Work out beam load instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
A beam supporting a slab carries the load from half the slab span on each side, its tributary width, plus its own weight. That gives a uniform line load, and for a simply supported beam the maximum moment is wL²/8 at midspan and the maximum shear wL/2 at the supports.
Line load
w = tributary width x slab load + self weight
Simply supported beam
M max = w L² / 8; V max = w L / 2
Preliminary estimate only. Beam design must be carried out by a qualified structural engineer with correct load combinations, continuity, deflection and lateral stability checks.
w = tributary width x slab load + self weight. A beam supporting a slab carries the load from half the slab span on each side, its tributary width, plus its own weight.
The support moment becomes larger than the midspan moment, roughly wL²/10 to wL²/12 at internal supports, and the moment coefficients must come from a continuous beam analysis.
This calculator takes 4 inputs: Beam span, Tributary slab width, Slab load intensity, Beam self weight. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic worked example — replace them with your own site or project figures.