Steel Sheet Pile Width, Thickness, and Height Comparison Guide

You are looking at a sheet pile specification and see numbers like 400×125, PZ 271, or PZC 13. You need to know what these numbers mean and how they affect the performance of your wall.

Steel sheet pile dimensions—width, height, and thickness—determine the structural properties of the wall. Width affects how many piles you need. Height affects bending strength. Thickness affects weight and corrosion allowance. Different designation systems (U type, PZ, PZC) use different naming conventions.

%[alt [steel sheet pile dimensions](http://nucor.com/newsroom/intro-to-steel-sheet-piling-applications-and-benefits-in-construction)[^2] diagram showing width height thickness](https://placehold.co/600x400 "Steel Sheet Pile Dimensions")

I have worked with sheet piles from all over the world. The riverbank project in Southeast Asia used U 400 x 125 piles. A project in North America used PZ 271 sections. A port project used PZC 13. Each designation system tells you something different about the pile. Let me walk you through how to read and compare these dimensions.

Sheet pile size chart

A sheet pile size chart1 lists all the key dimensions and properties for each section. It is the essential reference for selecting the right pile.

A sheet pile size chart1 includes width, height, thickness2, weight per meter3, section modulus4, and moment of inertia5. U type piles6 are designated by width and height (e.g., U 400 x 125). Z type piles7 are designated by section modulus4 or manufacturer codes (e.g., AZ 26, PZC 13). The size chart allows you to compare sections across different systems.

%[alt [sheet pile size chart](https://pilebuck.com/basic-configuration-sheet-pile-design-analysis/)[^1] with all dimensions and properties table](https://placehold.co/600x400 "Sheet Pile Size Chart")

Complete Size Charts by Type

Let me provide comprehensive size charts for the most common sheet pile types.

U Type Sheet Piles – Complete Size Chart

Section Width (mm) Height (mm) Thick (mm) Weight (kg/m) S (cm³/m) I (cm⁴/m)
U 400 x 100 400 100 8.0 40.0 900 4,500
U 400 x 100 400 100 10.5 48.0 1,080 5,400
U 400 x 100 400 100 12.0 54.0 1,220 6,100
U 400 x 125 400 125 10.0 50.0 1,330 8,300
U 400 x 125 400 125 13.0 60.0 1,590 9,900
U 400 x 125 400 125 15.0 68.0 1,800 11,300
U 400 x 170 400 170 11.0 55.0 1,790 15,200
U 400 x 170 400 170 13.5 65.0 2,120 18,000
U 400 x 170 400 170 15.5 76.1 2,470 21,000
U 400 x 170 400 170 18.0 86.0 2,800 23,800
U 600 x 130 600 130 8.0 50.0 1,910 12,400
U 600 x 130 600 130 10.3 61.8 2,350 15,300
U 600 x 130 600 130 12.0 70.0 2,680 17,400
U 600 x 180 600 180 10.0 65.0 3,040 27,400
U 600 x 180 600 180 12.0 75.0 3,510 31,600
U 600 x 180 600 180 13.4 81.6 3,820 34,400
U 600 x 180 600 180 15.0 90.0 4,210 37,900
U 600 x 210 600 210 13.0 85.0 4,580 48,100
U 600 x 210 600 210 15.0 95.0 5,120 53,800
U 600 x 210 600 210 18.0 106.2 5,730 60,200

Z Type Sheet Piles (AZ Series) – Complete Size Chart

Section Width (mm) Height (mm) Thick (mm) Weight (kg/m) S (cm³/m) I (cm⁴/m)
AZ 12 630 260 7.0 57.8 1,200 15,600
AZ 13 670 305 7.0 57.8 1,300 19,800
AZ 14 670 308 7.5 62.0 1,400 21,500
AZ 16 670 322 8.0 66.5 1,600 25,800
AZ 18 670 345 9.0 75.0 1,800 31,000
AZ 20 670 358 10.0 83.5 2,000 35,800
AZ 22 670 367 11.0 92.0 2,200 40,400
AZ 24 670 378 12.0 100.5 2,400 45,400
AZ 26 670 396 13.0 109.0 2,600 51,500
AZ 28 670 408 14.0 117.5 2,800 57,200
AZ 30 670 422 15.0 126.0 3,000 63,300
AZ 34 670 444 17.0 143.0 3,400 75,500
AZ 38 670 465 19.0 160.0 3,800 88,400
AZ 42 670 487 21.0 177.0 4,200 102,300
AZ 46 670 508 23.0 194.0 4,600 116,800
AZ 50 670 529 25.0 211.0 5,000 132,300

