W 24X207 vs HE 650 M
W 24X207 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 650 M is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 24X207 carries more bending: 9930.6 cm³ of plastic modulus against 9660 cm³, 2.8% more. HE 650 M is the lighter of the two at 293 kg/m against 308 kg/m, a saving of 5.1% on steel weight. HE 650 M is deeper, 668 mm against 652.8 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 24X207 W | HE 650 M HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 308 kg/m | 293 kg/m | +5.1% |
| Depth | 652.8 mm | 668 mm | -2.3% |
| Width | 330.2 mm | 305 mm | +8.3% |
| Web thickness | 22.1 mm | 21 mm | +5.2% |
| Flange thickness | 39.9 mm | 40 mm | -0.3% |
| Area | 391.6 cm² | 374 cm² | +4.7% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 283,870 cm⁴ | 282,000 cm⁴ | +0.7% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 9,930.6 cm³ | 9,660 cm³ | +2.8% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 8,701.5 cm³ | 8,430 cm³ | +3.2% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 24,058 cm⁴ | 19,000 cm⁴ | +26.6% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 2,245 cm³ | 1,940 cm³ | +15.7% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.82 cm | 7.13 cm | +9.7% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 1,594 cm⁴ | 1,580 cm⁴ | +0.9% |
W 24X207 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 650 M to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 650 M.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 24X207 has the larger second moment of area: 283,870 cm⁴ against 282,000 cm⁴, a difference of 0.7%. 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, HE 650 M is the more efficient section: 33.0 against 32.2 cm³ per kg/m, 2.2% 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 24X207 has 2245 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 1940 cm³, 15.7% 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 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 5.1% weight.
In short, W 24X207 is the stronger section and HE 650 M 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.