U Channel Steel: Sizes, Weight Chart, Prices & Specifications for Industrial Buildings

U Channel Steel: Sizes, Weight Chart, Prices & Specifications for Industrial Buildings<\/h2>

U channel steel (also called U channels, U sections, or cold-formed channels) is a cold-formed steel profile with a U-shaped cross-section: one flat web and two parallel flanges, without lips. U channels are a universal framing member — they work as light purlins and girts, edge trims, brackets, cable and pipe bearers, and fabrication stock — and they are among the cheapest steel sections per metre you can buy. The open profile is also convenient for nesting services inside the section and for site welding, which is why contractors keep U channel in standard stock sizes. This page is the complete buying reference from Sino East Steel Group — a direct steel structure manufacturer in Tianjin, China: u channel steel sizes, u section weight tables, material and galvanizing options, 2026 FOB prices, and the exact way to order U channels for your project.

1. What Is U Channel Steel?

A U channel is a cold-rolled steel section with a U-shaped cross-section: a flat web forming the base of the U and two flanges at right angles to it, with no stiffening lips. The simple geometry makes U channels easy to cut, drill, weld, and bolt, and the open profile is convenient for running services inside the section and for lapping at connections.

U channels are roll formed from galvanized or cold-rolled steel strip in continuous lengths, then cut to order and punched where required. They are manufactured to international standards including EN 10162, JIS G 3350, ASTM A1003, and GB/T 6723. Standard supply lengths are 6 m, 9 m, and 12 m, with custom lengths available for special projects. Where heavier rolled sections with tapered flanges are required, see our UPN channels page.

2. U Channel vs C Channel vs UPN: Which One Do You Need?

Comparison	U Channel (Cold-Formed)	C Channel (Lipped)	UPN Channel (Hot-Rolled)
Production	Cold roll forming from strip	Cold roll forming from strip	Hot rolling from billet
Flanges	Parallel, no lips	Parallel with inward lips	Tapered, thicker at the root
Strength	Good for light to medium duty	Higher for the same gauge (lips)	Highest for the same depth
Best for	Trims, bearers, brackets, light framing	Purlins, girts, studs, racking	Main structural members, heavy framing
Cost	Lowest per metre	Low per metre	Higher per metre, thicker sections
Typical use	Light steelwork, services, fabrication	Secondary steelwork in buildings	Columns, beams, machine frames

For real roof and wall loads, step up to a C purlin or a lipped channel. For light duty, trims, and fabrication stock, the U channel below is the economical choice.

3. U Channel Steel Sizes & Dimensions

Standard u channel steel sizes cover section depths from 50 mm to 250 mm. The table below lists common profiles with their flange dimensions. Custom sizes and lengths are produced to order — our roll forming line adjusts to any profile within the capacity of the coil width.

Section (mm)	Depth × Flange	Typical Thickness	Common Lengths
U50 × 25	50 × 25	1.5–2.5 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U60 × 30	60 × 30	1.5–2.5 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U75 × 40	75 × 40	2.0–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U80 × 40	80 × 40	2.0–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U100 × 50	100 × 50	2.0–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U120 × 50	120 × 50	2.0–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U140 × 60	140 × 60	2.5–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U150 × 60	150 × 60	2.5–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U160 × 65	160 × 65	2.5–3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U180 × 70	180 × 70	3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U200 × 75	200 × 75	3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m
U250 × 80	250 × 80	3.0 mm	6 / 9 / 12 m

Dimension tolerances follow EN 10162 and GB/T 6723: depth ±2 mm, flange width ±2 mm, thickness per coil tolerance, and straightness within 1/500 of length. When you specify a U channel, quote the depth first (web), then the flange width, then the thickness — for example U100 × 50 × 2.5 mm. For a size not listed, send your drawing and our tooling team will confirm the profile and lead time.

4. U Channel Weight Chart (kg per metre)

Indicative weights for common galvanized U channel sections (calculated per GB/T 6723, ±5%):

Section	2.0 mm	2.5 mm	3.0 mm
U50 × 25	1.5 kg/m	1.9 kg/m	—
U60 × 30	1.8 kg/m	2.3 kg/m	—
U75 × 40	2.4 kg/m	3.0 kg/m	3.5 kg/m
U80 × 40	2.4 kg/m	3.1 kg/m	3.7 kg/m
U100 × 50	3.1 kg/m	3.8 kg/m	4.6 kg/m
U120 × 50	3.4 kg/m	4.2 kg/m	5.0 kg/m
U140 × 60	—	5.0 kg/m	6.0 kg/m
U150 × 60	—	5.2 kg/m	6.2 kg/m
U160 × 65	—	5.5 kg/m	6.6 kg/m
U180 × 70	—	—	7.3 kg/m
U200 × 75	—	—	8.0 kg/m
U250 × 80	—	—	9.4 kg/m

Use the u section weight chart to estimate freight and steel tonnage for your quotation: a 40 ft container holds roughly 22–25 tonnes of nested U channels, typically covering 2,000–3,000 m of sections depending on profile. Multiply the per-metre weight by your total length to get net tonnage, then add 2–3% for end cuts and packaging. We keep the most common sizes — U75, U100, and U120 — on a short rolling program, so repeat orders for standard sections usually ship faster.

