Birdie Steel Trading searches for used and surplus W18 wide flange beams nationwide for floor beams, roof beams, mezzanines, and other mid-span framing. W18 is one of the most common beam depths in commercial buildings, so reclaimed and leftover pieces come up regularly, but the right weight in the right length still takes a search. Send the designations, lengths, piece count, grade, and job location, or call 732-770-3599, and we will check our network for W18 material that fits.
What W18 beams are used for
W18 is a workhorse floor beam depth. It is often used for infill floor beams and roof beams, mezzanine and platform framing, and shorter girders in office, retail, school, and warehouse buildings. Where a W14 or W16 is too shallow for the span but a W24 is more depth than the floor allows, a W18 is a common fit. Heavier W18 weights also turn up as girders in industrial framing.
Across the series, AISC lists weights from 35 to 311 lb/ft, with actual depths from about 17.7 to 22.3 in and flange widths from about 6.00 to 12.0 in (23 sections in the AISC Shapes Database v16.0 summary on our wide flange steel beams page). The W18 series falls into three flange families of about 6 in, 7.5 in, and 11 to 12 in wide, so two W18s of similar weight can have very different flanges.
Common W18 sizes we source
The W18 designations below are the full AISC v16.0 series; the number after the x is the approximate weight in pounds per foot. Lighter sizes show up most often in floor framing requests, and what is available used or surplus changes with length, grade, and region:
W18x35, W18x40, W18x46, W18x50, W18x55, W18x60, W18x65, W18x71, W18x76, W18x86, W18x97, W18x106, W18x119, W18x130, W18x143, W18x158, W18x175, W18x192, W18x211, W18x234, W18x258, W18x283, W18x311.
W18 Sample Dimensions
The table shows four W18 rows, one or more from each flange family, taken from the AISC Shapes Database v16.0. They describe the shapes only and are not a list of Birdie stock.
W18x35: 35 lb/ft, depth 17.7 in, flange width 6.00 in, web 0.300 in, flange 0.425 in
W18x55: 55 lb/ft, depth 18.1 in, flange width 7.53 in, web 0.390 in, flange 0.630 in
W18x76: 76 lb/ft, depth 18.2 in, flange width 11.0 in, web 0.425 in, flange 0.680 in
W18x130: 130 lb/ft, depth 19.3 in, flange width 11.2 in, web 0.670 in, flange 1.20 in
Source: AISC Shapes Database v16.0 decimal values. Confirm W18 properties against current AISC data and your project specifications before design, detailing, or fabrication.
Used and surplus W18 beams
Surplus W18s are unused beams left over from a floor or roof package, often in full mill lengths with only storage rust or mill scale. Used W18s are pulled from existing floors and roofs, so expect bolt holes or coped ends at the old connections, clip angles or shear tabs, shear stud stubs on the top flange of composite beams, and paint or spray fireproofing. Birdie Steel Trading provides mill test reports (MTRs) and inspection details on used and surplus W18 beams when available, so you can check grade and condition before you buy.
Have the engineer of record approve any reclaimed W18 before it goes back into a permanent floor, roof, or platform.
Grades and MTRs
W18 beams rolled in recent decades are usually ASTM A992 (50 ksi minimum yield), often dual-certified to A572 Grade 50. Beams salvaged from older buildings are frequently A36 (36 ksi minimum yield), which may not substitute directly for a 50 ksi design. The heaviest W18 sections, W18x234 through W18x311, have flanges more than 2 in thick, and the AISC Specification can require Charpy toughness testing on those heavy shapes when they are spliced with complete-joint-penetration welds. The MTR shows the grade each piece was made to, so tell us which grades your engineer will accept.
Delivery and pickup
W18s are among the easiest beams to ship. A common starting point is a beam depth of about span/20 to span/24, which puts typical W18 floor spans in the range of roughly 30 to 36 ft (the engineer's design governs). Lengths like that fit a standard 48 to 53 ft flatbed with room to spare. A 30 ft W18x55 weighs about 1,650 lb, so a single truck can carry a large bundle, and lighter pieces can often be unloaded with a forklift or telehandler. Birdie can arrange freight, or you can pick up with loading provided. Freight is usually included in your quote and depends on weight, length, distance, and site access.
Prefer to call or email?
Call 732-770-3599 or email BirdieSteelTrading@gmail.com. Birdie Steel Trading LLC, Boca Raton, Florida.
Related pages
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Wide flange steel beams (sizes, grades, full W-series overview)
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W14 wide flange beams (the next depth down, column series)
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W24 wide flange beams (the next depth up, floor girders)
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Buy steel (send your W18 list for a quote)
FAQ
Do you stock W18 beams?
No W18 inventory is posted on the site. We source used and surplus W18 beams through a nationwide network for each request. Send the designation, length, quantity, grade, and job location, or call 732-770-3599, and we will start the search.
What information do you need for a W18 quote?
Send the full designation (for example W18x35 or W18x50), the lengths, quantity or tonnage, grade, acceptable condition, delivery location, and your need-by date. A floor framing takeoff or beam schedule speeds up the quote.
Are used W18 beams OK for structural work?
Often, yes. A used W18 can work as a floor or roof beam when its section, grade, and condition meet the design and old holes or copes do not interfere with the new connections. MTRs and inspection details help confirm that, and the engineer of record should sign off before the beam goes into a permanent structure.
Is a W18x50 actually 18 inches deep?
Very close. The 18 is the nominal depth series, and AISC lists the actual depth of a W18x50 at about 18.0 in. Lighter W18s run about 17.7 in deep, while the heaviest, W18x311, is about 22.3 in deep.
Do W18 quotes include freight?
Usually, yes. Freight is normally included in Birdie quotes, and most W18 orders ship on a standard flatbed. If you prefer to send your own truck, loading is provided at pickup. Include the full delivery address and any unloading limits at your site.
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