RSJ Beam Cost Calculator UK/Poland 2026 – Current Steel Prices + Delivery Estimates

Steel prices have been notoriously volatile in recent years, making accurate budgeting for RSJ beams challenging. Whether you’re in the UK, Poland, or elsewhere in Europe, understanding current market rates and cost factors helps you plan construction projects effectively and avoid budget overruns.

Current RSJ Beam Prices 2026

UK Market Prices (Per Meter)

As of January 2026, typical RSJ beam prices in the UK are:

Small Beams (152mm-178mm depth):

• 152x127x37: £48-62 per meter
• 178x102x19: £38-52 per meter

Medium Beams (203mm depth):

• 203x133x25: £58-75 per meter
• 203x133x30: £68-85 per meter

Large Beams (254mm depth):

• 254x146x31: £72-95 per meter
• 254x146x37: £85-110 per meter
• 254x146x43: £98-125 per meter

Extra Large (305mm+ depth):

• 305x165x40 UB: £95-130 per meter
• 305x165x46 UB: £110-145 per meter

Poland Market Prices (Per Meter)

Polish steel prices are generally 10-15% lower than UK prices:

Small Beams:

• IPE 160 (similar to 152x127): 180-220 PLN/m (£35-45)
• IPE 180: 200-245 PLN/m (£40-50)

Medium Beams:

• IPE 200 (similar to 203x133): 240-295 PLN/m (£48-60)
• IPE 220: 275-335 PLN/m (£55-68)

Large Beams:

• IPE 270: 350-430 PLN/m (£70-88)
• IPE 300: 420-520 PLN/m (£85-105)

Note: European IPE sections differ slightly from UK RSJ designations, but serve similar purposes.

EU/Ireland Prices

Irish and Western European prices typically fall between UK and Polish rates, approximately 5-10% below UK prices.

Factors Affecting RSJ Beam Costs

1. Steel Market Conditions

Global steel prices fluctuate based on:

Raw Material Costs:

• Iron ore prices from major producers (Australia, Brazil)
• Coking coal for blast furnaces
• Scrap metal availability and recycling rates

Energy Costs:

• Natural gas prices affecting furnace operations
• Electricity costs for electric arc furnaces
• Carbon pricing under EU Emissions Trading System

Supply Chain Issues:

• Shipping container costs and availability
• Port congestion and delays
• Trade restrictions and tariffs

Historical Trend: Steel prices peaked in 2021-2022 (+150% from 2020), declined through 2023-2024, and have stabilized in 2025-2026 at approximately 25-35% above 2019 levels.

2. Beam Size and Weight

Pricing generally follows weight, but not linearly:

Volume Discounts:

• Small beams (<20kg/m): Premium pricing per kg
• Medium beams (25-35kg/m): Standard pricing
• Large beams (40kg/m+): Slight premium for handling but volume efficiencies

Example Calculation:

203x133x25 at £65/m weighs 25kg/m = £2.60/kg 254x146x37 at £95/m weighs 37kg/m = £2.57/kg

Larger beams are actually better value per kg, but you pay more total because you need more steel.

3. Quantity Ordered

Small Orders (Single Beam):

• Full retail pricing
• Minimum order charges (£50-100)
• Often sold in full 6m or 12m lengths only

Medium Orders (2-5 Beams):

• 5-10% discount possible
• More flexible cutting
• Free delivery on orders >£500

Large Orders (Building Projects):

• 15-25% discount possible
• Custom lengths cut to specification
• Free delivery and potential crane offloading
• Account terms available (30-60 days payment)

Contractor Accounts: Professional builders with established accounts typically pay 20-30% less than retail DIY customers.

4. Processing and Finishing

Standard Black Steel (As-Rolled):

• Basic mill finish
• Surface rust acceptable
• Lowest cost option
• Requires on-site painting

Shot-Blasted:

• Surface cleaned by abrasive blasting
• Ready for painting
• Add £5-12 per meter

Primed:

• Factory-applied rust-inhibiting primer
• Red oxide or zinc phosphate
• Add £8-18 per meter

Galvanized:

• Hot-dip galvanizing for ultimate protection
• Excellent for outdoor use or humid environments
• Add £25-50 per meter (expensive!)
• Essential for coastal locations

Painted to Specification:

• Custom color finishes
• Two-pack epoxy or polyurethane
• Add £15-35 per meter
• Rarely needed for structural work

5. Cutting and Fabrication

Standard Lengths (6m, 12m):

• No cutting fee
• Cheapest option
• You waste excess length

Cut to Length:

• £10-25 per cut
• Worth it to avoid waste on expensive large beams

Example:

Need 4.3m beam:

• Option A: Buy 6m length at £65/m = £390, waste 1.7m = £110 wasted
• Option B: Buy 4.3m cut length at £65/m + £15 cut = £295
• Saving: £95

Drilling and Notching:

• Bolt holes: £5-15 per hole
• Web notchings for services: £25-80 depending on complexity
• Often cheaper to do on-site with correct equipment

Welding (Plates, Connection Details):

• End plates: £40-100 each
• Stiffener plates: £20-60 each
• Custom connections: Price on request

Usually only needed for commercial projects; residential work relies on bolted connections.