5. Material Grades & Corrosion Protection

Option	Specification	Best For
Structural steel	Q235B / S235JR — yield 235 MPa	Dry internal environments
High-strength steel	Q355B / S355JR / S450–S550 (cold forming)	Long spans, heavy loads
Galvanized (pre-painted coil)	Z180 / Z275 / Z350 / Z450 g/m² per EN 10346	Corrosive atmospheres, coastal sites
Hot-dip galvanized (after forming)	HDG 70–85 µm (ISO 1461)	Aggressive coastal / industrial exposure
Paint coating	Polyester / PVDF topcoat, optional	Architectural color matching

For warehouse and factory projects in humid or coastal regions — including much of Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia — specify at least Z275 galvanizing. Our mill test certificates (EN 10204 3.1) accompany every batch.

6. U Channel Steel Prices in 2026 (FOB China)

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

Product	Indicative Price	MOQ
Galvanized U channel (Z275, standard sections)	USD 750–950 per tonne FOB	5 tonnes (mix sizes OK)
High-strength / thick sections (2.5–3.0 mm)	USD 800–1,020 per tonne FOB	5 tonnes
Hot-dip galvanized U channel (HDG)	USD 950–1,200 per tonne FOB	10 tonnes
Punching / custom length / drilling	Included or nominal charge	—

Prices move with global steel coil markets and exchange rates, so treat these as planning ranges. For a firm quotation send your sections, quantities, and destination port to paul@sinoeaststeel.com. To estimate the full landed cost of a steel building in your market, see our Kenya, Nigeria, and UAE cost guides.

7. U Channel Steel Applications

• Edge trims and flashings — U channels as perimeter trims, door frames, and panel edges.
• Light purlins and girts — on small buildings, canopies, and shelters with modest loads.
• Cable trays and pipe supports — runs of U channel as economical bearers in services installations.
• Brackets and supports — saddles, cleats, and equipment frames cut and welded from U channel.
• Tie members and bracing — simple tension members in light steel frames.
• Fabrication stock — gates, trolleys, guards, and general steelwork produced on site.

Related cold-formed profiles we manufacture: C Purlin, Lipped Channels, Plain Channels, Hat Channels, Z Section Steel, and UPN Channels. For the full range of steel structure products — PEB, warehouses, and heavy steel — start from our product catalogue.

8. Why Buy U Channels 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 cold roll forming lines, CNC punching, and hot-dip galvanizing capacity.

• Factory-direct pricing — no middleman; 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.
• Custom profiles and punching — holes, slots, and lengths to your shop drawings.
• Export documentation — invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, EN 10204 3.1 certificates for smooth clearance.
• 100,000+ tonnes annual capacity — standard sections ship in 1–2 weeks; custom profiles in 3–4 weeks.

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

9. How to Order U Channels from China

1. Send your section size (or drawing), length, quantity, and destination port.
2. Receive an itemized quotation within 24–48 hours (FOB/CIF).
3. Approve the shop drawing and punching pattern.
4. We fabricate and test (SGS/BV/TÜV inspection optional).
5. We ship FCL from Tianjin with full export documentation.

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

10. U Channel Selection & Usage Guide

Load capacity depends on section size, steel grade, and support conditions — always confirm with structural calculations. As a planning reference for U channels used as light purlins with 1.0–1.2 m spacing and light cladding:

Section	Typical Single Span	Typical Use
U50 × 25 × 2.0	1.2–1.8 m	Trims, small brackets
U75 × 40 × 2.0	1.8–2.5 m	Light girts, cable bearers
U100 × 50 × 2.5	2.5–3.5 m	Light purlins, framing
U150 × 60 × 2.5	3.0–4.0 m	Purlin runs, equipment supports
U200 × 75 × 3.0	4.0–5.5 m	Heavier light-steel members

U channels are also commonly used back-to-back to form boxed sections for stiff edge members and door headers. Our engineers can produce a full member schedule for your frame free of charge when you request a quotation.

11. Packing, Shipping & Delivery

U channels are stacked and nested into compact bundles, strapped with steel bands, and loaded into 40 ft containers or break-bulk holds at Tianjin Port. Each bundle carries a mark tag with your project name, section, 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. U Channel Steel FAQ

Q: What is U channel steel used for?
A: U channels are used for edge trims, light purlins and girts, cable and pipe bearers, brackets, tie members, and general fabrication. The open U profile is easy to weld, bolt, and run services through.

Q: What sizes does U channel steel come in?
A: Standard depths range from 50 mm to 250 mm with flange widths of 25–80 mm, thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 3.0 mm, and lengths up to 12 m (custom lengths available).

Q: How much does U channel steel cost?
A: In 2026, galvanized U channels run roughly USD 750–950 per tonne FOB China; hot-dip galvanized sections USD 950–1,200 per tonne. Freight and duty vary by destination.

Q: What is the weight of a U channel per metre?
A: For example, a U100×50×2.5 mm channel weighs about 3.8 kg/m; a U200×75×3.0 mm section about 8.0 kg/m. Use our weight chart above for planning.

Q: Is U channel steel galvanized?
A: Yes — we supply Z180 to Z450 galvanized U channels per EN 10346, or fully hot-dip galvanized (HDG 70–85 µm) sections for coastal and aggressive environments.

Q: What is the standard for U channel steel?
A: Common standards are EN 10162, JIS G 3350, ASTM A1003, and GB/T 6723. Our production and tolerances comply with all four.

Q: Can you make custom U channel profiles?
A: Yes. Our roll forming line produces custom depths, flange widths, holes, and lengths to your shop drawings, with 3–4 weeks tooling and production lead time.

Q: U channel or UPN — which should I choose?
A: Choose cold-formed U channels for light duty, trims, and fabrication stock; choose UPN channels (hot-rolled, tapered flanges) for heavier structural members and machine frames.

Q: How do I get a U channel quotation?
A: Email your section size, 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.