LVL Beam Span Calculator
Size a simple-span laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beam under uniform load. Checks bending, shear, deflection and bearing per NDS methods, with every standard ply count and depth compared at once.
Application
Geometry
Not sure? Enter the joist span landing on each side. Half of each is added for you.
Loads
LVL grade · read the beam stamp
Size limits
Design checks
Every size at this span
Percent shows the governing check. Tap any size to see its numbers above.
Load summary
Area loads convert to a line load on the beam: w = load × tributary width, plus the beam's own weight.
How the numbers are checked
- Assumes a simple span, uniform load only, full lateral support from joists or sheathing, and dry interior service.
- Includes beam self-weight at 42 pcf (673 kg/m³). Plies are 1¾ in (44 mm) wide.
- Not covered: point loads from posts or walls above, cantilevers, continuous spans, wind uplift, or exterior exposure.
Sizing guide
An LVL beam span calculator finds the smallest laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beam that carries your load across a set span while staying inside four limits: bending, shear, deflection, and bearing. On a typical US house floor (40 pounds per square foot (psf) live load, 10 psf dead load) with 12 feet (3.66 m) of tributary width, a 2-ply 1¾ x 11⅞ inch (2 x 44 x 302 mm) 2.0E LVL spans about 14 feet 5 inches (4.40 m). The beam's manufacturer tables set the final size, since design values differ from brand to brand.
What Inputs Does an LVL Beam Span Calculator Need?
An LVL beam span calculator needs 6 inputs: span, tributary width, live load, dead load, LVL grade, and deflection limit. Each one changes the answer.
| Input | What it means | Typical US value |
|---|---|---|
| Span | Clear distance between supports | 8 to 24 ft (2.4 to 7.3 m) |
| Tributary width | Half of each joist span landing on the beam, added together | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
| Live load | Occupants, furniture, snow | 40 psf (1.92 kPa) living areas; 30 psf (1.44 kPa) sleeping rooms |
| Dead load | Weight of framing and finishes | 10 to 15 psf (0.48 to 0.72 kPa) |
| LVL grade | Stiffness rating stamped on the beam | 1.9E or 2.0E |
| Deflection limit | Maximum sag allowed | L/360 live, L/240 total (floors) |
Tributary width trips up more DIYers than any other field. Picture joists spanning 10 feet on one side of a beam and 14 feet on the other. Half of each gives 5 + 7, so the beam carries a 12-foot (3.66 m) strip of floor, not the full 24 feet.
How to Use the LVL Beam Span Calculator in 5 Steps
To size a beam, enter the span and tributary width first, then add loads and grade before comparing results.
- Measure the clear span between bearing points in feet and inches.
- Add half of each joist span that lands on the beam to get tributary width.
- Enter live and dead loads for the room type, plus ground snow load for roof beams.
- Select the LVL grade printed on the beam stamp, usually 1.9E or 2.0E.
- Compare the ply counts and depths returned, then confirm your pick in the manufacturer's LVL span chart.
Wider beams aren't always the cheapest fix. Going one depth deeper often costs less than adding a third ply.
What Formulas Does an LVL Beam Size Calculator Use?
Every LVL beam size calculator, span tables included, runs 4 checks taken from the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction. First, the area load converts to a line load: w (pounds per linear foot, plf) = load (psf) × tributary width (ft).
- Bending:
M = wL²/8; actual stressfb = M/Smust stay below allowable Fb. - Shear:
V = wL/2; actual stressfv = 1.5V/Amust stay below Fv. - Deflection:
Δ = 5wL⁴/(384EI), compared against L/360 and L/240. - Bearing: required length = reaction ÷ (beam width × Fc⊥).
Design values come from the manufacturer. Weyerhaeuser's Microllam table, for example, lists 1.9E beam values of 1.9 million psi stiffness, 2,600 psi bending, 750 psi compression perpendicular to grain, and 285 psi shear. Deeper beams lose some bending strength, too: for depths other than 12 inches, Fb is multiplied by (12/d)^0.136.
Worked Example: Sizing a 14-Foot Flush Floor Beam
A 2-ply 1¾ x 11⅞ inch 2.0E LVL passes all 4 checks for a 14-foot (4.27 m) floor beam with 12 feet of tributary width. Here's the setup: a homeowner removes a bearing wall, and 12-foot joists land on the new beam from both sides.
The 50 psf total load (2.39 kPa) times 12 feet gives 600 plf (8.76 kN/m), and 480 plf (7.01 kN/m) of that is live load. With a 14-foot span, live-load deflection can't exceed 0.47 inches (11.9 mm).
| Trial beam | Bending used | Live-load deflection | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-ply 1¾ x 9¼ in | 131% | 0.90 in (22.8 mm) | Fails both checks |
| 3-ply 1¾ x 9¼ in | 87% | 0.60 in (15.2 mm) | Fails deflection |
| 2-ply 1¾ x 11⅞ in | 82% | 0.43 in (10.8 mm) | Passes |
Notice the middle row. Adding a third ply fixed bending, but the floor still sagged too much, and only the deeper section solved it. Each end reaction lands at 4,200 pounds (18.7 kN), so the 2-ply beam needs at least 1.6 inches (41 mm) of bearing, which a double jack stud covers easily.
