How far can an 18 LVL span?
William Rodriguez
Published Jan 10, 2026
As per general thumb rule and guidelines, a double 18″ lvl beam can allow span upto 30 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
What size LVL Do I need to span 20 feet?
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 10 to 12 inches deep and 3-1/2 inches or 2ply wide, thus you need something like a 10-12″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 20 feet and can use simple 2×14 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre as ...
How far can a 20 LVL span?
Due to its strength, the LVL beam can span up to 60 feet and is much stronger than conventional lumber.
How far can a triple 18 LVL span?
A 14”, 16”, and 18” deep will all span 30', but 16” and 18” are typically doubled or tripled for greater loads. 3-1/2” 2.1E 3100 at 7-1/4” deep will span 20', a 9-1/2” up to 26', and other depths 30'.
What size LVL Do I need to span 18 feet?
For span upto 18 feet, generally you need 3 × 9 1/4 standard size of LVL beam or 2×12 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre on normal weight condition which providing great stability for your projects.
20 related questions foundHow far can a 16 LVL span?
As per general thumb rule and guidelines, a double 16″ lvl beam can allow span upto 26 feet far distance used for residential building or projects.
What size LVL Do I need to span 16 feet?
What size LVL header size for 16 foot span:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines for a 16 foot span, size of LVL header or GLULAM should be 14 to 16 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide, thus you need something like 2- 1.75″× 16″ (2- 1 3/4″× 16″) GLULAM or LVL header to span upto 16 feet.
What size LVL Do I need to span 24 feet?
LVL beam size for a 24 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 24 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 12-14 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 12-14″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 24 feet used for residential building or projects.
What size LVL Do I need to span 30 feet?
What size lvl beam for a 30 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 30 foot span, size of LVL beam or GLULAM should be 16-18 inches deep and 4 inches wide, thus you need something like a 16-18″ GLULAM or LVL to span upto 30 feet used for residential building or projects.
How much does an 18 inch LVL weight?
How much does a 18″ LVL weight per foot:– as per general guidelines, a 18 inches of one ply or 1- 3/4″ thick LVL beam can weight around 8.97 pounds per linear foot and 2 ply (3- 1/2″) LVL 17.94 pounds. Thus, a one ply & 18″ depth of LVL beam can weigh about 8.97 lbs per linear foot & two ply 17.94 pounds.
How far can an LVL cantilever?
Many building departments limit joist cantilevers to 24" maximum. Generally, you should use at least five framing nails to attach the rim joist to the ends of your joists.
Is LVL stronger than dimensional lumber?
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) studs can be two times stronger in compression and tension than standard framing lumber of the same dimension.
How big of a beam do I need to span 18 feet?
What size beam to span 18 ft:- as per general thumb rule and guidelines, a 3 nailed 2×16 or 3-2×16 or 6×16 size of wood beam can allow to span 18 feet. Thus, for a 18 foot span, you will need atleast 3-2×16 or 6×16 size of wood beam.
What size LVL beam do I need for 15 foot span?
For span upto 15 feet, generally you need 3 × 7 1/4 standard size of LVL beam or 2×10 dimensional lumber at 16″ apart from centre on normal weight condition which providing great stability for your projects.
How much does a 20 foot LVL beam cost?
The LVL beam thickness is usually between 1.75 and 7 inches. The price for beams that fit 10 feet of space will range from $3 to $5 per linear foot, while a 20-feet span will need a beam that costs $6 to $11 per linear foot.
What size steel beam do I need to span 16 feet?
As per general thumb rule, for 16 feet span size of steel beam or universal beam or w beam or I beam or UB's or hot rolled section or Rolled steel joist (RSJ) should be ISMB 250 or UB 250×125 or W10 used for residential building or projects.
How do I know what size LVL beam I need?
Design a beam depth based on the rule of thumb for estimating the depth of manufactured beams which is to divide the span 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.
What size LVL do I need for a 12 foot span?
What size LVL header for 12 foot span:- as per general thumb rule, for a 12 foot span, size of LVL header or GLULAM should be 10 to 12 inches deep and 3.5 inches wide, thus you need something like 2- 1.75″×14″ GLULAM or LVL header to span upto 12 feet.
How far can a triple 2x12 beam span?
As per general rules and guidelines, #2 grade southern pine of a triple 2×6 deck beam can span upto 8 feet, (3) 2×10 can span 13 feet, (3) 2×8 can span 11 feet and (3) 2×12 can span 15 feet.
How big of a beam do I need for a 20 foot span?
For a 20-foot spans, the wood beam has to be at least 16 inches in depth and 8″ in width (4-2×16) used for residential building or projects.
How far can a double 2x12 beam span?
When supporting joists that span 12 feet with no overhang beyond the beam, a double ply beam can span in feet a value equal to its depth in inches. A double 2x12 beam can span 12 feet; a (2) 2x10 can span 10 feet and so on.
Can a 2x8 span 18 feet?
Span is determined by species, grade, dimensions, spacing, use, and load. A rule of thumb is 1.5 times a joist's depth but in feet when spaced at 16” centers. In general, a 2×8 will span 1.5 x 8, so 12-feet. Based on all factors though, a 2×8 joist span is 7'-1” to 16'-6”, and a rafter 6'-7” and 23'-9”.
What are the disadvantages of LVL?
Although its dimensional stability is better than solid wood, the product may result in some defect, such as warping, if it is not properly stored in the warehouse. Also, LVL requires high capital investment to have relatively low production cost.
Is glulam the same as LVL?
A glulam beam looks like a stack of 2 x 4s (or larger lumber) glued together on their broadsides. This is in contrast to other engineered members, such as LVL (laminated veneer lumber) and Microlam beams, which look like very thick plywood, with very thin layers of wood glued together to form a thicker mass.
Can you nail into a LVL beam?
Drilling holes in IB (International Beams) LVL (laminated veneer lumber) is generally discouraged. However, small diameter round holes, appropriately located in the wide face of the LVL, are permitted as indicated in the table and notes below. These apply to all grades of IB LVL.