Z Type Sheet Piles (PZC Series) – Complete Size Chart

Section Width (in) Width (mm) Height (in) Height (mm) Thick (in) Weight (lb/ft) Weight (kg/m) S (in³/ft) S (cm³/m)
PZC 12 27.88 708 12.52 318 0.375 46.4 69.1 12.8 2,210
PZC 13 27.88 708 12.56 319 0.375 50.4 75.0 14.5 2,500
PZC 14 27.88 708 12.60 320 0.375 55.0 81.9 16.3 2,810
PZC 17 25.00 635 15.21 386 0.375 46.4 69.1 17.4 3,000
PZC 18 25.00 635 15.25 387 0.375 50.4 75.0 19.5 3,360
PZC 19 25.00 635 15.30 389 0.375 55.0 81.9 21.7 3,740
PZC 26 27.88 708 17.70 450 0.500 73.9 110.0 28.8 4,960
PZC 28 27.88 708 18.00 457 0.500 80.4 119.7 33.4 5,750
PZC 29 27.88 708 18.20 462 0.500 84.0 125.0 36.5 6,290

How to Use the Size Chart

  • Width: Divide wall length by width to get number of piles
  • Height: Taller sections have higher bending strength8
  • Thickness: Affects weight and corrosion allowance
  • Weight: Used for shipping and handling calculations
  • Section Modulus: The key property for bending strength8

Sheet pile weight per meter

The weight per meter of a sheet pile is one of the most important numbers for ordering, shipping, and handling. It tells you how much each meter of pile weighs.

Sheet pile weight per meter ranges from about 40 kg/m for light sections to over 200 kg/m for heavy sections. For U type piles1, weight ranges from 48 kg/m (U 400 x 100) to 106 kg/m (U 600 x 210). For Z type piles2, weight ranges from 58 kg/m (AZ 12) to 211 kg/m (AZ 50). For PZC series3, weight ranges from 69 kg/m (PZC 12) to 125 kg/m (PZC 29).

%[alt [sheet pile weight per meter](https://www.escpile.com/single-post/understanding-steel-sheet-pile-strength)[^4] comparison chart](https://placehold.co/600x400 "Sheet Pile Weight per Meter")

Weight Comparison by Section

Let me provide a clear comparison of weights across different sections.

U Type Sheet Piles – Weight per Meter

Section Weight (kg/m) 12m Pile (kg) 15m Pile (kg) 18m Pile (kg)
U 400 x 100-10.5 48.0 576 720 864
U 400 x 125-13 60.0 720 900 1,080
U 400 x 170-15.5 76.1 913 1,142 1,370
U 600 x 130-10.3 61.8 742 927 1,112
U 600 x 180-13.4 81.6 979 1,224 1,469
U 600 x 210-18 106.2 1,274 1,593 1,912

Z Type Sheet Piles (AZ Series) – Weight per Meter

Section Weight (kg/m) 12m Pile (kg) 15m Pile (kg) 18m Pile (kg)
AZ 12 57.8 694 867 1,040
AZ 18 75.0 900 1,125 1,350
AZ 26 109.0 1,308 1,635 1,962
AZ 34 143.0 1,716 2,145 2,574
AZ 42 177.0 2,124 2,655 3,186
AZ 50 211.0 2,532 3,165 3,798

