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Beam Load Calculator

Work out beam load instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Beam Load Calculator

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.

Formulas

Line load

w = tributary width x slab load + self weight

Simply supported beam

M max = w L² / 8; V max = w L / 2

Worked example

With the default values below, Beam Load Calculator returns Design line load of 26.50. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Beam spanminimum 0.1 m
6 m
Tributary slab widthminimum 0 m
3 m
Slab load intensityminimum 0 kPa
8 kPa
Beam self weightminimum 0 kN/m
2.5 kN/m

Results

Design line load
26.50 kN/m
Total load on the beam
159.0 kN
Maximum bending moment
119.25 kN·m
Maximum shear force
79.50 kN

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Line load
  3. 3Simply supported beam
  4. 4Design line load= 26.50 kN/m
  5. 5Total load on the beam= 159.0 kN
  6. 6Maximum bending moment= 119.25 kN·m
  7. 7Maximum shear force= 79.50 kN

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
  • Preliminary estimate only. Beam design must be carried out by a qualified structural engineer with correct load combinations, continuity, deflection and lateral stability checks.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Preliminary estimate only. Beam design must be carried out by a qualified structural engineer with correct load combinations, continuity, deflection and lateral stability checks.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Beam Load figure worked out?

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.

What changes if the beam is continuous?

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.

What values do I need to enter?

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.

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