IPE & IPN Steel Beams: Sizes, Weights & Meaning

Quick Reference

IPE beams: European I-beams with parallel flanges, high strength-to-weight ratio, slim profile. IPN beams (or INP): tapered flanges, narrower depth, older standard. Both I-shaped sections for building frameworks, bridges, structural supports. Standards: EN 10034 (dimensions), EN 10025 (grades S235, S275, S355). Related: HEA/HEB (wider flanges), HEM (heavy-duty).

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Need a printable version? Download the Structural Steel Beams Chart for IPE, IPN, HEA, HEB dimensions and weights, or the AISC S-Shapes Chart for American Standard beams.

IPE & IPN Steel Beams

What Is an “IPE” Steel Beam

IPE steel beams are structural steel members used extensively in construction and engineering. “IPE” stands for “European I Beam” with parallel flange surfaces. As part of the broader I-beam family, they feature an I-shaped cross-section with parallel flanges connected by a linear web. This geometry delivers high load-bearing capacity at low weight, and IPE sections remain among the most specified rolled steel profiles in European structural design.

IPE steel beam

The table below summarizes the defining characteristics of IPE beams:

Characteristic	Description
Profile shape	Slim I-section with small flanges relative to depth; high strength-to-weight ratio
Material efficiency	Parallel flanges and uniform web thickness allow significant load capacity without excess material
Versatility	Used in frames, supports, and load-bearing elements in commercial and residential construction
Fabrication	Standard flange geometry simplifies bolted and welded connections, easing integration into complex structures

IPE beams appear in building frameworks, bridge supports, roof and floor systems, and other structures where strength, stiffness, and efficient material use govern the design. Their clean parallel-flange profile also works well in architecturally exposed applications where the structural steel remains visible.

European standards govern IPE dimensions and mechanical properties. EN 10034 controls dimensional tolerances, and EN 10025 defines steel grades. This standardization gives engineers confidence that beams from different mills will perform consistently, allowing reliable design to published section properties.

What Is an “IPN” Steel Beam

An IPN steel beam is a structural steel section widely used in European construction and engineering. “IPN” stands for “I-Profil Normal” (French), or “Standard I Profile” in English. It is also called a European Standard Beam. Unlike the IPE section, the IPN beam has tapered (non-parallel) flanges and a narrower overall depth for a given weight class.

Some literature and manufacturers label IPN steel beams as “INP” beams. The two terms are synonyms referring to the same product.

IPN steel beam

The table below summarizes IPN beam characteristics:

Characteristic	Description
Flange geometry	Inwardly tapered flanges (not parallel), reducing weight while preserving structural strength
Profile dimensions	Narrower width and depth than equivalent IPE sizes; well suited to tight spaces or lighter structural elements
Load performance	Good balance of bending strength and torsional resistance; efficient for moderate load conditions
Cost	Reduced material volume per unit length often makes IPN a cost-effective option for secondary members

IPN beams serve in building frameworks as floor, roof, and wall supports in both residential and commercial structures. They are also specified for bridge construction and infrastructure work where strength and durability are primary concerns, and in industrial frames and supports where moderate load-bearing capacity is sufficient.

EN standards regulate IPN dimensions, mechanical properties, and manufacturing tolerances, ensuring consistent quality and performance across suppliers.

Steel beams IPE/INP are a very commonly used type of steel profile. Beams, otherwise called “I” sections, continental beams, or IPE/IPN, are available in multiple material grades, the most common are EN 10025 S275, and S355.

Difference Between IPE vs. IPN Beams

IPE (European I Beams) and IPN (European Standard Beams) are both widely specified for structural support, but their distinct cross-sectional profiles suit different design situations.

IPE Beams (European I Beams)

IPE beams have an I-shaped cross-section with parallel flange surfaces and a relatively uniform thickness across the web and flanges. The flanges are wider than those of IPN beams at the same nominal depth, providing a larger bearing surface. The design optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio: material is concentrated at the flange tips where it resists bending most effectively, producing a lighter section than an IPN of comparable strength. IPE sections are the default choice for building frameworks, bridges, and support structures where minimizing self-weight improves overall structural efficiency.

IPN Beams (European Standard Beams)

IPN beams also have an I-shaped cross-section, but the flanges taper inward toward the web instead of running parallel. This gives the section a narrower overall profile. The design prioritizes depth over width, providing good resistance to bending and torsional stresses. However, the tapered flanges yield a lower moment of inertia compared to an IPE section of the same mass, so IPN beams deflect more under equivalent loading. IPN sections are often specified for floor joists, smaller load-bearing structures, and conditions where beam-to-beam connections benefit from the tapered flange geometry.