Z Type Sheet Piles (PZC Series) – Weight per Meter

Section Weight (kg/m) 40 ft Pile (kg) 50 ft Pile (kg) 60 ft Pile (kg)
PZC 12 69.1 843 1,054 1,265
PZC 13 75.0 915 1,143 1,372
PZC 14 81.9 999 1,249 1,499
PZC 17 69.1 843 1,054 1,265
PZC 18 75.0 915 1,143 1,372
PZC 19 81.9 999 1,249 1,499
PZC 26 110.0 1,342 1,677 2,013
PZC 28 119.7 1,460 1,825 2,190
PZC 29 125.0 1,525 1,906 2,287

My Experience
When I quote a project, I always calculate the total weight based on weight per meter. For the riverbank project, we had 500 piles at 15 meters each, using U 400 x 125 at 60 kg/m. Total weight was 450 tons. That number determined the shipping method and crane requirements.

Pz35 sheet pile1 dimensions

PZ 352 is a common Z-type sheet pile1 section in North America. The number indicates the weight per square foot of wall, not the section modulus3.

PZ 352 sheet pile1 has a width of 16 inches (406 mm), a height of approximately 14.5 inches (368 mm), and a weight of 35 pounds per square foot of wall. The weight per pile is 35 lb/ft of pile length. The section modulus3 is approximately 12.1 in³/ft. It is commonly used for retaining walls4 and moderate-depth excavations.

%[alt pz35 [sheet pile](https://www.escpile.com/single-post/steel-sheet-piles-and-their-benefits-as-construction-material)[^1] dimensions diagram](https://placehold.co/600x400 "[PZ 35](https://www.hammersteel.com/pz-sheet-piling.html)[^2] Sheet Pile Dimensions")

PZ Series Complete Dimensions

Here are the complete dimensions for the PZ series.

Section Width (in) Width (mm) Height (in) Height (mm) Weight (lb/ft) Weight (kg/m) S (in³/ft) S (cm³/m)
PZ 22 16.00 406 11.5 292 22.0 32.7 5.6 965
PZ 27 16.00 406 12.5 318 27.0 40.2 8.1 1,396
PZ 352 16.00 406 14.5 368 35.0 52.1 12.1 2,085
PZ 40 16.00 406 15.5 394 40.0 59.5 15.0 2,585

Detailed PZ 352 Specifications

Property Imperial Metric
Width 16.00 in 406 mm
Height 14.5 in 368 mm
Web thickness 0.375 in 9.5 mm
Flange thickness 0.375 in 9.5 mm
Weight per foot 35.0 lb/ft 52.1 kg/m
Section modulus 12.1 in³/ft 2,085 cm³/m
Moment of inertia 88.0 in⁴/ft 12,100 cm⁴/m
Cross-sectional area 6.5 in² 42 cm²

How PZ Series Naming Works
The number in PZ series (22, 27, 35, 40) indicates the weight per square foot of wall. For example, PZ 352 means 35 pounds per square foot of wall area. This is different from the AZ series, where the number indicates section modulus3.

My Experience
I have supplied PZ 352 piles for projects in North America. They are a good choice for walls up to about 8 meters high. For deeper walls, PZ 40 or PZC series are used.

PZ 27 sheet pile1 specs

PZ 27 is another common Z-type sheet pile section in North America, lighter than PZ 35 but with good structural properties.

PZ 27 sheet pile1 has a width of 16 inches (406 mm), a height of approximately 12.5 inches (318 mm), and a weight of 27 pounds per square foot of wall. The weight per pile is 27 lb/ft of pile length. The section modulus is approximately 8.1 in³/ft (1,396 cm³/m). It is commonly used for moderate retaining walls and temporary excavations2.