6. Delivery Costs

Click & Collect:

• Free or £10-20 collection fee
• You need suitable vehicle and tie-downs
• Beams up to 5m fit in long wheelbase van
• Longer beams require truck or trailer

Standard Delivery:

• £50-120 for local delivery (<30 miles)
• £100-200 for regional (30-100 miles)
• £150-300+ for long distance

Crane Offload:

• Required for very heavy beams (>250kg)
• £150-350 depending on location accessibility
• Schedule in advance

Express Delivery:

• 24-48 hour delivery instead of 5-10 days
• Add 30-50% to delivery cost
• Rarely necessary except emergency repairs

7. Certification and Testing

Standard CE Marking:

• Included in price
• Confirms European standards compliance
• Acceptable for Building Control

Mill Test Certificates (MTC):

• Verifies steel grade and mechanical properties
• Usually free or £20-40
• May be required for commercial projects or Building Control

Independent Testing:

• Rarely required for standard residential work
• Tensile testing, chemical analysis
• £200-500+ per beam
• Only for critical applications or dispute resolution

Detailed Cost Breakdown Example

Project: 4m Kitchen Knock-Through (UK)

Requirement:

• Beam size: 203x133x30 (per structural engineer specification)
• Length: 4.3m (4m span + 300mm bearing)
• Steel grade: S275
• Finish: Primed (kitchen environment)

Material Costs:

Item	Calculation	Cost
RSJ beam	4.3m × £75/m	£322.50
Factory primer	4.3m × £12/m	£51.60
Cutting to length	1 cut	£15.00
Subtotal Materials		£389.10

Delivery:

Item	Cost
Standard delivery (35 miles)	£65.00
Total Materials & Delivery	£454.10

Associated Costs:

Item	Cost
Structural engineer calculations	£350-500
Building Control fees	£220-350
Padstones (2 × concrete pads)	£80-140
Acrow prop hire (3 props, 2 weeks)	£60-100
Installation labor (2 days)	£600-900
Total Project Cost	£1,764-2,444

Beam cost represents only 18-26% of total project cost!

Regional Price Variations

UK Regional Differences

London and Southeast:

• Highest prices (baseline +10-15%)
• Best supplier choice and availability
• Express delivery widely available

Midlands and North:

• Competitive pricing (baseline)
• Good supplier coverage
• Most steel produced in this region

Scotland and Northern Ireland:

• Slightly higher (+5-10%) due to transport
• Fewer suppliers, longer lead times
• Consider bulk delivery for multiple beams

Wales and Southwest:

• Moderate pricing (+5%)
• Transport costs add up for rural areas
• Plan ahead for deliveries

Poland Regional Variations

Major Cities (Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk):

• Competitive pricing
• Many hurtownie (wholesalers)
• Quick availability

Smaller Towns:

• Add 10-15% for limited competition
• Longer delivery times
• Consider nearby city suppliers

Cross-Border Considerations

Importing from Poland to UK:

• Potential savings: 15-25% on materials
• BUT: Complicated by Brexit customs procedures
• VAT and duty implications
• Transport costs often negate savings
• Only worthwhile for very large projects (>£10,000 steel)

Importing from EU to Poland:

• Free movement within EU
• Consider German or Czech suppliers
• Savings modest (5-10%) but no paperwork

Money-Saving Tips for 2026

1. Time Your Purchase

Steel prices fluctuate with 3-6 month cycles. Monitor prices for non-urgent projects:

Cheapest Periods:

• January-February (post-Christmas construction lull)
• July-August (summer holiday slowdown)

Most Expensive:

• March-May (spring construction season)
• September (autumn restart after holidays)

Potential saving: 8-15%

2. Buy Direct from Stock Holders

Avoid middle-men:

• Builder’s merchants add 20-40% markup
• Go directly to steel stockholders
• Major UK suppliers: Barrett Steel, Rainham Steel, Masteel, Cleveland Steel

Potential saving: 15-30%

3. Group Orders with Neighbors

If multiple properties on your street are renovating:

