Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS): Sizes, Weight Chart, Prices & Specifications

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

Rectangular hollow sections — commonly abbreviated RHS, rectangular tube, or box section — are closed steel profiles with two long sides and two short sides, combining the torsional rigidity of a hollow section with a deep, beam-like section modulus in one direction. RHS is the workhorse of steel frames: it carries heavy bending loads in its strong axis while remaining light, square-edged, and easy to weld. This page is the complete buying reference from Sino East Steel Group — a direct steel structure manufacturer in Tianjin, China, exporting since 1993: RHS sizes, rectangular hollow section weight charts, material and galvanizing options, 2026 FOB price ranges, and the exact way to order RHS for your project.

1. What Is a Rectangular Hollow Section (RHS)?

A rectangular hollow section is a closed, tubular steel profile with four sides of unequal length and right-angle corners, produced either hot-finished (EN 10210) or cold-formed welded (EN 10219) from strip steel. The rectangular shape gives the section a high section modulus about its major axis, so a 200 × 100 mm RHS beam carries far more load than a 150 × 150 mm SHS of similar weight — while the closed cross-section still resists torsion and local buckling better than open beams of the same mass. Flat faces mean simple, cost-effective welded and bolted connections.

RHS 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. Standard sizes run from 40 × 20 mm up to 500 × 300 mm, with wall thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 16 mm, and lengths to 12 m or more.

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

Comparison	RHS (Rectangular)	SHS (Square)	CHS (Circular)
Cross-section	Two long sides, two short sides	Equal sides, 90° corners	Circle — uniform in all directions
Bending strength	Best in the strong axis (deep section)	Equal in both axes	Good, uniform in all directions
Connections	Flat faces — simple welding and bolting	Flat faces — simplest joints	Curved — saddle or gusset joints needed
Space efficiency	Excellent for beams and lintels	Excellent for columns and posts	Excellent for compression and torsion
Best for	Beams, lintels, frames, mezzanines, chassis	Columns, towers, balustrades	Trusses, bracing, railings, mechanical parts
Typical use	Building frames, bridges, vehicle bodies	Portal frames, signposts, fencing	Offshore, cranes, scaffolding, handrails

RHS earns its place wherever a beam-like member is needed without the weight of an I-beam. If your design needs a square or round profile instead, see our Square Hollow Section (SHS) and Circular Hollow Section (CHS) pages.

3. RHS Sizes & Dimensions

Standard RHS sizes run from 40 × 20 mm light sections to 500 × 300 mm heavy structural members. The table below lists the most commonly exported rectangular 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
40 × 20	1.5–2.5	6 / 12 m
50 × 25	1.5–3.0	6 / 12 m
50 × 30	2.0–3.0	6 / 12 m
60 × 40	2.0–4.0	6 / 12 m
80 × 40	2.0–4.0	6 / 12 m
100 × 50	2.5–5.0	6 / 12 m
120 × 60	2.5–5.0	6 / 12 m
120 × 80	3.0–6.0	6 / 12 m
150 × 100	3.0–6.0	6 / 12 m
160 × 80	3.0–6.0	6 / 12 m
200 × 100	4.0–8.0	6 / 12 m
200 × 150	4.0–8.0	6 / 12 m
250 × 150	5.0–10.0	6 / 12 m
300 × 150	5.0–10.0	6 / 12 m
300 × 200	6.0–12.0	6 / 12 m
400 × 200	8.0–12.0	6 / 12 m
500 × 300	10.0–16.0	6 / 12 m

Dimension tolerances follow EN 10219-2 and GB/T 6728. Out-of-square tolerance is typically 90° ± 1°, twist is limited to 2 mm/m for cold-formed sections, and the corner outer radius is approximately 2 × wall thickness.

4. RHS Weight Chart (kg per Metre)

Indicative weights for common RHS sizes, calculated with the standard formula weight = 2 × t × (a + b − 2t) × 7.85 / 1000 kg/m (a = longer side, b = shorter side, 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
50 × 30	2.39	2.94	—	—	—	—	—	—
60 × 40	3.01	3.73	4.43	5.78	—	—	—	—
80 × 40	3.64	4.51	5.37	7.03	—	—	—	—
100 × 50	—	5.70	6.78	8.91	11.00	—	—	—
120 × 60	—	6.86	8.20	10.80	13.36	—	—	—
120 × 80	—	—	9.14	12.06	14.92	17.71	—	—
150 × 100	—	—	11.55	15.20	18.84	22.39	—	—
160 × 80	—	—	11.02	14.57	18.06	21.48	—	—
200 × 100	—	—	—	18.33	22.77	27.13	35.67	—
200 × 150	—	—	—	21.49	26.69	31.83	41.92	—
250 × 150	—	—	—	—	30.62	36.55	48.23	59.66
300 × 150	—	—	—	—	34.62	41.26	54.39	67.28
300 × 200	—	—	—	—	—	45.96	60.79	75.36
400 × 200	—	—	—	—	—	—	73.35	91.06
500 × 300	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	122.46

