Steel Angle Sizes and Weight Chart for the UAE

Steel angle, called angle iron or L section on most sites in the UAE, is the section fabricators reach for more often than any other. This guide gives the standard equal and unequal angle sizes, the weight per metre for each, how the weight is calculated, and which grade to ask for. If you only want a price, send your list on WhatsApp and skip the reading.

Equal angles: sizes and weights

Equal angle has two legs of the same width. Sizes below are to EN 10056-1, which is what most material landing in the UAE is rolled to. The 6 m column is the weight of a standard full length.

Unequal angles: sizes and weights

Unequal angle has one leg longer than the other. It is the right choice when you need stiffness in one direction, or a wider face to bolt or weld to on one side only.

How angle weight is calculated

You can work out any angle weight yourself without a chart. Steel weighs 7.85 grams per cubic centimetre, so:

kg per metre = (leg A + leg B - thickness) x thickness x 0.00785, with all dimensions in millimetres.

A 100 x 100 x 10 angle gives (100 + 100 - 10) x 10 x 0.00785, which is 14.9 kg per metre. The published figure is 15.0, the difference being the rounded corner at the root and the toe radii, which add roughly half a per cent. For estimating a load or pricing a cutting list the formula is close enough. For invoicing, go by the mill test certificate.

Weights for every other section are in our steel weight chart for the UAE.

Which grade to ask for

• S275JR to EN 10025-2. The everyday grade for general fabrication, frames, brackets and supports. Most angle in UAE stock is this.
• S355JR to EN 10025-2. Higher yield, used where the design calls for it or where you want a lighter section to do the same job.
• ASTM A36. The American equivalent, common on projects written to US standards. Close to S275 in practice.
• JIS SS400. The Japanese grade, often what arrives on material of Far East origin.

If you are unsure which applies, our guide to steel grades compares them side by side. On anything structural, ask for the grade stated on the mill test certificate rather than taking a verbal.

Lengths and cutting

Standard length is 6 metres. 12 metre lengths exist on the larger sizes but are awkward to transport and most workshops in Sharjah and Ajman cannot take them off the truck, so 6 m is the sensible default.

The question worth asking is whether to buy full lengths or cut to size. If your drawing calls for 2.2 m pieces, a 6 m length gives you two and leaves 1.6 m on the floor. That offcut is money you paid for and will probably never use. Sending the cutting list and taking the material cut to length removes the drop and the labour. We include cutting in the price rather than charging it separately.

Galvanized or black

Angle comes black, meaning uncoated hot rolled, and that is what most fabrication starts with. Where the finished item sits outdoors, two routes exist:

• Hot dip galvanizing after fabrication, to EN ISO 1461. Fabricate first, then dip the finished assembly. Every cut edge and weld is covered. This is the right answer for anything structural that lives outside in the UAE, especially near the coast.
• Pre galvanized angle. Coated before fabrication, so cut ends and welds are left bare and will rust first. Fine for light indoor work, not for exposed structure.

Allow for the zinc adding roughly 5 per cent to the weight on smaller sections, and remember that galvanizing is priced by weight, so the heavier your angle the more the coating costs.

What angle is used for in the UAE

• Gates, railings, fencing frames and balustrades
• Supports, brackets, cleats and base plates
• Shelving, racking and mezzanine framing
• Bracing and purlin cleats in light structures
• Edge trim and frames around grating openings and trench covers
• Ducting supports, cable tray supports and plant skids

Common mistakes when ordering

• Giving two numbers instead of three. "50 x 50 angle" could be 3 mm or 6 mm, and the weight doubles between them. Always state thickness.
• Assuming equal when you mean unequal. 100 x 50 is a different section to 100 x 100. Write both legs out.
• Ordering full lengths for a cut list. You pay for the drop either way, so send the list.
• Leaving grade off a structural order. If a consultant checks the certificate later and it says SS400 where the drawing said S355, that is a rejected lot.
• Forgetting the coating decision. Deciding to galvanize after the angle is welded into an assembly is fine. Deciding after it is painted is not.

Frequently asked questions

What is the weight of 50 x 50 x 5 angle?
3.77 kg per metre, which is 22.6 kg for a 6 metre length.

What is the weight of 40 x 40 x 4 angle?
2.42 kg per metre, or 14.5 kg per 6 metre length.

Is angle iron the same as steel angle?
Yes. Angle iron is the older trade name and is still what most workshops say. The material is mild steel, not iron.

What is the biggest angle available?
200 x 200 x 20 is the largest equal angle in common supply, at 59.9 kg per metre. Larger sizes exist but are indent items.

Can you cut angle to my lengths?
Yes, and cutting is included rather than charged on top. Send the cutting list with the enquiry.

Do you supply mill test certificates?
Yes, MTCs are issued with the material, with grade and heat number stated.

Getting a price

Send your sizes, thicknesses, grade and quantity through the steel quote request form or on WhatsApp at +971 56 227 5722. We supply equal angles and unequal angles across every emirate: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm Al Quwain.