Key Differences IPE vs. IPN

• The most notable difference is flange geometry: IPE beams have parallel flanges, while IPN beams have tapered flanges.

• IPE beams generally deliver a better strength-to-weight ratio because their wider, uniform-thickness flanges place material further from the neutral axis.
• IPE beams typically have a higher moment of inertia, so they resist bending and deflection more effectively than IPN beams of similar weight.

EN Specifications for IPE/IPN Beams

Two primary European Norm (EN) specifications govern IPE and IPN beams, covering dimensions, tolerances, mechanical properties, and steel grades.

Common EN Specifications for IPE and IPN Beams

EN 10025 - “Hot rolled products of structural steels”

This multi-part standard specifies chemical composition and mechanical property requirements for hot-rolled structural steel, including the grades used in IPE and IPN beams (S235, S275, S355). It defines the material quality that determines a beam’s yield strength, tensile strength, and impact toughness.

EN 10365 - “Hot rolled steel channels, I and H sections - Dimensions and masses”

EN 10365 details the dimensional and mass specifications for rolled I and H sections, including IPE and IPN profiles. It covers size ranges, profile dimensions (height, width, flange and web thickness), and weight per unit length, ensuring uniformity across mills.

Specifics for IPE Beams

IPE beams are defined by their parallel flange surfaces and relatively narrow flanges compared to their height. EN standards fix the exact dimensions for each designation (IPE 80 through IPE 600), promoting interchangeability in design and procurement. These sections are widely specified for their efficient load-bearing capacity and clean appearance in architecturally exposed structures.

Specifics for IPN Beams

IPN beams have tapered flanges and a different mass distribution from IPE sections. EN standards define the unique geometry of each IPN designation, covering profiles where depth and strength matter more than flange width. IPN sections are common in load-bearing structures where compact depth and straightforward beam-to-beam connections take priority over aesthetic considerations.

Considerations

When selecting between IPE and IPN beams, structural engineers weigh load conditions, deflection limits, aesthetic requirements, and connection details. Both profile families comply with European standards, so they meet established safety, reliability, and performance criteria for use in European and global markets. The steel grade chosen per EN 10025 determines the beam’s yield strength, ductility, and weldability, which in turn govern its performance under specific environmental conditions and loading.

Material Grades for IPE/IPN Beams

IPE and IPN beams are manufactured from structural steel grades defined in EN 10025, which specifies the technical delivery conditions for hot-rolled products. The table below lists the most common grades:

Grade	Specification	Min. Yield Strength	Characteristics
S235	EN 10025 S235JR	235 MPa	Basic structural steel; good weldability and excellent formability; suitable for general structural applications
S275	EN 10025 S275JR	275 MPa	Higher strength than S235; easily weldable with good formability; suited for structural purposes requiring higher strength
S355	EN 10025 S355JR	355 MPa	High-strength, low-alloy; excellent impact resistance; widely used in critical load-bearing structures and harsh environments

Materials Selection Considerations

The grade selected depends primarily on the load demands of the structure. S355 is specified where high strength and durability are required, such as in primary load-bearing members and long-span beams. All three grades are weldable, though higher grades may need pre-heating or specific filler metals to avoid hydrogen cracking. In cold climates or dynamic-loading situations, the JR, J0, or J2 impact toughness sub-grades become important - J2 guarantees Charpy V-notch toughness at -20 degrees C. Finally, while S355 offers superior performance, it costs more per tonne than S235 or S275, so the designer must balance strength requirements against the project budget.

