10.4 cm | -0.6% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 1,856 cm⁴ | 1,317 cm⁴ | +40.9% |
W 14X211 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-400x400x20x35 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-400x400x20x35.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-400x400x20x35 has the larger second moment of area: 119,200 cm⁴ against 110,718 cm⁴, a difference of 7.1%. 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, H-400x400x20x35 is the more efficient section: 22.3 against 20.4 cm³ per kg/m, 8.7% 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.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 14X211 has 3244.6 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2941 cm³, 10.3% 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.
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 MB & MC to 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 11.0% weight.
In short, W 14X211 is the stronger section and H-400x400x20x35 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.