%[alt pz27 sheet pile dimensions diagram](https://placehold.co/600x400 "PZ 27 Sheet Pile Specifications")

Detailed PZ 27 Specifications

Property Imperial Metric
Width 16.00 in 406 mm
Height 12.5 in 318 mm
Web thickness 0.375 in 9.5 mm
Flange thickness 0.375 in 9.5 mm
Weight per foot 27.0 lb/ft 40.2 kg/m
Section modulus 8.1 in³/ft 1,396 cm³/m
Moment of inertia 50.6 in⁴/ft 7,000 cm⁴/m
Cross-sectional area 4.9 in² 31.6 cm²

PZ Series Comparison

Section Weight (lb/ft) S (in³/ft) Typical Wall Height
PZ 22 22.0 5.6 Up to 5 m
PZ 27 27.0 8.1 Up to 7 m
PZ 35 35.0 12.1 Up to 9 m
PZ 40 40.0 15.0 Up to 11 m

When to Use PZ 27
PZ 27 is a good choice for:

  • Temporary excavations up to 7 meters deep
  • Permanent retaining walls with moderate loads
  • Projects where lighter handling is important
  • Cost-sensitive applications where PZ 35 is not needed

My Experience
For a temporary excavation project in North America, we used PZ 27 piles. The wall was 6 meters high, and the soil was good sand. The PZ 27 provided adequate strength at a lower cost than PZ 35.

Pz sheet pile sizes

PZ sheet piles come in several sizes, from light to heavy. Understanding the full range helps you select the right section.

PZ sheet pile sizes1 include PZ 22, PZ 27, PZ 35, and PZ 40. All have a width of 16 inches (406 mm). The height increases with section weight: PZ 22 is 11.5 inches tall, PZ 27 is 12.5 inches, PZ 35 is 14.5 inches, and PZ 40 is 15.5 inches. The section modulus ranges from 5.6 in³/ft (PZ 22) to 15.0 in³/ft (PZ 40).

%[alt pz sheet pile sizes comparison chart](https://placehold.co/600x400 "PZ Sheet Pile Sizes")

Complete PZ Series Size Chart

Section Width (in) Height (in) Thick (in) Weight (lb/ft) Weight (kg/m) S (in³/ft) S (cm³/m)
PZ 22 16.00 11.5 0.375 22.0 32.7 5.6 965
PZ 27 16.00 12.5 0.375 27.0 40.2 8.1 1,396
PZ 35 16.00 14.5 0.375 35.0 52.1 12.1 2,085
PZ 40 16.00 15.5 0.375 40.0 59.5 15.0 2,585

PZ vs PZC Comparison
PZ series uses hook-and-grip interlocks. PZC series uses ball-and-socket interlocks and has different dimensions.

Series Width (in) Interlock Type Typical Use
PZ 16.00 Hook-and-grip General retaining, moderate depths
PZC 25.00 or 27.88 Ball-and-socket Deep excavations, hard driving

PZ Series Applications2

Section Best Wall Height Typical Applications
PZ 22 Up to 5 m Light retaining, temporary works
PZ 27 Up to 7 m Moderate retaining, excavations
PZ 35 Up to 9 m Deep excavations, permanent walls
PZ 40 Up to 11 m Heavy retaining, marine walls

My Experience
I have supplied all PZ sizes for different projects. PZ 27 is the most common for general retaining. PZ 35 is used when more strength is needed. PZ 22 is used for temporary works where cost is the main concern.

Conclusion

Sheet pile dimensions1—width, height, and thickness—determine the structural properties of your wall. U type piles2 are designated by width and height. PZ series piles are designated by weight per square foot. Use the size charts to compare sections and select the right one for your project.

  1. Understanding standard dimensions is crucial for selecting the right materials for your project. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  2. Exploring U type piles will help you understand their benefits and how they can be effectively used in your projects. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  3. Understand the significance of section modulus in structural engineering to ensure safe and efficient designs. ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩ ↩

  4. Learn about the functionality and material options for retaining walls, essential for effective engineering. ↩ ↩ ↩

  5. Moment of inertia is key in structural engineering; knowing its impact can improve your project outcomes. ↩

  6. Explore the specifications of U type piles to ensure you choose the right type for your project. ↩

  7. Learn about Z type piles to understand their unique properties and applications in construction. ↩

  8. Bending strength is critical for structural integrity; explore the factors that affect it to ensure safety in your designs. ↩ ↩

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