Useful for early steelwork planning
Get a quick view of beam self weight, bending moment, and deflection before the section choice goes into a wider design conversation.
Free Fabora tool
Steel Beam Calculator for Indicative Load and Deflection Checks
Use this free Fabora steel beam calculator to compare mild steel SHS, RHS, UB, and UC sections for practical planning checks. Choose a simply supported or cantilever beam case, enter the span and load, and view beam self weight, bending moment, and estimated deflection.
Cases coveredSimply supported and cantilever
SectionsSHS, RHS, UB, and UC
OutputsSelf weight, moment, and estimated deflection
Use noteIndicative planning tool only
Free Fabora tool
Steel beam load and deflection estimate
Built for fabricators, site welders, steel erectors, mezzanine installers, and office staff who need a quick universal beam load calculator or steel beam deflection calculator style estimate.
- Mild steel only in this V1
- Point load or total-span UDL
- SHS, RHS, UB, and UC section choices
- Client-side only with no saved job data
Use note
Planning only, not beam approval
Indicative planning calculator only. This tool gives a quick estimate for beam self weight, bending moment and deflection from the inputs shown. It does not certify a beam, confirm compliance, or replace structural design. Final beam selection, checks and approval must be completed by a qualified structural engineer or competent designer.
UB and UC use stored V1 section-property data for common UK sizes. SHS and RHS are worked from the selected dimensions and wall thickness.
Use the tool
Compare a beam case, section size, load, and span
Choose the beam support type, load type, section family, and section size, then enter the span and load in the units you prefer. The result gives beam self weight, total beam weight, applied load in kN, maximum bending moment, and estimated deflection, with the assumptions called out clearly.
Inputs
Work through three quick steps
Pick the beam case, choose a section, then enter the span and load to run the estimate.
Results
Enter span and load to calculate
Choose the beam case and section, then add the span and load to see the estimate.
What it helps with
A practical steel beam calculator for early checks around the job
This Fabora page is aimed at the first planning questions around section choice, beam self weight, universal beam load calculator style checks, and whether a deflection estimate needs to be raised quickly before the final design route is confirmed properly.
Good fit for
Planning
Quick checks around span, section size, and indicative loading.
Trade use
Useful for workshop, office, and site steelwork conversations.
Made for the section families trade teams actually use
Start with SHS, RHS, UB, or UC and keep the V1 choices focused around common UK steelwork section habits.
Simple beam cases only by design
This release keeps to simply supported and cantilever checks with either a point load or a total load spread across the full span.
Clear on what it does not do
The page is positioned as an indicative planning calculator only. It does not claim beam approval, certified design, or compliance sign-off.
Where it fits
Made for practical planning conversations around steelwork
The Fabora version stays deliberately focused. It gives a practical beam estimate for common section families and simple load cases, but it does not try to replace a structural design package or claim sign-off authority.
Fabrication workshops
Helpful when a beam size needs a quick planning check before buying, quoting, or speaking to the engineer or designer.
Site welders and steel erectors
Useful for practical site conversations around span, section choice, beam weight, and whether a load case feels sensible to raise properly.
Estimators and office staff
A good fit where someone needs a quick steel beam calculator or RSJ load calculator style estimate without opening a heavier structural package.
Related Fabora tool
Need the section weight first?
If the main question is just the section weight rather than beam moment or deflection, Fabora also has the Steel Weight Calculator for SHS, RHS, UB, UC, PFC, plate, and more.
Tool FAQ
Short answers on load basis, section data, and use limits
These are the main questions people usually want answered before they use a steel beam calculator, universal beam load calculator, or RHS or SHS load calculator style estimate on a live job.
Keep moving
Need more practical steelwork tools or wider job documentation support? Fabora also has the full Fabora RAMS product and the wider Tools section for trade teams.
What does this steel beam calculator cover?
This V1 covers mild steel SHS, RHS, UB, and UC sections with simply supported or cantilever beam cases and either a point load or a total load spread across the full span. It estimates beam self weight, total beam weight, maximum bending moment, and estimated deflection.
Is this an RSJ load calculator?
It can help in the same early-planning sense people often mean when they search for an RSJ load calculator, but it is still only an indicative planning calculator. Final beam choice, structural checks, and approval stay with a qualified structural engineer or competent designer.
How is the UDL handled in this version?
In this first release, the entered UDL is treated as one total load spread evenly across the full span. It is not entered as kN per metre, and the page says that clearly in the input area and result note.
Does the estimate include beam self weight?
Yes. The tool shows beam self weight in kg per metre and total beam weight across the entered span, then includes the beam's own weight as a full-length distributed load in the moment and deflection estimate.
How are SHS and RHS properties worked out?
For SHS and RHS, the page reuses the existing Fabora section size library and calculates second moment of area and section modulus from the outside dimensions and wall thickness. This is a practical estimate and does not include corner radius effects.
How are UB and UC properties worked out?
UB and UC use a small stored V1 section-property table for common UK sizes rather than trying to derive rolled-section properties from simple rectangle formulas.
Does this replace structural design or approval?
Indicative planning calculator only. This tool gives a quick estimate for beam self weight, bending moment and deflection from the inputs shown. It does not certify a beam, confirm compliance, or replace structural design. Final beam selection, checks and approval must be completed by a qualified structural engineer or competent designer.