How much load can a wooden beam support?

Calculate the maximum bending moment for the wooden beams. The bending moment is the length of the span times the weight to be supported divided by 8. For a beam spanning a 12-foot room and supporting a weight of 600 lbs., the maximum bending moment would be 12 x 600/8 = 900 foot-pounds.

How much weight can a 4×8 beam support?





An 8-foot 4×4 can typically carry 1,000lbs horizontally along its length without excessive sag, or 500lbs in a center load. Supported at 16” centers and the load jumps to 4,000lbs. When used as a post, the same 4×4 can support up to 6,000 PSI and even more if properly braced.

How do you support a wood beam?

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Quote from Youtube video: So what we need to do is take these floor joists and push them back up and make them flush with these floor to us that's how you up out three quarters.

How do you size a load bearing beam?

Measure the depth of your beam and then add an extra half inch. For example, if the beam is 7 inches deep, the support ledger should be set down 7 1/2 inches on the kind studs. This will give room to move the beam into place.

How much weight will a wooden beam hold?

Generally, you can find out the capacity by dividing the total load bearing weight by the length of the beam. For example, a 9-foot-long beam span, requiring a total load bearing of 680 pounds, has a single point capacity of approximately 75.5 pounds.

How much weight can a 2×10 beam hold?





A 2×10 beam is meant to hold up to 40 psf of live load and 10 psf of dead load, just like a joist. An SYP 2×10 single-ply beam can hold 144 pounds per lineal foot (plf). A double-ply beam of the same species can hold 288 plf and a triple-ply can hold 488 plf. These are for 10′ spans.

How far can a 4X8 beam span without support?

Dimensional Lumber Deck Beam Span Chart

Joist Spans
Douglas Fir-Larch, Hem-Fir, Spruce-Pine-Fir, Redwood, Cedars, Ponderosa Pine, Red Pine 4X6 6′-2″
4X8 8′-2″
4X10 9′-8″
4X12 11′-2″

How much weight can a 6×6 beam hold?

If you assume a conservative 1400psi allowable bending stress, a single 6×6 with 12′ span can support about 2000 lbs. So your double 6×6 can support at least 4000 lbs (possibly more if you do a good job bonding the two members together so that there’s no slip between the faces).

How much weight can a 4X6 beam support?

2 and better (no loose or missing knotholes), then a 4×6 spanning 18′ will support about 105 lbs. loaded at the mid-span (slightly higher if it’s loaded at third points or further from the center point).

What size load bearing beam do I need for a 16 foot span?



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 beam do I need to span 20 feet?

What size beam to span 20 ft:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines, a 4 nailed 2×16 or 4-2×16 or 8×16 size of wood beam can allow to span 20 ft. Thus, for a 20 foot span, you will need atleast 4-2×16 or 8×16 size of wood beam.

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.

How much weight can a 2×12 beam hold?



One 2×12 can support about 180 lbs. per foot or about 2,100 lbs. total for a 12′ span.

How much weight can a 2×8 beam support?

A 2×8 will adequately support a dead load of 20 psf and a live load of 40 psf depending on some factors, including allowable span. This equates to a total load of 60 psf. Therefore, for a 2x8x10, the total load would equal 600 pounds per lineal foot.

How much weight can a 2x4x8 support horizontally?

While a standard 8-foot 2×4 can support about 1,000 pounds vertically and up to 300 pounds horizontally (when placed on edge), It’s important to remember that not all 2x4s are the same.

How much weight can a 12 foot 2×4 hold horizontally?

In general, a 2×4 can hold a horizontal load of around 20 to 40 pounds per linear foot if the weight is evenly distributed. If the weight is centered between the span, that number could drop to 20 pounds total or less for longer 2x4s.

How much weight can a 8 foot 2×6 hold horizontally?



According to the Codes, a 2×6 on edge with the weight pressing through 5.5” of wood will support approximately 53lbs per linear foot. So, an 8-foot length will support about 424lbs. However, a short span 2×6 on edge can support between 600 and 900lbs depending on wood species, grade, and other factors.

How much weight can a 8 foot 4×4 hold horizontally?

4×4 can hold up to 4,000 pounds when laying horizontally with the right support. Vertically, a 4×4 should support 4300 pounds but can hold significantly more.

Is a 4×4 stronger than a 2×6?

Unless you are supporting it with columns every 4′, neither is strong enough to help much. A 2×6 has more vertical support than a 4×4. Is that correct? The 2×6 is stronger than the 4×4 when it comes to vertical loads.

Can you use 6×6 as beam?

The distance a 6×6 can span as a beam depends on the species of wood, grade, grain orientation, moisture content or seasoning, condition, and load. Southern Pine (SP) 6x6s will span 5” to 8” further than other common softwood species of the same grade.