Square Hollow Section (SHS)

Square Hollow Section, also known as SHS, is a type of metal profile with a hollow, square tubular cross-section. It is also commonly referred to as a hollow structural section (HSS). SHS is available in both, a seamless and welded form, with the latter being the most commonly used.

Specifications of Square Hollow Section

Specifications of SHS may vary according to the standards set by different countries or organizations. Here are the specifications according to the ASTM A500 standard:

1. Grades: Grade A, B, C, or D

Sizes: 10mm x 10mm to 800mm x 800mm
Wall Thickness: 0.8mm – 50mm
Length: 3m to 12m, or custom lengths

Dimensions and Sizes of Square Hollow Section

The dimensions and sizes of SHS are quite diverse, providing a flexible option for numerous applications. Sizes can range from as small as 20mm x 20mm to as large as 500mm x 500mm, with wall thickness varying from 1.0mm to 20mm.

Square Hollow Section Sizes	Weight	Height	Width	W. T.
Square Hollow Section Sizes	[kg/m]	[mm]	[mm]	[mm]
20 x 20 x 2 SHS	1.1	20	20	2
20 x 20 x 2.5 SHS	1.3	20	20	2.5
25 x 25 x 2 SHS	14	25	25	2
25 x 25 x 2.5 SHS	1.7	25	25	2.5
25 x 25 x 3 SHS	2	25	25	3
30 x 30 x 2 SHS	1.7	30	30	2
30 x 30 x 2.5 SHS	2.1	30	30	2.5
30 x 30 x 3 SHS	2.5	30	30	3
40 x 40 x 2.5 SHS	2.9	40	40	2.5
40 x 40 x 3 SHS	3.4	40	40	3
40 x 40 x 3.2 SHS	3.6	40	40	3.2
40 x 40 x 3.6 SHS	4	40	40	3.6
40 x 40 x 4 SHS	4.4	40	40	4
40 x 40 x 5 SHS	5.3	40	40	5
50 x 50 x 2.5 SHS	3.7	50	50	2.5
50 x 50 x 3 SHS	4.4	50	50	3
50 x 50 x 3.2 SHS	4.6	50	50	3.2
50 x 50 x 3.6 SHS	5.1	50	50	3.6
50 x 50 x 4 SHS	5.6	50	50	4
50 x 50 x 5 SHS	6.9	50	50	5
50 x 50 x 6 SHS	8	50	50	6
50 x 50 x 6.3 SHS	8.3	50	50	6.3
60 x 60 x 2.5 SHS	4.5	60	60	2.5
60 x 60 x 3 SHS	5.3	60	60	3
60 x 60 x 3.2 SHS	5.6	60	60	3.2
60 x 60 x 3.6 SHS	6.3	60	60	3.6
60 x 60 x 4 SHS	6.9	60	60	4
60 x 60 x 5 SHS	8.4	60	60	5
60 x 60 x 6 SHS	9.9	60	60	6
60 x 60 x 6.3 SHS	10.3	60	60	6.3
60 x 60 x 8 SHS	12.5	60	60	8
70 x 70 x 3 SHS	6.2	70	70	3
70 x 70 x 3.2 SHS	6.6	70	70	3.2
70 x 70 x 3.6 SHS	7.4	70	70	3.6
70 x 70 x 4 SHS	8.2	70	70	4
70 x 70 x 5 SHS	10	70	70	5
70 x 70 x 6 SHS	11.8	70	70	6
70 x 70 x 6.3 SHS	12.3	70	70	6.3
70 x 70 x 8 SHS	15	70	70	8
80 x 80 x 3 SHS	7.2	80	80	3
80 x 80 x 3.2 SHS	7.6	80	80	3.2
80 x 80 x 3.6 SHS	8.5	80	80	3.6
80 x 80 x 4 SHS	9.4	80	80	4
80 x 80 x 5 SHS	11.6	80	80	5
80 x 80 x 6 SHS	13.6	80	80	6
80 x 80 x 6.3 SHS	14.2	80	80	6.3
80 x 80 x 8 SHS	17.8	80	80	8
90 x 90 x 5 SHS	13.1	90	90	5
90 x 90 x 6 SHS	15.5	90	90	6
90 x 90 x 6.3 SHS	16.2	90	90	6.3
90 x 90 x 8 SHS	20.1	90	90	8
100 x 100 x 3.6 SHS	10.8	100	100	3.6
100 x 100 x 4 SHS	11.9	100	100	4
100 x 100 x 5 SHS	14.7	100	100	5
100 x 100 x 6 SHS	17.4	100	100	6
100 x 100 x 6.3 SHS	18.2	100	100	6.3
100 x 100 x 8 SHS	22.6	100	100	8
100 x 100 x 10 SHS	27.4	100	100	10
120 x 120 x 4 SHS	14.4	120	120	4
120 x 120 x 5 SHS	18	120	120	5
120 x 120 x 6 SHS	21.2	120	120	6
120 x 120 x 6.3 SHS	22.2	120	120	6.3
120 x 120 x 8 SHS	27.6	120	120	8
120 x 120 x 10 SHS	33.7	120	120	10
120 x 120 x 12 SHS	39.5	120	120	12
120 x 120 x 12.5 SHS	40.9	120	120	12.5
140 x 140 x 5 SHS	21	140	140	5
140 x 140 x 6 SHS	24.9	140	140	6
140 x 140 x 6.3 SHS	26.1	140	140	6.3
140 x 140 x 8 SHS	32.6	140	140	8
140 x 140 x 10 SHS	40	140	140	10
140 x 140 x 12 SHS	47	140	140	12
140 x 140 x 12.5 SHS	48.7	140	140	12.5
150 x 150 x 5 SHS	22.6	150	150	5
150 x 150 x 6 SHS	26.8	150	150	6
150 x 150 x 6.3 SHS	28.1	150	150	6.3
150 x 150 x 8 SHS	35.1	150	150	8
150 x 150 x 10 SHS	43.1	150	150	10
150 x 150 x 12 SHS	50.8	150	150	12
150 x 150 x 12.5 SHS	52.7	150	150	12.5
