W 24X250 vs HE 600 x 399
W 24X250 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 600 x 399 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. HE 600 x 399 carries more bending: 12500 cm³ of plastic modulus against 12192 cm³, 2.5% more. W 24X250 is the lighter of the two at 372 kg/m against 399 kg/m, a saving of 6.8% on steel weight. W 24X250 is deeper, 668 mm against 648 mm, which matters where the floor zone is tight.
| Property | W 24X250 W | HE 600 x 399 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 372 kg/m | 399 kg/m | -6.8% |
| Depth | 668 mm | 648 mm | +3.1% |
| Width | 335.3 mm | 315 mm | +6.4% |
| Web thickness | 26.4 mm | 30 mm | -12.0% |
| Flange thickness | 48 mm | 54 mm | -11.1% |
| Area | 474.2 cm² | 508 cm² | -6.7% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 353,380 cm⁴ | 345,000 cm⁴ | +2.4% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 12,192 cm³ | 12,500 cm³ | -2.5% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 10,553.3 cm³ | 10,600 cm³ | -0.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 30,135 cm⁴ | 28,300 cm⁴ | +6.5% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 2,802.2 cm³ | 2,810 cm³ | -0.3% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 7.98 cm | 7.46 cm | +7.0% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 2,772 cm⁴ | 3,930 cm⁴ | -29.5% |
W 24X250 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 600 x 399 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 600 x 399.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 24X250 has the larger second moment of area: 353,380 cm⁴ against 345,000 cm⁴, a difference of 2.4%. 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 24X250 is the more efficient section: 32.8 against 31.3 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.
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 6.8% weight.
In short, HE 600 x 399 is the stronger section and W 24X250 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.