LVL Span Table for Common Floor Beams
For a 40/10 psf floor with 12 feet of tributary width, 2-ply LVL spans range from 11 feet 3 inches to 21 feet 11 inches, depending on depth.
| Depth | 2-ply (3½ in / 89 mm wide) | 3-ply (5¼ in / 133 mm wide) |
|---|---|---|
| 9¼ in (235 mm) | 11'-3" (3.43 m) | 12'-11" (3.93 m) |
| 11⅞ in (302 mm) | 14'-5" (4.40 m) | 16'-6" (5.04 m) |
| 14 in (356 mm) | 17'-0" (5.19 m) | 19'-6" (5.94 m) |
| 16 in (406 mm) | 19'-6" (5.93 m) | 22'-3" (6.79 m) |
| 18 in (457 mm) | 21'-11" (6.67 m) | 25'-1" (7.64 m) |
We calculated this LVL span table with Fb = 2,600 psi (17.9 MPa), E = 2.0 million psi (13.8 GPa), beam self-weight, a simple span, and uniform load only. Use it as a planning beam span table, not a permit document. A post or bearing wall sitting on the beam invalidates every number in it.
How Does LVL Compare With Sawn Lumber, Steel, and Other Beams?
LVL spans farther than sawn lumber of the same depth, while steel spans farther still with less height. The right material depends on headroom, exposure, and budget.
| Beam type | Best use | Tool to check it |
|---|---|---|
| Sawn lumber (Douglas Fir No. 2) | Headers under about 8 ft (2.4 m) | Wood beam span calculator or IRC header tables |
| LVL | Interior floor beams, headers, ridge beams | LVL beam span calculator plus manufacturer tables |
| Parallam PSL or glulam | Exposed or extra-wide beams | Manufacturer software (ForteWEB, BC Calc) |
| Steel W-shape | Long spans with tight headroom | Steel I beam span calculator, then an engineer |
| Treated PSL | Outdoor deck beams | Deck beam span calculator |
Standard LVL stays indoors. Its published design properties assume protected, dry service conditions. For geometry questions, such as section modulus or moment of inertia at a given width and depth, a beam dimensions calculator handles the math.
Which Codes and Standards Govern LVL Beams in the US?
5 documents govern LVL beams in US residential work.
- International Residential Code (IRC): sets floor live loads and deflection limits. Its header span tables cover sawn lumber, not LVL.
- NDS: defines the bending, shear, and deflection design method.
- ASTM D5456: covers manufacturing and testing of structural composite lumber, LVL included.
- ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) reports: prove code compliance for each brand. Weyerhaeuser, for instance, references ICC-ES ER-1387 on certain Microllam LVL stamps.
- State and local amendments: set the ground snow load from ASCE 7 maps, which can range from 0 psf in south Florida to well over 100 psf (4.79 kPa) in Rocky Mountain towns.
How Much Does an LVL Beam Cost?
LVL material runs about $3 to $12 per linear foot ($9.84 to $39.37 per meter), and installed beams cost $50 to $200 per linear foot. Those figures come from Angi's 2026 load-bearing wall ranges, which also list permits at $100 to $500. A single retail data point grounds the low end: in July 2026, a 20-foot 1¾ x 11⅞ inch 2.1E LVL sold for $127.80, or $6.39 per foot.
The beam itself is usually the cheap part. Labor, temporary shoring, and drywall repair drive most invoices.
When Do You Need a Structural Engineer for an LVL Beam?
You need a licensed engineer in 4 situations, even after running an LVL beam span calculator:
- Point loads from posts, girder trucks, or bearing walls above the beam.
- Spans or loads beyond what the manufacturer's tables list.
- Cantilevers or continuous spans over 3 or more supports.
- Jurisdictions that require stamped calculations for bearing-wall removal.
Mixing brands belongs on that list as well. A Versa-Lam chart doesn't validate a Microllam beam, since each product carries its own ICC-ES values.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far can a 2-ply 11⅞ LVL span?
About 14 feet 5 inches (4.40 m) under a 40/10 psf floor with 12 feet of tributary width. Narrower tributary strips allow longer spans; heavier loads shorten them.
Can I use one brand's LVL span chart for another brand?
No. Design values vary by manufacturer and mill. Pull the chart that matches the stamp on your beam, or run that brand's own software.
Is 1.9E LVL weaker than 2.0E?
Yes, slightly. The number is stiffness in millions of psi, so 1.9E deflects roughly 5% more than 2.0E at identical size and load.
Do I need a permit to install an LVL beam?
Yes, in most US jurisdictions whenever the beam replaces a load-bearing wall. Inspectors typically ask for sizing calculations or the product's evaluation report.
Can LVL be used outdoors for a deck beam?
No, not standard LVL. Untreated LVL is rated for dry, covered service. Exterior decks call for preservative-treated lumber or a treated engineered option such as Parallam Plus PSL.