Use the rectangular hollow section weight chart to estimate tonnage and freight: multiply the kg/m figure by the total length. For example, 1,000 m of 200 × 100 × 5.0 mm RHS weighs about 22.77 tonnes. A 40 ft container holds roughly 22–25 tonnes of RHS, which covers between 500 m of 400 mm deep members and 9,000 m of 50 × 30 mm tube depending on section.

5. RHS Material Grades & Corrosion Protection

Option	Specification	Best For
Structural carbon steel	Q235B / S235JR — yield 235 MPa	Frames, lintels, general fabrication
High-strength steel	Q355B / S355JR / S355J2 / S355J2H — yield 355 MPa	Beams, long spans, 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 across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, specify at least Z275 galvanizing or full HDG. Every batch ships with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates showing chemical composition and mechanical properties.

6. RHS Prices in 2026 (FOB China)

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

Product	Indicative Price	MOQ
Black RHS, S235JR/Q235B, standard sizes	USD 630–790 per tonne FOB	5 tonnes (mix sizes OK)
High-strength RHS S355 / heavy sections	USD 710–890 per tonne FOB	5 tonnes
Galvanized RHS (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 RHS sizes, wall thicknesses, quantities, and destination port to paul@sinoeaststeel.com.

7. RHS Applications

• Structural beams and lintels — deep RHS sections carry heavy bending loads over doorways, windows, and equipment openings.
• Portal frames and mezzanines — RHS rafters and beams with flat faces for simple bolted connections.
• Vehicle chassis and trailers — rectangular tube frames with high stiffness per kilogram.
• Bridge and gantry members — RHS chords and diagonals in lightweight welded trusses.
• Solar tracker and PV structures — galvanized RHS purlins and rails for ground-mounted farms.
• Machinery frames and bases — rectangular tube skids, stands, and conveyor supports.
• Architectural frames and canopies — clean, sharp-edged members for visible structures.

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

8. Why Buy RHS 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 — 40 × 20 mm to 500 × 300 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 RHS 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 RHS 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 — RHS frames plus primary steel — see our procurement guide for importers.

10. RHS Section Property Notes for Designers

Four facts help when specifying RHS: (1) orient the section so the deep dimension resists the largest bending moment — a 200 × 100 mm RHS has roughly 1.8× the strong-axis section modulus of a 100 × 200 orientation; (2) the closed shape gives a high torsional constant, so RHS beams are naturally stable against twisting without lateral restraints; (3) local buckling limits in EN 1993-1-1 and AISC 360 are favorable for RHS walls in compression, allowing thin, efficient walls in braced structures; (4) where RHS members meet at right angles — such as frame corners — the flat faces allow full-penetration or fillet welds without profile cutting. For beams with point loads, specify the load position so we can advise on stiffeners or heavier walls.

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

11. Packing, Shipping & Delivery

RHS 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. RHS FAQ

Q: What are the standard RHS sizes?
A: Standard rectangular hollow sections run from 40 × 20 mm to 500 × 300 mm, with walls from 1.5 mm to 16 mm and lengths of 6 m or 12 m. Custom sizes are produced to order.

Q: How do I calculate RHS weight per metre?
A: Use the formula 2 × t × (a + b − 2t) × 7.85 / 1000 kg/m. For example, 200 × 100 × 5.0 mm RHS weighs about 22.77 kg/m. Our weight chart above covers the full range.

Q: How much does RHS cost in 2026?
A: Indicative FOB China prices are USD 630–790 per tonne for black S235JR/Q235B RHS, 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 RHS?
A: EN 10210 covers hot-finished sections; EN 10219 covers cold-formed welded sections. Cold-formed RHS has tighter dimensional tolerances and is the standard choice for building frames; hot-finished is preferred where impact toughness or heavy walls are required.

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

Q: What is the maximum length of RHS?
A: Standard lengths are 6 m and 12 m; we can 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 RHS 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.