W 14X68 vs HP 14X73
W 14X68 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HP 14X73 is the closest equivalent in the American AISC Shapes Database. HP 14X73 carries more bending: 1933.7 cm³ of plastic modulus against 1884.5 cm³, 2.5% more. W 14X68 is the lighter of the two at 101.2 kg/m against 108.6 kg/m, a saving of 6.8% on steel weight. W 14X68 is deeper, 355.6 mm against 345.4 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 14X68 W | HP 14X73 HP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 101.2 kg/m | 108.6 kg/m | -6.8% |
| Depth | 355.6 mm | 345.4 mm | +3.0% |
| Width | 254 mm | 370.8 mm | -31.5% |
| Web thickness | 10.5 mm | 12.8 mm | -18.0% |
| Flange thickness | 18.3 mm | 12.8 mm | +43.0% |
| Area | 129 cm² | 138.1 cm² | -6.6% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 30,052 cm⁴ | 30,343 cm⁴ | -1.0% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 1,884.5 cm³ | 1,933.7 cm³ | -2.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 1,687.9 cm³ | 1,753.4 cm³ | -3.7% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 5,036 cm⁴ | 10,864 cm⁴ | -53.6% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 604.68 cm³ | 894.73 cm³ | -32.4% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 6.25 cm | 8.86 cm | -29.5% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 125.3 cm⁴ | 83.66 cm⁴ | +49.8% |
W 14X68 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HP 14X73 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0. Difference is expressed relative to HP 14X73.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, HP 14X73 has the larger second moment of area: 30,343 cm⁴ against 30,052 cm⁴, a difference of 1.0%. 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 14X68 is the more efficient section: 18.6 against 17.8 cm³ per kg/m, 4.6% 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 14X73 has 894.73 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 604.68 cm³, 32.4% 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 14X73 is the stronger section and W 14X68 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.