This calculator can also be used to measure beam deflection. If you’re using common construction lumber, a 1 inch board is actually 3/4″ and a 2 inch board is 1-1/2″ thick.ħ. The shelf thickness value is actual thickness, not nominal. If you use fractions, just make sure to leave a space between any leading whole number and the fraction.Ħ. You can enter fractional dimensions as decimals (8.75), or as conventional fractions (8 3/4). Fine Woodworking magazines can weigh up to 40 pounds per foot.ĥ. A value of 35 pounds per running foot is used by some for library shelving. A fully loaded bookshelf weighs 20-40 pounds (9-18 kg) per running foot, or 60-120 pounds (27-54 kg) for a 3′ wide shelf. Many bookshelves have a depth of 8″ to 12″, a width of 24″ to 36″, and a thickness of 3/4″ to 1″.Ĥ. Once you have a maximum allowable sag figure in mind, you can design your shelf by tweaking the material types and dimensions. Thus, a suggested target for allowable sag is 0.02″ per foot or less.ģ. As an engineering rule of thumb, wood beams/shelves will sag an additional 50% over time beyond the initial deflection induced by the load. Expect some real-life variation from the calculated results.Ģ.The eye will notice a deflection of 1/32″ (0.03″) per running foot, or 3/32″ (0.09″) for a 3′ wide bookshelf. The deflection calculations use average wood stiffness properties of clear, straight-grained samples measured in controlled laboratory conditions (mainly from the U.S. Target sag: 0.02 in per foot (1.7 mm per m) or lessġ. Shelf Characteristicsįixed (attached to sides) Floating (not attached) You can also specify an edging strip to further stiffen the shelf. LVL Beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.The Sagulator helps you design shelves by calculating shelf sag (deflection) given type of shelf material, shelf load, load distribution, dimensions, and method of attachment. LVL beam span calculator, design an LVL beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span in inches by 20. Beam depths are typically 5 1/2 inches, 7 1/4 inches, 9 1/4 inches, 11 1/4 inches, 11 7/8 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches, and 20 inches. The width can be increased by laminating in multiples of 1 3/4 inches. LVL Beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.ĭesign a beam width based on the fact that the typical width of an LVL beam is 1 3/4 inches. Rule of thumb for sizing LVL beamĭesign an LVL beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span in inches by 20. For example: An 12 inches deep an LVL beam can span up to 20 feet (12″÷12× 20= 20 foot). LVL span calculatorĬalculate LVL beam span on the rule of thumb for estimating the span of LVL manufactured beam which is to multiply the depth in feet by figure 20, resulting figure is span of LVL beam. LVL beam thickness is usually between 1-3/4″ (one ply) and 7 inches (4ply).
Generally, you can find LVL beams in a 4-foot increments starting at 24 feet and going up to 44 feet long, with special customize size up to 60 feet. LVL beam width should be 1/4 to 1/3 beam depth.įor example what size lvl beam for a 20 foot span, as per general thumb rule, for a 20 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be (20×12)÷20 = 12 inches deep and width of LVL beam = 12÷ 4 = 3″, which is nearly equal as 3-1/2 inches or 2ply wide, thus you need something like a 12″ thick or 3-1/2″× 11-7/8″ size of LVL beam to span up to 20 feet.Īn LVL beam can span up to 60 feet due to its strength and is much stronger than traditional lumber. Because of the wood’s dimensional stability, inspection times are often reduced, too.īeam depths are typically 5-1/2 inches, 7-1/4 inches, 9-1/4 inches, 11-1/4 inches, 11-7/8 inches, 14 inches, 16 inches, 18 inches and 20 inches. Use an LVL beam to eliminate twisting and splitting for quiet floors.
It is a straight, enough strong wood that fights warping and shrinking, providing great stability for your projects. LVL beam is generally made of thin sheets of wood which are sandwiched and bound with super stronger glue. It helps in better understanding about span and depth of LVL beam. This article describe about LVL beam span calculator and how to determine size of beam do you need. It is typically used for headers, beams, rim board, and edge-forming material. Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is an engineered wood product that uses multiple layers of thin wood assembled with adhesives. LVL is product of recent innovation they are result of new technology and economic pressure to make use of new wood species and smaller trees that cannot be used to make solid Lumber. The American wood Council National design specification for wood, lvl is type of structural composite lumber comparable to glued laminated timber (Glulam).