New Steel Beams vs. Used Steel Beams

Tips & Advice

Used steel beam is beam that was used in a prior project but has since been uninstalled and resold. While many builders automatically choose new steel beam, used steel beam is a viable, cost-effective option in many scenarios.

Where Do New and Used Steel Beams Come From?

New or “prime” steel beam comes directly from the manufacturer. Steel beam is one of the most commonly used products in the steel industry, and each year millions of tons of steel beam are manufactured and sold around the world.

Used (or surplus) steel beam does not come directly from the manufacturer, but rather from a job site or other location where it’s been previously used. Though this sometimes means the steel is old, dirty or corroded, surplus steel beam can also be brand new. In some cases, new steel beam might be sold as “used” or “surplus” if the beam was left over from another project, such as in instances where more beam was ordered than needed, or where scraps of beam were left over from being cut. Furthermore, the quality of used steel beams can also be like-new if the quality has been maintained over time, or they have only been driven a few times.

Pros and Cons of Purchasing New Steel Beams

Some of the pros to purchasing new steel beam include:

  1. New steel beam has never been used before, meaning the structural integrity is known to be solid, and there will be no wear and tear setbacks once construction begins.

  2. New steel beam can be custom rolled and manufactured to a project’s exact specifications.

  3. New steel beam comes with certifications.

The cons of purchasing new steel beam include:

  1. New steel beam costs more than used beam.

  2. If purchasing from a manufacturer, it may take longer for the steel to be produced, and backlogs can occur.

Steel beams: wide flange, h-oile, and more

Pros and Cons of Purchasing Used Steel Beams

Some of the pros to purchasing used steel beam include:

  1. The price of used steel beam is lower than new, even for exactly the same product.

  2. Used steel beam is ready for immediate use, since it does not need to be manufactured.

  3. Used steel sometimes comes with mill certifications.

Some of the cons of purchasing used steel beam include:

  1. Used steel beam has been used before, meaning it likely contains some wear and tear.

  2. Used steel beam cannot be custom made to fit an exact project’s needs.

  3. Used steel beam is not guaranteed to come with certifications, though some testing is available

In many cases, surplus steel beam is just as effective as new steel beam and can be used successfully in its place. Surplus steel should always be tested for pressure resistance and durability before use, and beam that doesn’t pass the test should only be used in light-duty situations.

Common Sizes for Steel Beam

Steel beam comes in a wide range of sizes, including both wide flange piles and H-piles. Some common sizes include:

  • W8: W8x18, W8x21, W8x24, W8x28, W8x31, W8x35, W8x40, W8x48, W8x58, W8x67

  • W10: W10x22, W10x26, W10x30, W10x33, W10x39, W10x45, W10x49, W10x54, W10x60, W10x68, W10x77, W10x88, W10x100, W10x112

  • W12: W12x26, W12x30, W12x35, W12x40, W12x45, W12x50, W12x53, W12x58 ,W12x65, W12x72, W12x79, W12x87, W12x96, W12x106, W26x120, W12x136, W12x152, W12x170, W12x190, W12x210, W12x230, W12x252

  • W14: W14x22, W14x26, W14x30, W14x34, W14x38, W14x43, W14x48, W14x53, W14x61, W14x68, W14x74, W14x82, W14x90, W14x99, W14x109, W14x120, W14x132, W14x145, W14x159, W14x176, W14x193, W14x211, W14x233, W14x257, W14x283

  • W16: W16x26, W16x31, W16x36, W16x40, W16x45, W16x50, W16x57, W16x67, W16x77, W16x89, W16x100

  • W18: W18x35, W18x40, W18x46, W18x50, W18x55, W18x60, W18x65, W18x71, W18x76, W18x86, W18x97, W18x106, W18x119, W18x130, W18x143, W18x158, W18x175, W18x192, W18x211, W18x234

  • W21: W21x44, W21x50, W21x57, W21x58, W21x55, W21x62, W21x68, W21x73, W21x83, W21x93, W21x101, W21x111, W21x122, W21x132, W21x147, W21x166, W21x182, W21x201, W21x223, W21x248, W21x275

  • W24: W24x55, W24x62, W24x68, W24x76, W24x84, W24x94, W24x103, W24x204, W24x117, W24x131, W24x146, W24x162, W24x176, W24x192, W24x207, W24x229

  • W27: W27x84, W27x94, W27x102, W27x114, W27x129, W27x146, W27x161, W27x178, W27x194

  • W30: W30x90, W30x99, W30x108, W30x116, W30x124, W30x132, W30x148

  • W33: W33x118, W33x130, W33x141, W33x152, W33x169

  • W36: W36x135, W36x150, W36x160, W36x170, W36x182, W36x194, W36x210, W36x232, W36x256

  • HP8: HP8x36

  • HP10: HP10x42, HP10x57

  • HP12: HP12x53, HP12x63, HP12x74, HP12x84, HP12x89, HP12x102, HP12x117

  • HP14: HP14x73, HP14x89, HP14x102, HP14x117

  • HP16: HP16x88, HP16x101, HP16x121, HP16x141, HP16x162, HP16x183

W-beams

BUY AND SELL WITH EIFFEL TRADING

Eiffel Trading’s beam offerings include new and used h pile beams and wide flange beams. Furthermore, our construction material inventory also ranges to include products such as crane mats, sheet pile, trestle, and more. Additionally, our equipment inventory includes truckable push boats, concrete formwork, and much more.

All of our listings are constantly being updated, but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, create a wanted listing for free.

Ready to sell your used heavy equipment or construction material? List your products today for free on Eiffel Trading’s online marketplace.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call us at 1-800-541-7998 or email sales@eiffeltrading.com.