About Us
Eastern Steel Manufacturing Co.,Ltd is a leading manufacturer and distributor of seamless steel pipe, welded steel pipe, OCTG products and fittings. We supply first-step processing, semi-finished parts and finished parts to help our clients meet fabrication requirements beyond their capacity or to improve operations by moving forward the pre-production processing.
News
In this column you can find the steel pipe related articles you need, including industry trends, product standards and materials, and some technical guidelines.
Services
Eastern Steel Manufacturing Co.,Ltd not only improve product production and sales services, but also provide additional value-added services. As long as you need, we can complete your specific needs together.
Facility
Eastern Steel Manufacturing Co.,Ltd not only improve product production and sales services, but also provide additional value-added services. As long as you need, we can complete your specific needs together.
Projects
Many years of large-scale project experience in various fields（Oil & Gas, Construction, Power Energy, Marine & Offshore, Water Treatment, Exploration & Drilling Services, Pipeline & Petrochemical etc.）, professional project team is responsible from receiving until the end of the project.
It offers good load-bearing capacity, structural stability, and fabrication adaptability, making it widely used in building structures, support frames, and various engineering applications.
SHS (Square Hollow Section) sizes are generally expressed as outer dimension × wall thickness (mm). Below is a standard SHS steel size and weight table based on 10219 standard and ASTM A500.
| Size (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Weight (kg/m) | Section Area (cm²) | Moment of Inertia (cm⁴) | Section Modulus (cm³) | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 × 25 | 1.6 – 2.5 | 1.1 – 1.7 | 1.45 – 2.12 | 1.3 – 1.8 | 1.1 – 1.4 | Fencing, furniture, light frames |
| 50 × 50 | 2.0 – 3.0 | 2.9 – 4.3 | 3.71 – 5.44 | 13.9 – 19.1 | 5.5 – 7.6 | Equipment racks, handrails |
| 75 × 75 | 2.5 – 4.0 | 5.6 – 8.8 | 7.11 – 11.1 | 61.5 – 91.5 | 16.4 – 24.4 | Agricultural machinery, solar racking |
| 100 × 100 | 3.0 – 5.0 | 9.1 – 14.8 | 11.6 – 18.9 | 179 – 279 | 35.8 – 55.8 | Commercial columns, mezzanines |
| 150 × 150 | 4.0 – 6.0 | 17.8 – 26.2 | 23.3 – 34.3 | 801 – 1150 | 107 – 153 | Industrial warehouses, heavy lintels |
| 200 × 200 | 6.0 – 10.0 | 35.0 – 56.6 | 46.1 – 74.3 | 2850 – 4410 | 285 – 441 | Heavy-duty frames, crane supports |
| 250 × 250 | 6.0 – 16.0 | 44.5 – 113.0 | 58.1 – 144 | 5720 – 12800 | 458 – 1020 | Infrastructure, high-rise structures |
Note:
Weight values are theoretical and may vary depending on steel grade and manufacturing standards.
Engineering Selection Tip：
For the same side length, increasing wall thickness by 1 mm can improve bending capacity by approximately 15–20%, while material cost typically increases by around 10–15%.
In real-world projects, section sizes should not be increased blindly based on dimensions alone. Instead, structural verification should be carried out using engineering design software (such as SolidWorks Simulation) or by manual calculation of section modulus.
In the U.S. market, imperial sizes are commonly used, such as 2"×2" (approximately 50 mm), 4"×4" (approximately 100 mm), and 6"×6" (approximately 150 mm). Wall thickness is typically expressed in “gauge” (e.g., 11ga ≈ 3.0 mm).
In structural engineering, SHS is classified as a type of structural hollow steel section. Its most distinctive feature is a square cross-section with all four sides of equal length. This geometric shape provides more balanced structural performance under multi-directional loading conditions.
From a manufacturing perspective, SHS is typically produced by forming hot-rolled or cold-rolled steel strip through roll-forming, followed by high-frequency electric resistance welding (ERW) to close the section. Compared with open sections such as I-beams or channels, this closed profile offers superior torsional resistance and overall structural stability.
In practical applications, SHS is commonly used in building steel structures (columns and frames), mechanical support systems, and industrial facilities and platforms.
SHS steel is commonly made from carbon structural steel and low-alloy high-strength structural steel. Although grade designations vary across different standards, their mechanical performance ranges are generally comparable.
Under the European standard EN 10219, common grades include:
- S235: Yield strength of approximately 235 MPa, offering good formability and weldability. Suitable for light structures and non-critical load-bearing applications.
