HEA, HEB or IPE: differences and how to choose

HEA, HEB and IPE are rolled I-shaped sections used in steel structures. They look alike but differ in flange width, wall thickness and weight. The comparison below uses size 200 so you can see the differences on one example.

Comparison at size 200

	HEA 200	HEB 200	IPE 200
Height	190 mm	200 mm	200 mm
Flange width	200 mm	200 mm	100 mm
Weight per metre	42.26 kg/m	61.29 kg/m	22.36 kg/m
6 m bar	≈ 253.5 kg	367.8 kg	134.2 kg

Heights and widths are the standard values for size 200; weights are those from the site's tables.

What each one means

IPE has narrow flanges and a thin web. The number is the height in mm, so IPE 200 is 200 mm tall. It is the lightest of the three and uses steel efficiently when the section works in bending, i.e. as a beam.
HEA has wide flanges (as wide as it is tall, at smaller sizes) and thinner walls than HEB. It is the light series of the H sections.
HEB has the same shape but thicker flanges and web: at size 200 it weighs about 45% more than HEA 200 (61.29 vs 42.26 kg/m) and has higher capacity.
HEM is the heavy series, with even thicker walls, for large loads. See the HEM table.

A common trap: the number does not mean the same thing

For IPE the number is the exact height. For HEA and HEB it is a nominal designation: HEA 200 is actually 190 mm, HEB 200 is 200 mm and HEM 200 is 220 mm. So do not compare two sections by number alone; compare them by table.

Where each is used, in broad terms

IPE: floor beams and purlins, where low weight and bending matter.
HEA and HEB: columns and beams where you need wide flanges, for stability or for connections; HEB when the load or height calls for more material.

Choosing a section for a structure is based on a structural engineer's calculation. The weights and dimensions in this article are indicative and do not replace the design.

Section weights in one place

Values for every size are in the HEA, HEB and IPE tables. If steel grades matter too, see the steel grade equivalents. For an order, use the weight calculator.

The 200 mm sections at MatHaus

Below are products from the MatHaus catalogue for the three sections in the comparison, with current prices.

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