• Combine orders for volume discounts
• Share delivery costs
• Split cutting fees

Potential saving: £100-300 per project

4. Accept Standard Lengths

If site permits, accept 6m standard length rather than custom cutting:

• No cutting fees
• Faster delivery
• Use excess for other purposes (prop support, future repairs)

Saving: £15-40 per cut

5. Choose Finish Wisely

For hidden beams: Basic black steel, paint on-site = Save £10-20/m

For exposed beams: Consider leaving exposed and clear-coating industrial look if aesthetically acceptable = Save £15-30/m vs. painting

Avoid galvanizing unless essential (outdoor, coastal, humid) = Save £30-60/m

6. DIY Where Possible

You can do:

• Arranging delivery
• On-site painting/coating
• Simple drilling with correct bits and pilot holes

Leave to professionals:

• Structural calculations (required by law)
• Installation and temporary support (safety critical)
• Welding (requires certified welders)

Potential saving: £200-400

7. Negotiate Payment Terms

For large orders:

• Ask for cash discount (2-5% for immediate bank transfer)
• Request trade account even as homeowner
• Get multiple quotes and leverage competition

Potential saving: 5-10% of material costs

8. Consider Reclaimed Steel

Pros:

• 40-60% cheaper than new
• Environmentally friendly
• Often higher-grade older steel

Cons:

• Unknown service history
• Potential corrosion damage
• Building Control may require testing (£200-400)
• Limited sizes available

Only suitable when:

• Structural engineer verifies condition
• Mill test certificates available or testing performed
• Surface condition is good (no significant pitting)

Net saving after testing: 20-35%

Hidden Costs to Budget For

1. Supporting Works

• Temporary acrow props: £40-100
• Needles and scaffolding: £100-300
• Protecting finishes during installation: £50-150

2. Remedial Works

• Making good plasterwork: £200-500
• Redecorating affected rooms: £300-800
• Repairing cracked tiles: £150-400

3. Unexpected Issues

Budget 15-20% contingency for:

• Stronger beam required after engineer site visit
• Additional support discovered necessary
• Hidden structural issues revealed during work
• Building Control requirements

4. Financing Costs

If borrowing to fund project:

• Loan interest over 3-5 years
• Early delivery can mean paying interest on unused materials

Long-Term Cost Considerations

Maintenance Costs

Painted Steel:

• Repaint every 5-10 years: £100-200 per beam
• 30-year cost: £300-600

Galvanized Steel:

• Zero maintenance for 30+ years
• Initial premium (£30-60/m) pays for itself if beam exposed

ROI Calculation (6m beam in humid environment):

• Galvanized premium: 6m × £45 = £270
• Painting costs avoided: 3 maintenance cycles × £150 = £450
• Net saving over 30 years: £180

Plus labor and disruption avoided!

Energy Efficiency

Steel beams create thermal bridges:

• Add insulation around beam perimeter
• Cost: £50-100
• Prevents heat loss: £15-30/year in energy costs
• Payback: 2-5 years

Comparison: UK vs. Poland Total Project Costs

Same Project (4m Opening, 203x133x30 Beam)

UK Costs:

• Materials: £390-450
• Delivery: £60-80
• Engineer: £400-500
• Building Control: £300
• Labor: £800-1,000
• Total: £1,950-2,330

Poland Costs:

• Materials: 1,200-1,400 PLN (£245-285)
• Delivery: 200-300 PLN (£40-60)
• Engineer: 1,000-1,500 PLN (£205-310)
• Building Control: Included in permit (£30-50 estimated)
• Labor: 1,500-2,000 PLN (£310-410)
• Total: 3,900-5,200 PLN (£800-1,065)

Poland is 50-60% cheaper overall, mainly due to lower labor costs rather than material savings.

Conclusion

RSJ beam costs in 2026 vary significantly based on size, quantity, location, and market conditions. UK prices range from £40-130 per meter, while Polish prices run 10-20% lower. However, beam materials represent only 20-30% of total project costs – professional fees, labor, and associated works make up the majority.

Budget Guidelines for Popular Projects:

• Small door opening (2.5m, 152mm beam): £1,200-1,800
• Standard knockthrough (4m, 203mm beam): £1,800-2,800
• Large opening (5m, 254mm beam): £2,500-4,000
• Loft conversion beam (6m, 254mm beam): £3,000-5,000

Use our calculator above to estimate costs for your specific project, then get quotes from multiple suppliers to find the best value.

Disclaimer: Prices provided are indicative market rates for January 2026 and subject to change. Always obtain formal quotations for accurate budgeting.