How big of a beam do I need to span 15 feet?

Thus, for a 15 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×12 or 6×12 size of wood beam. For a 15-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 12 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×12) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

What size beam do I need for a load bearing wall?





The formula for the section modulus is beam width times beam depth squared divided by 6. A two 2-by-6 standard beam has actual dimensions of 1.5-by-5.5 inches which would give a section modulus of 1.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 / 6 = 7.6 which is not enough for this example. A 2-by-8 beam would be sufficient.

What size of a beam do I need for a 16 foot opening?

For a 16 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×14 or 6×14 size of wood beam. Thus, a 3 nailed 2×14 or 3-2×14 or 6×14 wood beam can allow to span 16 feet. For a 16-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 14 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×14) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

How big of a header do I need for a 16 foot span?

What size LVL header size for 16 foot span:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines for a 16 foot span, size of LVL header or GLULAM should be 14 to 16 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide, thus you need something like 2- 1.75″× 16″ (2- 1 3/4″× 16″) GLULAM or LVL header to span upto 16 feet.

What size lumber can span 15?

What size lumber for a 15 foot span:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines, for a 15 foot span, you will need atleast 2×8 size of lumber/ floor joist when spaced at 12″ apart.

Can a 2×8 span 15 feet?





Span is determined by species, grade, dimensions, spacing, use, and load. A rule of thumb is 1.5 times a joist’s depth but in feet when spaced at 16” centers. In general, a 2×8 will span 1.5 x 8, so 12-feet. Based on all factors though, a 2×8 joist span is 7′-1” to 16′-6”, and a rafter 6′-7” and 23′-9”.

What size beam do I need for a 14 foot span?

Thus, for a 14 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×12 or 6×12 size of wood beam. For a 14-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 12 inches in depth and 6″ in width (3-2×12) used for residential building, wood frame structure or projects.

What size beam do I need for an 18 foot span?

Wood beam size for a 18 foot span:– as per general thumb rule, for a 18 foot span, size of wood beam or lumber joist should be 2×12 which placed at 16″ apart from centre used for residential building or projects or construction in which depth of section of beam is 300mm (12″) and width of beam is 50 mm or 2″.

What size beam can span 20 feet?

For a 20-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 16 inches in depth and 8″ in width (4-2×16) used for residential building or projects.

What size LVL do I need for a 20 foot span?



What size lvl beam for a 20 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 20 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 10 to 12 inches deep and 3-1/2 inches or 2ply wide, thus you need something like a 10-12″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 20 feet and can use simple 2×14 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre as …

How do I know what size beam I need?

Design a beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span by 20. Beam depths are typically 5 1/2 inches, 7 1/4 inches, 9 1/4 inches, 11 1/4 inches, 11 7/8 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, and 20 inches.

Can a 2×10 span 14 feet?

How Far Can a 2×10 Span Without Support? An SYP (Southern Yellow Pine) 2×10 lumber span can reach up to 14′ when used as a joist with 16” spacing. If using SPF or Redwood lumber, then the span maximum for the same distances will be half to a full foot less.

How far can a 2×12 beam span without support?



A 2×12 (2-by-12) floor joists can span up to 23 feet 3 inches, 2×10 (2-by-10) up to 19 feet 1 inches, 2×8 (2-by-8) up to 15 feet & 2×6 (2-by-6) up to 11 feet 4 inches at 16″ spaced by using southern yellow pine graded as #1 when live load of 30 lbs/ft^2 & dead load of 10 lbs/ ft^2.

How far can a triple 2×10 beam span without support?

How Far Can a Triple 2×10 Beam Span? A triple #2 – 2×10 beam of Southern pine can span between 7′-6” and 13′-0” with a live load of 40PSF depending on the joist span. Using DF-L, Hem-Fir, or SPF and the span changes to 7′-2” and 12’6” under the same conditions.

Can a 2×10 span 20 feet?

Douglas fir 2-by-10 joists graded as “Structural Select” allows joist spans up to 21 feet for a live load of 30 pounds per square foot when spaced 12 inches apart, 19 feet 1 inch for 16 inch spacing and 16 feet 8 inches for 24 inch spacing.

What size 2x span 16 feet?

Max. Live Load 30 lbs/ft2 (1436 N/m2)

Maximum Span (ft – in)
Nominal Size (inches) Joist Spacing Center to Center (inches) Lumber Grade
2 x 6 24 9′ – 11″
2 x 8 12 16′ – 6″
16 15′ – 0″

How far can a triple 2X12 beam span?



Dimensional Lumber Deck Beam Span Chart

Joist Spans
Southern Pine 3-2X8 10′-7″
3-2X10 12′-9″
3-2X12 15′-0″
Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir, Redwood, Cedars, Ponderosa Pine, Red Pine 3X6 OR 2-2X6 5′-2″

How much load can a 2X10 support?

Each 2×10 will support 1,200 lbs.

Can you use 2×10 for load bearing wall?

A double 2×10 or 4×10 size of header made of #2 grade of Douglas fir- larch can allow span upto 7 feet far distance for one floor building and upto 5 feet for 2 floor in load bearing exterior windows & door opening or interior wall when building width is no more than 20 feet wide.