Beam Span Calculator – Determine Your Load-Bearing Beam Lengths Easily

Our beam span calculator helps you determine the appropriate length of beams for your construction projects with ease and precision.

Beam Span Calculator

How to Use the Calculator

Enter the span length of the beam, the load it needs to support, the strength of the material being used, and the width and depth of the beam. Once all the values are entered, click ‘Calculate’ to determine if the beam is structurally safe for the given load and span.

How It Calculates Results

This calculator uses the formulas for moment of resistance and maximum moment for a simply supported beam subjected to a uniform distributed load. It calculates the moment capacity of the beam (material strength x width x depth^2 / 6) and compares it with the maximum moment (load x span length / 8). If the moment capacity is greater than or equal to the maximum moment, the beam is considered safe.

Limitations

This calculator makes several simplifications and assumes that the beam is simply supported, the load is uniformly distributed, and the material behaves according to a linear elastic model. It does not account for additional factors such as beam deflection, lateral torsional buckling, safety factors, or dynamic loading which may be crucial in real-world applications. It is intended as a preliminary tool for educational purposes and should not replace professional structural engineering advice.

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