W 36X302 vs HE 900 x 466
W 36X302 is an W section from the American AISC Shapes Database; HE 900 x 466 is the closest equivalent in the European (Continental) range. W 36X302 carries more bending: 20975.4 cm³ of plastic modulus against 20400 cm³, 2.8% more. W 36X302 is the lighter of the two at 449.4 kg/m against 466 kg/m, a saving of 3.6% on steel weight. Both are about 943 mm deep, so either fits the same construction zone.
| Property | W 36X302 W | HE 900 x 466 HE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 449.4 kg/m | 466 kg/m | -3.6% |
| Depth | 947.4 mm | 938 mm | +1.0% |
| Width | 424.2 mm | 312 mm | +36.0% |
| Web thickness | 24 mm | 30 mm | -20.0% |
| Flange thickness | 42.7 mm | 54 mm | -20.9% |
| Area | 574.2 cm² | 594 cm² | -3.3% |
| Second moment, major (Iy) | 878,248 cm⁴ | 815,000 cm⁴ | +7.8% |
| Plastic modulus, major (Wpl,y) | 20,975.4 cm³ | 20,400 cm³ | +2.8% |
| Elastic modulus, major (Wel,y) | 18,517.4 cm³ | 17,400 cm³ | +6.4% |
| Second moment, minor (Iz) | 54,110 cm⁴ | 27,600 cm⁴ | +96.1% |
| Plastic modulus, minor (Wpl,z) | 3,949.3 cm³ | 2,830 cm³ | +39.6% |
| Radius of gyration, minor (iz) | 9.7 cm | 6.81 cm | +42.4% |
| Torsion constant (It) | 2,676 cm⁴ | 4,230 cm⁴ | -36.7% |
W 36X302 to AISC Shapes Database v16.0; HE 900 x 466 to EN 10365 · Continental Steel. Difference is expressed relative to HE 900 x 466.
How to choose between them
On stiffness, W 36X302 has the larger second moment of area: 878,248 cm⁴ against 815,000 cm⁴, a difference of 7.8%. 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 36X302 is the more efficient section: 46.7 against 43.8 cm³ per kg/m, 6.6% 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: W 36X302 has 3949.3 cm³ of minor-axis plastic modulus against 2830 cm³, 39.6% 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 3.6% weight.
In short, W 36X302 is the stronger section and W 36X302 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.