An S-beam has roughly the same profile as an I-beam, but instead of horizontal flanges, it has tapered flanges that slope away from the inside surface. Additionally, the flanges are narrower than the web, whereas on an I-beam, they are the same size.

H-Beams. One of the strongest steel beams on the list, H-beams, is made up of horizontal elements, while the vertical beams act as the web. The flanges and web create a cross-section that mimics the shape of the letter “H” and are popular in construction or civil engineering projects.

The most popular are 304/304Land 316/316L stainless I beam. Durability: Stainless steel is known for its high strength and durability. Stainless steel I beams can withstand heavy loads and high levels of stress, making them suitable for structural applications where strength is crucial.

To short, the main difference between an H-beam and an I-beam is that the web of an H-beam is much thicker than that of an I-beam. A thicker web means a stronger beam, which allows for more load-bearing capacity. This means that for the same amount of structural support, you can use fewer H beams than I beams.