150 x 150 x 16 SHS	65.2	150	150	16
160 x 160 x 5 SHS	24.1	160	160	5
160 x 160 x 6 SHS	28.7	160	160	6
160 x 160 x 6.3 SHS	30.1	160	160	6.3
160 x 160 x 8 SHS	37.6	160	160	8
160 x 160 x 10 SHS	46.3	160	160	10
160 x 160 x 12 SHS	54.6	160	160	12
160 x 160 x 12.5 SHS	56.6	160	160	12.5
160 x 160 x 16 SHS	70.2	160	160	16
180 x 180 x 5 SHS	27.3	180	180	5
180 x 180 x 6 SHS	32.5	180	180	6
180 x 180 x 6.3 SHS	34	180	180	6.3
180 x 180 x 8 SHS	42.7	180	180	8
180 x 180 x 10 SHS	52.5	180	180	10
180 x 180 x 12 SHS	62.1	180	180	12
180 x 180 x 12.5 SHS	64.4	180	180	12.5
180 x 180 x 16 SHS	80.2	180	180	16
200 x 200 x 5 SHS	30.4	200	200	5
200 x 200 x 6 SHS	36.2	200	200	6
200 x 200 x 6.3 SHS	38	200	200	6.3
200 x 200 x 8 SHS	47.7	200	200	8
200 x 200 x 10 SHS	58.8	200	200	10
200 x 200 x 12 SHS	69.6	200	200	12
200 x 200 x 12.5 SHS	72.3	200	200	12.5
200 x 200 x 16 SHS	90.3	200	200	16
220 x 220 x 6 SHS	40	220	220	6
220 x 220 x 6.3 SHS	41.9	220	220	6.3
220 x 220 x 8 SHS	52.7	220	220	8
220 x 220 x 10 SHS	65.1	220	220	10
220 x 220 x 12 SHS	77.2	220	220	12
220 x 220 x 12.5 SHS	80.1	220	220	12.5
220 x 220 x 16 SHS	100	220	220	16
250 x 250 x 5 SHS	38.3	250	250	5
250 x 250 x 6 SHS	45.7	250	250	6
250 x 250 x 6.3 SHS	47.9	250	250	6.3
250 x 250 x 8 SHS	60.3	250	250	8
250 x 250 x 10 SHS	74.5	250	250	10
250 x 250 x 12 SHS	88.5	250	250	12
250 x 250 x 12.5 SHS	91.9	250	250	12.5
250 x 250 x 16 SHS	115	250	250	16
260 x 260 x 6 SHS	47.6	260	260	6
260 x 260 x 6.3 SHS	49.9	260	260	6.3
260 x 260 x 8 SHS	62.8	260	260	8
260 x 260 x 10 SHS	77.7	260	260	10
260 x 260 x 12 SHS	92.2	260	260	12
260 x 260 x 12.5 SHS	95.8	260	260	12.5
260 x 260 x 16 SHS	120	260	260	16
300 x 300 x 6 SHS	55.1	300	300	6
300 x 300 x 6.3 SHS	57.8	300	300	6.3
300 x 300 x 8 SHS	72.8	300	300	8
300 x 300 x 10 SHS	90.2	300	300	10
300 x 300 x 12 SHS	107	300	300	12
300 x 300 x 12.5 SHS	112	300	300	12.5
300 x 300 x 16 SHS	141	300	300	16
350 x 350 x 8 SHS	85.4	350	350	8
350 x 350 x 10 SHS	106	350	350	10
350 x 350 x 12 SHS	126	350	350	12
350 x 350 x 12.5 SHS	131	350	350	12.5
350 x 350 x 16 SHS	166	350	350	16
400 x 400 x 8 SHS	97.9	400	400	8
400 x 400 x 10 SHS	122	400	400	10
400 x 400 x 12 SHS	145	400	400	12
400 x 400 x 12.5 SHS	151	400	400	12.5
400 x 400 x 16 SHS	191	400	400	16
400 x 400 x 20 SHS	235	400	400	20

Chemical Composition of Square Hollow Section

The chemical composition of SHS will depend on the steel grade used. Here’s an example for the ASTM A500 Grade B:

Carbon, max %: 0.26
Manganese, max %: 1.35
Phosphorous, max %: 0.04
Sulfur, max %: 0.04
Copper, min % when copper steel is specified: 0.20

Mechanical Property of Square Hollow Section

The mechanical properties of SHS also vary with the steel grade. For ASTM A500 Grade B:

Tensile Strength, min, psi: 58,000
Yield Strength, min, psi: 42,000
Elongation in 2” min, %: 23

Appearance of Square Hollow Section

SHS usually have a straight and clean surface with a uniform finish. It’s possible to have surface treatments to add to its appearance and corrosion resistance, such as galvanizing, painting, or powder coating.

Advantages of Using Square Hollow Sections

Efficiency: SHS have a high strength-to-weight ratio, making them an efficient choice in many structural applications.
Versatility: Their symmetrical shape makes them ideal for multi-axis loading applications.
Aesthetics: Their clean lines make them a popular choice for architectural applications.
Ease of Fabrication: They can be cut, drilled, and welded easily.
Durability: Their closed shape protects them from corrosion, especially when galvanized.