Square Hollow Section (SHS): Sizes, Weight Chart, Prices & Specifications

Square Hollow Section (SHS): Sizes, Weight Chart, Prices & Specifications<\/h2>

Square hollow sections — commonly abbreviated SHS, square tube, or box section — are cold-formed or hot-finished steel tubes with equal sides and square corners. The flat faces make SHS the easiest hollow section to weld, bolt, and connect, which is why it dominates portal frames, columns, posts, towers, and machinery frames around the world. This page is the complete buying reference from Sino East Steel Group — a direct steel structure manufacturer in Tianjin, China, exporting since 1993: SHS sizes, square hollow section weight charts, material and galvanizing options, 2026 FOB price ranges, and the exact way to order SHS for your project.

1. What Is a Square Hollow Section (SHS)?

A square hollow section is a closed, tubular steel profile with four equal sides and right-angle corners, produced either hot-finished (EN 10210) or cold-formed welded (EN 10219) from strip steel. Because the cross-section is closed, SHS is dramatically stiffer in torsion than open sections of the same weight, and the flat outer faces simplify bolted and welded connections — no curved saddle cuts, no special lugs, just clean square joints. This combination of torsional rigidity, connection simplicity, and clean appearance makes SHS the first choice for visible structures such as towers, balustrades, and architectural frames.

SHS is manufactured and dimensioned to international standards including EN 10210-1/-2 (hot-finished structural hollow sections), EN 10219-1/-2 (cold-formed structural hollow sections), GB/T 6728 (cold-formed welded hollow sections), ASTM A500 (cold-formed welded carbon steel tubing), and JIS G 3466 (carbon steel square tubes for general structure). Standard sizes run from 20 × 20 mm up to 500 × 500 mm, with wall thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 16 mm.

2. SHS vs CHS vs RHS: Which Hollow Section Do You Need?

Comparison	SHS (Square)	CHS (Circular)	RHS (Rectangular)
Cross-section	Equal sides, 90° corners	Circle — uniform in all directions	Two long sides, two short sides
Connections	Flat faces — simplest welding and bolting	Curved — saddle or gusset joints needed	Flat faces — simple welding and bolting
Strength	Equal bending in both axes; good torsion	Best in compression, torsion, buckling	Best in one-direction bending (deep section)
Appearance	Clean, architectural square lines	Smooth, curved profile	Rectangular, utilitarian
Best for	Columns, posts, towers, frames, balustrades	Trusses, bracing, railings, mechanical parts	Beams, lintels, mezzanines, long spans
Typical use	Portal frames, transmission towers, signposts	Offshore, cranes, scaffolding, handrails	Building frames, bridges, vehicle chassis

For most building structures, SHS is the most economical closed section because of its simple connections. If your design needs a round or rectangular profile instead, see our Circular Hollow Section (CHS) and Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS) pages.

3. SHS Sizes & Dimensions

Standard SHS sizes run from 20 × 20 mm light sections to 500 × 500 mm heavy structural columns. The table below lists the most commonly exported square hollow sections with typical wall thicknesses. Custom sizes, heavy walls, and lengths up to 12 m are produced to order.

Section (mm)	Typical Wall Thicknesses (mm)	Common Lengths
20 × 20	1.5–2.0	6 / 12 m
25 × 25	1.5–2.5	6 / 12 m
30 × 30	1.5–2.5	6 / 12 m
40 × 40	2.0–3.0	6 / 12 m
50 × 50	2.0–4.0	6 / 12 m
60 × 60	2.0–4.0	6 / 12 m
80 × 80	2.5–5.0	6 / 12 m
100 × 100	3.0–6.0	6 / 12 m
120 × 120	3.0–6.0	6 / 12 m
150 × 150	4.0–8.0	6 / 12 m
200 × 200	5.0–10.0	6 / 12 m
250 × 250	6.0–12.0	6 / 12 m
300 × 300	8.0–12.0	6 / 12 m
350 × 350	8.0–12.0	6 / 12 m
400 × 400	10.0–16.0	6 / 12 m

Dimension tolerances follow EN 10219-2 and GB/T 6728. Squareness (out-of-square) tolerance is typically 90° ± 1°; twist is limited to 2 mm/m for cold-formed sections, which keeps bolted connections square on site.

