Skip to main content
Calcimator

Steel Takeoff Calculator

Calculate total steel tonnage from beam and column counts, weights, and lengths for quantity takeoff estimates.

Inputs

plf
ft
plf
ft

Results

Total Steel Tonnage

27.86 tons

≈ 5 elephants

Total Beam Weight21 tons
Total Column Weight6.86 tons
Total Weight55,720 lbs
Estimated Piece Count60
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the number of beams, their average weight in plf (e.g., W16x31 = 31 plf), and average span in ft.
  2. Enter the number of columns, their average weight in plf (e.g., W10x49 = 49 plf), and average height in ft.
  3. Read Total Beam Weight and Total Column Weight (both in tons) to build your steel takeoff.
  4. Use Total Steel Tonnage (tons) for budgeting and subcontractor bidding.
  5. Note Estimated Piece Count to plan erection sequencing and crane picks.
  6. Run the Structural Steel Cost calculator with the Total Steel Tonnage to estimate installed cost.

How the result changes with Number of Beams

Number of BeamsTotal Steel Tonnage
1,000531.86 tons
3,5001,844.36 tons
6,5003,419.36 tons
9,0004,731.86 tons

What each input means

Number of Beams
Total count of steel beams in the project.
Avg Beam Weight
Average beam weight in pounds per linear foot (e.g., W16x31 = 31 plf).
Avg Beam Length
Average beam span length in feet.
Number of Columns
Total count of steel columns.
Avg Column Weight
Average column weight in pounds per linear foot (e.g., W10x49 = 49 plf).
Avg Column Height
Average column height (floor-to-floor) in feet.

What each result means

Total Beam Weight
Combined weight of all beams in tons.
Total Column Weight
Combined weight of all columns in tons.
Total Steel Tonnage
Total structural steel tonnage (beams + columns).
Total Weight
Total steel weight in pounds.
Estimated Piece Count
Total number of individual steel pieces.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Number of Beams = 40, Avg Beam Weight = 35, Avg Beam Length = 30, Number of Columns = 20 = 6 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Total Steel Tonnage
    Total Steel Tonnage = totalBeamWeightTons + totalColumnWeightTons
    27.86 = 27.86
  3. Calculate Total Beam Weight
    Total Beam Weight = totalBeamWeightLbs / 2000
    21 = 21
  4. Calculate Total Column Weight
    Total Column Weight = totalColumnWeightLbs / 2000
    6.86 = 6.86

Engine last updated . Checked against 3 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.

Related Calculators

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

Steel Construction

Structural Steel Cost Calculator

Estimate total installed structural steel cost including material, fabrication, erection, connections, and miscellaneous metals.

Steel Construction

Steel Joist Selection Calculator

Select a steel joist designation per SJI K-Series tables based on span, tributary width, and loading conditions.

Construction Estimating

Quantity Takeoff Calculator

Material quantities from plan dimensions and specifications.

Structural Engineering

Steel Beam Selection Calculator

Determine required section modulus, moment of inertia, and approximate beam weight for steel beam design with uniform and point loads.

Steel Construction

Moment Connection Design Calculator

Check bolted moment connection capacity per AISC including bolt shear, required bolt count, end plate thickness, and pass/fail adequacy.

More in Construction & Building Trades.