W 24X76 vs H-600x200x12x20-118
W 24X76 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; H-600x200x12x20-118 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. H-600x200x12x20-118 carries more bending: 3357 cm³ of plastic modulus against 3277.4 cm³, 2.4% more. W 24X76 is the lighter of the two at 113.1 kg/m against 118 kg/m, a saving of 4.2% on steel weight. Both are about 607 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 24X76 W | H-600x200x12x20-118 MB & MC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 113.1 kg/m | 118 kg/m | -4.2% |
| Depth | 607.1 mm | 606 mm | +0.2% |
| Width | 228.3 mm | 201 mm | +13.6% |
| Web thickness | 11.2 mm | 12 mm | -6.7% |
| Flange thickness | 17.3 mm | 20 mm | -13.5% |
| Area | 144.5 cm² | 150 cm² | -3.7% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 87,409 cm⁴ | 88,320 cm⁴ | -1.0% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 3,277.4 cm³ | 3,357 cm³ | -2.4% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 2,884.1 cm³ | 2,915 cm³ | -1.1% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 3,434 cm⁴ | 2,716 cm⁴ | +26.4% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 468.67 cm³ | 426 cm³ | +10.0% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 4.88 cm | 4.26 cm | +14.6% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 111.6 cm⁴ | 147 cm⁴ | -24.1% |
W 24X76 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; H-600x200x12x20-118 to Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to H-600x200x12x20-118.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, H-600x200x12x20-118 has the larger second moment of area: 88,320 cm⁴ against 87,409 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, the two are equally efficient (29.0 against 28.4 cm³ per kg/m), so on a pure steel-tonnage basis there is nothing to choose between them. The decision comes down to availability, connection detailing and what the rest of the frame uses.
The two diverge much more about the minor axis: W 24X76 has 468.67 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 426 cm³, 10.0% 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.
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 4.2% weight.
In short, H-600x200x12x20-118 is the stronger section and W 24X76 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.