4. SHS Weight Chart (kg per Metre)

Indicative weights for common SHS sizes, calculated with the standard formula weight = 4 × t × (a − t) × 7.85 / 1000 kg/m (a = side length, t = wall thickness, 7.85 = steel density). Actual weights per EN 10219 are within ±4% of these values:

Section (mm)	2.0 mm	2.5 mm	3.0 mm	4.0 mm	5.0 mm	6.0 mm	8.0 mm	10.0 mm	12.0 mm
40 × 40	2.39	2.94	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
50 × 50	3.01	3.73	4.43	5.78	—	—	—	—	—
60 × 60	3.64	4.51	5.37	7.03	—	—	—	—	—
80 × 80	—	6.08	7.25	9.55	11.78	—	—	—	—
100 × 100	—	7.65	9.14	12.06	14.92	17.71	—	—	—
120 × 120	—	—	11.02	14.57	18.06	21.48	—	—	—
150 × 150	—	—	—	18.33	22.77	27.13	35.67	—	—
200 × 200	—	—	—	—	30.62	36.55	48.23	59.66	—
250 × 250	—	—	—	—	—	45.96	60.79	75.36	89.67
300 × 300	—	—	—	—	—	—	73.35	91.06	108.50
350 × 350	—	—	—	—	—	—	85.91	106.76	127.34
400 × 400	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	122.46	146.20

Use the square hollow section weight chart to estimate tonnage and freight: multiply the kg/m figure by the total length. For example, 1,000 m of 100 × 100 × 4.0 mm SHS weighs about 12.06 tonnes. A 40 ft container holds roughly 22–25 tonnes of SHS, which covers between 600 m of 300 mm box columns and 9,000 m of 40 mm square tube depending on section.

5. SHS Material Grades & Corrosion Protection

Option	Specification	Best For
Structural carbon steel	Q235B / S235JR — yield 235 MPa	Frames, posts, general fabrication
High-strength steel	Q355B / S355JR / S355J2 / S355J2H — yield 355 MPa	Columns, towers, heavy-loaded frames
ASTM grade	ASTM A500 Gr B / Gr C	US project specifications
Galvanized (pre-galvanized strip)	Z180 / Z275 / Z350 g/m² per EN 10346	Fencing, balustrades, outdoor structures
Hot-dip galvanized (after forming)	HDG 70–85 µm (ISO 1461)	Coastal and industrial exposure
Surface finish	Black, oiled, painted, or powder-coated	Architectural and colored applications

For outdoor and coastal projects — fencing, signposts, tower structures across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia — specify at least Z275 galvanizing. Every batch ships with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates showing chemical composition and mechanical properties.

6. SHS Prices in 2026 (FOB China)

Indicative export pricing from our Tianjin factory (FOB Tianjin Port, 2026):

Product	Indicative Price	MOQ
Black SHS, S235JR/Q235B, standard sizes (20–150 mm)	USD 630–790 per tonne FOB	5 tonnes (mix sizes OK)
High-strength SHS S355 / heavy sections (200 mm and above)	USD 710–890 per tonne FOB	5 tonnes
Galvanized SHS (Z275 or HDG)	USD 760–990 per tonne FOB	10 tonnes
Cutting to length, drilling, painting	Included or nominal charge	—

Prices move with global hot-rolled coil markets and exchange rates, so treat these as planning ranges. For a firm quotation send your SHS sizes, wall thicknesses, quantities, and destination port to paul@sinoeaststeel.com.

7. SHS Applications

• Portal frame columns and rafters — closed square sections resist torsion and buckling in industrial buildings.
• Transmission towers and telecommunication masts — SHS legs and diagonals with simple bolted or welded joints.
• Mezzanine floors and platforms — square tube beams and posts with flat bearing faces.
• Balustrades, handrails, and fencing — clean architectural lines, easy to weld and galvanize.
• Vehicle and machinery frames — agricultural equipment, trailers, and industrial machine bases.
• Solar panel mounting structures — galvanized SHS posts and rails for ground-mounted PV farms.
• Stadium, canopy, and sign structures — visible square members with a neat, consistent profile.

SHS is part of our complete steel structure product range — if your project needs round or rectangular profiles instead, compare our Circular Hollow Section and Rectangular Hollow Section pages, or add Square Bars and Flat Bars for fabrication details.

8. Why Buy SHS Direct from Sino East Steel Group

Sino East Steel Group is a direct China steel structure manufacturer, not a trader. Since 1993 we have operated a 50,000 m² fabrication facility in Tianjin Industrial Park, Daqiuzhuang — China’s largest steel processing hub — with our own tube mills, slitting lines, and hot-dip galvanizing capacity.

