Angle, channel and I beam are the three sections you will meet in almost every steel structure. Picking the right one is about load direction and connection style, not just size.

Angle steel (L profile)

Equal and unequal legs form an L. It is the most versatile light section: bracing, frames, towers, edges and supports. It carries load well along one axis and is cheap per kilogram, which is why it appears in every tower and truss.

Channel steel (U profile)

A flat web with two flanges on one side, giving a flat back face. Use it where you bolt against a flat surface: trailer frames, machine slides, wall stiffeners and rack uprights.

I beam (I profile)

Tapered flanges and a deep web make the I beam the efficient bending member. Floor beams, crane rails and main girders. If your design loads the section in both axes, step up to a parallel-flange H beam instead.

Our supply range

Angle steel 20x20-200x200 mm, channel steel 5#-40#, I beam 10#-63# and H beam up to 900x300 mm, in 6 m and 12 m lengths, bundled with steel strips for export.

Related reading

• Hot Rolled vs Cold Rolled Steel: A Buyer's Guide
• Carbon Steel vs Stainless Steel: How to Choose
• Stainless Steel Grades Explained: 201, 304, 316L, 430