H-Beams. One of the strongest steel beams on the list, H-beams, is made up of horizontal elements, while the vertical beams act as the web. The flanges and web create a cross-section that mimics the shape of the letter “H” and are popular in construction or civil engineering projects.

Most commonly, steel beams come in A572, A588, and A36. A572 steel is a high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel that offers excellent strength for its weight. This steel alloy is a good balance of tensile strength, weldability, and low cost. A588 is another HSLA steel alloy with even greater tensile strength than A572.

The most popular are 304/304Land 316/316L stainless I beam. Durability: Stainless steel is known for its high strength and durability. Stainless steel I beams can withstand heavy loads and high levels of stress, making them suitable for structural applications where strength is crucial.

To short, the main difference between an H-beam and an I-beam is that the web of an H-beam is much thicker than that of an I-beam. A thicker web means a stronger beam, which allows for more load-bearing capacity. This means that for the same amount of structural support, you can use fewer H beams than I beams.