• Factory-direct pricing — no middleman; typically 20–40% below regional re-seller prices.
• Certified quality — ISO 9001:2015, ISO 3834-2, EN 1090 EXC3/EXC4, AWS D1.1; mill test certificates on every batch.
• Full size range — 20 × 20 mm to 500 × 500 mm, walls from 1.5 mm to 16 mm, lengths to 12 m.
• Value-added processing — cutting, drilling, punching, painting, and galvanizing under one roof.
• Export documentation — invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, EN 10204 3.1 certificates for smooth clearance.
• 100,000+ tonnes annual capacity — standard SHS sizes ship in 1–2 weeks; custom sections in 3–4 weeks.

Before committing to any factory, use our manufacturer verification checklist — we welcome third-party inspection (SGS, BV, TÜV) at any stage.

9. How to Order SHS from China

1. Send your section size, wall thickness, length, quantity, and destination port.
2. Receive an itemized quotation within 24–48 hours (FOB/CIF).
3. Confirm the steel grade, coating, and mill certificate requirements.
4. We produce and test (SGS/BV/TÜV inspection optional).
5. We ship FCL from Tianjin with full export documentation.

For complete projects — SHS frames plus primary steel — see our procurement guide for importers.

10. SHS Section Property Notes for Designers

Four facts help when specifying SHS: (1) the section modulus is equal about both axes, so square columns are equally strong in every direction — ideal for corner posts and multi-directional frames; (2) the closed shape gives a torsional constant typically 30–100 times higher than an open I-section of similar mass, removing the need for torsional bracing in most cases; (3) the flat faces allow direct welding without profile cutting, reducing fabrication cost versus CHS; (4) for exposed outdoor structures, radiused corners (r ≈ 2t) reduce coating stress points and improve HDG coverage. When SHS members are connected with end plates and bolts, the flat face allows full-face bearing, so bolted splices are simple and reliable.

For galvanized structures, confirm the coating mass per EN ISO 1461 and the minimum average thickness (70 µm for wall thickness above 6 mm). Our engineers can provide section properties, connection details, and a full SHS schedule free of charge with your quotation request.

11. Packing, Shipping & Delivery

SHS is bundled in square packs, strapped with steel bands, and loaded into 40 ft containers or break-bulk holds at Tianjin Port. Each bundle carries a tag with your project name, section, wall thickness, and length for easy site sorting. Standard export documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates — is provided with every shipment.

Typical transit times: 3–4 weeks to the Middle East (Jebel Ali), 4–6 weeks to East and West Africa (Mombasa, Lagos), 4–5 weeks to Europe, and 3–5 weeks to North America. For full-project shipping details, read our international shipping and installation guide.

12. SHS FAQ

Q: What are the standard SHS sizes?
A: Standard square hollow sections run from 20 × 20 mm to 400 × 400 mm, with walls from 1.5 mm to 16 mm and lengths of 6 m or 12 m. Larger and custom sizes are produced to order.

Q: How do I calculate SHS weight per metre?
A: Use the formula 4 × t × (a − t) × 7.85 / 1000 kg/m. For example, 100 × 100 × 4.0 mm SHS weighs about 12.06 kg/m. Our weight chart above covers the full range.

Q: How much does SHS cost in 2026?
A: Indicative FOB China prices are USD 630–790 per tonne for black S235JR/Q235B SHS, USD 710–890 for S355, and USD 760–990 per tonne for galvanized. Freight and duty vary by destination.

Q: What is the difference between EN 10210 and EN 10219 SHS?
A: EN 10210 covers hot-finished sections; EN 10219 covers cold-formed welded sections. Cold-formed SHS has tighter dimensional tolerances and is the common choice for standard building frames; hot-finished is preferred where impact toughness or thick walls are required.

Q: Which steel grades are available for SHS?
A: S235JR, S355JR, S355J2, and S355J2H per EN 10210/10219; Q235B and Q355B per GB/T 6728; ASTM A500 Gr B and Gr C for US projects.

Q: Can SHS be galvanized?
A: Yes. We supply pre-galvanized SHS (Z180–Z450 per EN 10346) or hot-dip galvanized SHS (HDG 70–85 µm per ISO 1461) for coastal and industrial environments.

Q: What is the maximum length of SHS?
A: Standard lengths are 6 m and 12 m; we can also supply custom cut lengths exactly to your cutting list, with end preparation if required.

Q: Do you provide mill test certificates?
A: Yes — every batch ships with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates showing chemical composition and mechanical properties, plus certificate of origin and full export documentation.

Q: How do I get an SHS quotation?
A: Email your section size, wall thickness, length, quantity, and destination port to paul@sinoeaststeel.com or message us on WhatsApp — you will receive an itemized FOB/CIF quotation within 48 hours.