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.

A36. A36 is a widely preferred and versatile low-carbon low-cost steel known for its yield strength (36,000 psi) and excellent machinability. A36 can elongate to about 20% of its original length, and is commonly used for columns, beams, decking and finish elements.

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.