- S275: Improved strength and toughness, suitable for general structural applications.
- S355: Yield strength of approximately 355 MPa. One of the most widely used high-strength grades in structural engineering, suitable for load-bearing components and industrial structures.
In the North American system, SHS typically corresponds to ASTM A500 (Grade B / C), with performance comparable to the S275–S355 range.
From a practical engineering perspective:
- Lower grades (e.g., S235) are generally used in cost-sensitive or non-structural applications
- Higher grades (e.g., S355) are commonly used for columns, main frames, and load-bearing members
It should be noted that steel grade not only affects load-bearing capacity, but also has a direct impact on weldability, cold-forming performance, and overall cost. Therefore, material selection should always be based on both design loads and fabrication conditions.
SHS steel is typically produced using a cold-forming and welding process, which is currently the most common manufacturing method for structural hollow sections. The raw material is usually hot-rolled steel strip, which is uncoiled and levelled before entering the forming line. Through a series of roll-forming stages, the strip is gradually shaped into a square profile, and the edges are then joined by high-frequency electric resistance welding (ERW) to form a closed section.
This process is not simply about “forming a square shape”; rather, it involves controlling stress distribution and dimensional accuracy during continuous deformation. After forming, the weld seam is typically subjected to on-line heat treatment or stress-relief treatment to ensure consistent structural performance.
Compared with seamless steel pipes, this manufacturing method makes SHS more suitable for standardized production, medium and low-pressure structural applications, and cost-sensitive engineering projects.
For high-pressure or extreme service conditions, seamless pipes or special alloy pipes are generally preferred.
Due to its closed-section geometry and uniform load distribution characteristics, SHS steel is highly versatile in engineering applications.
In practical projects, it is mainly used in the following areas:
(1) Structural Construction
Thanks to its strong load-bearing capacity, SHS is commonly used in structural frames, columns, and roof systems.
(2) Industrial Structures and Equipment Support
Such as platforms, equipment supports, conveyor systems, and other applications that require a certain level of stiffness and stability.
(3) Light Structures and Fabricated Systems
Including fences, door and window frames, display structures, etc., where both structural performance and appearance are important.
In most projects, SHS steel selection starts with load conditions rather than material grade.
For general static structures, standard sizes are usually sufficient. When dynamic loads or repeated stress are involved (such as equipment frames or platforms), increasing wall thickness is often more effective than simply using higher strength grades.
Standards should also be considered early. EN 10219 is commonly used in Europe and Asia, while ASTM A500 is more typical in North America. Although their strength ranges are similar, differences in dimensions and tolerances may affect project compatibility.
Environmental conditions also matter. For indoor use, black steel may be sufficient, while outdoor or humid environments typically require galvanized SHS for corrosion protection.
In practice, common sizes are readily available, while larger or thicker sections may require custom production, affecting cost and lead time.
SHS is often compared with RHS and CHS in structural design. Square Tube vs Rectangular Tube (Full Comparison Guide)
Q1：What does SHS mean in steel?
SHS stands for Square Hollow Section, referring to a square-shaped steel tube used in structural applications.
It is typically formed from steel strip and welded into a closed section, offering balanced strength in both directions.
Q2：What is SHS vs RHS vs CHS?
SHS, RHS and CHS are three common types of hollow structural sections, mainly differentiated by shape.
- SHS (square) is used where uniform load distribution is needed
- RHS (rectangular) performs better in one primary direction
- CHS (circular) is preferred for torsion and multi-directional stress
Q3：What is SHS steel?
SHS steel is a square hollow structural section widely used in construction. It is defined by its equal sides and strong torsional resistance.
Q4：What is the difference between SHS and HSS?
HSS (Hollow Structural Section) is a general term used mainly in North America, covering square, rectangular and circular hollow sections.
SHS is a specific type of HSS, referring only to square hollow sections.
Q5：Is RHS or SHS stronger?
It depends on how the load is applied.
RHS is generally stronger when the load acts along its major axis, while SHS provides more uniform strength in multiple directions.
In structural design, the choice is based on load direction rather than absolute strength.
SHS steel plays an important role in structural steel design, especially in applications where strength, stability, and fabrication efficiency are required. It is widely used across construction and engineering projects and is often selected based on load conditions, size requirements, and comparison with other hollow sections such as RHS and CHS.
Read More：SHS Steel vs. CHS Steel: Which is Stronger? and The Benefits of Using Square Tube in Construction
E-mail: sales@eastern-steels.com