Dimensions & Weights Of Ipe/ipn Steel Beams

IPE Beams Sizes, and Mechanical Properties

Designation	b (mm)	a (mm)	e (mm)	r (mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Area (cm²)	Jx (cm⁴)	Jy (cm⁴)	Wx (cm³)	Wy (cm³)	ix (cm)	iy (cm)
IPE 80	46	3,8	5,2	5	6,0	7,64	80,14	8,49	20,03	3,69	3,24	1,05
IPE 100	55	4,1	5,7	7	8,1	10,32	171,0	15,92	34,20	5,79	4,07	1,24
IPE 120	64	4,4	6,3	7	10,4	13,21	317,8	27,67	52,96	8,65	4,90	1,45
IPE 140	73	4.7	6,9	7	12,9	16,43	541,2	44,92	77,32	12,31	5,74	1,65
IPE 160	82	5,0	7,4	9	15,8	20,09	869,3	68,31	108,7	16,66	6,58	1,84
IPE 180	91	5,3	8,0	9	18,8	23,95	1.317	100,9	146,3	22,16	7,42	2,05
IPE 200	100	5,6	8,5	12	22,4	28,48	1.943	142,4	194,3	28,47	8,26	2,24
IPE 220	110	5,9	9,2	12	26,2	33,37	2.772	204,9	252,0	37,25	9,11	2,48
IPE 240	120	6,2	9,8	15	30,7	39,12	3.892	283,6	324,3	47,27	9,97	2,69
IPE 270	135	6,6	10,2	15	36,1	45,95	5.79	419,9	428,9	62,20	11,23	3,02
IPE 300	150	7,1	10,7	15	42,2	53,81	8.356	603,8	557,1	80,50	12,46	3,35
IPE 330	160	7,5	11,5	18	49,1	62,61	11.77	788,1	713,1	98,52	13,71	3,55
IPE 360	170	8,0	12,7	18	57,1	72,73	16.27	1.043	903,6	122,8	14,95	3,79
IPE 400	180	8,6	13,5	21	66,3	84,46	23.13	1.318	1.156	146,4	16,55	3,95
IPE 450	190	9,4	14,6	21	77,6	98,82	33.74	1.676	1.5	176,4	18,48	4,12
IPE 500	200	10,2	16,0	21	90,7	115,5	48.2	2.142	1.928	214,2	20,43	4,31
IPE 550	210	11,1	17,2	24	106	134,4	67.12	2.668	2.441	254,1	22,35	4,45
IPE 600	220	12,0	19,0	24	122	156,0	92.08	3.387	3.069	307,9	24,30	4,66

IPN Beams Sizes, and Mechanical Properties

Designation	b (mm)	a (mm)	e (mm)	r (mm)	Weight (kg/m)	Area (cm²)	Jx (cm⁴)	Jy (cm⁴)	Wx (cm³)	Wy (cm³)	ix (cm)	iy (cm)
INP 80	42	3,9	5,9	3,9	5,94	7,57	77,7	6.28	19,4	2,99	3,20	0,91
INP 100	50	4,5	6,8	4,5	8,34	10,6	170	12,1	34,1	4,86	4,00	1,07
INP 120	58	5,1	7,7	5,1	11,1	14,2	328	21,5	54,7	7,41	4,81	1,23
INP 140	66	5,7	8,6	5,7	14,3	18,3	573	35,2	81,9	10,7	5,61	1,40
INP 160	74	6,3	9,5	6,3	17,9	22,8	935	54,7	117	14,8	6,40	1,55
INP 180	82	6,9	10,4	6,9	21,9	27,9	1.45	81,3	161	19,8	7,20	1,71
INP 200	90	7,5	11,3	7,5	26,2	33,4	2.14	117	214	26,0	8,00	1,87
INP 220	98	8,1	12,2	8,1	31,1	39,5	3.06	162	278	33,1	8,80	2,02
INP 240	106	8,7	13,1	8,7	36,2	46,1	4.25	221	354	41,7	9,59	2,20
INP 260	113	9,4	14,1	9,4	41,9	53,3	5.74	288	442	51,0	10,40	2,32
INP 280	119	10,1	15,2	10,1	47,9	61,0	7.59	364	542	61,2	11,10	2,45
INP 300	125	10,8	16,2	10,8	54,2	69,0	9.8	451	653	72,2	11,9	2,56
INP 320	131	11,5	17,3	11,5	61,0	77,7	12.51	555	782	84,7	12,7	2,67
INP 340	137	12,2	18,3	12,2	68,0	86,7	15.7	674	923	98,4	13,5	2,80
INP 360	143	13,0	19,5	13,0	76,1	97,0	19.61	818	1.09	114	14,2	2,90
INP 380	149	13,7	20,5	13,7	84,0	107	24.01	975	1.26	131	15,0	3,02
INP 400	155	14,4	21,6	14,4	92,4	118	29.21	1.16	1.46	149	15,7	3,13
INP 450	170	16,2	24,3	16,2	115	147	45.85	1.73	2.04	203	17,7	3,43
INP 500	185	18,0	27,0	18,0	141	179	68.74	2.48	2.75	268	19,6	3,72
INP 550	200	19,0	30,0	19,0	166	212	99.18	3.48	3.61	349	21.6	4,02
INP 600	215	21,6	32,4	21,6	199	254	138.8	4.679	4.626	435	23,4	4,29