Deck Span Tables Australia

A plain-English guide to Australian deck span tables, span charts and the common terms used when checking deck joists, bearers, beams, floor load width and support spacing.

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TablesTargets deck span table, deck span tables Australia, joist span table and bearer span table searches.

What this page is for

Most deck span tables are supplied as manufacturer PDFs or technical guides. They are useful, but they can be hard to compare because each source may use different span columns, load cases, floor load width assumptions, joist spacing, dead load bands or span type wording.

SpanFinder turns those terms into a searchable guide and a simple span finder so a user can understand the difference between a joist span table, a bearer span table and a span chart before checking the original source document.

span tablespan chartjoist spanbearer spanFLWcantilever

Core span-table terms

Single span: one clear span between two supports.
Continuous span: a member running across more than two supports.
Cantilever: a portion of joist or bearer projecting past a support.
Floor load width: the width of deck area loading a bearer.
Dead load: the permanent weight of decking, framing and finishes.
Live load: occupancy and use load allowed for by the table.

How to use a deck span table

Step	Input to confirm	Why it matters
1	Member type	Joist span tables and bearer span tables are not interchangeable.
2	Span type	Single span, continuous span and cantilever tables may give different allowable spans.
3	Load case	Deck height, live load, dead load and roof load can change the span result.
4	Spacing or FLW	Joists often use spacing columns. Bearers often use floor load width columns.
5	Product and material	Boxspan, DuraGal RHS, LVL, timber and aluminium systems all publish span information differently.

Joist span tables

Used for deck joists, floor joists and members supporting decking boards. Common inputs include joist spacing, deck height, dead load and single or continuous span.

Bearer span tables

Used for bearers, beams and members supporting joists. Common inputs include floor load width, post spacing, support spacing and whether the bearer is internal or at an edge.

Span charts

A span chart is usually a simpler way to compare published span-table results. SpanFinder uses calculator-style inputs and result cards to make the chart easier to read.

Official sources represented in the current tool

Related calculators and guides

Deck span chart Deck joist span table Deck bearer span table Deck span calculator Floor load width calculator Deck joist spacing calculator Deck bearer & post spacing calculator Deck framing product-use guide Span table FAQs Open the live span finder

Deck span table FAQs

What is a deck span table?

A deck span table is a published table that shows the maximum allowable span for a joist, bearer or beam under stated loading, spacing, support and use conditions.

What is a deck span chart?

A deck span chart is a visual or simplified way of presenting span-table information so users can compare joist spans, bearer spans, spacing, FLW and product options more quickly.

What does FLW mean in a span table?

FLW means floor load width. It is the width of floor or deck area that loads onto a bearer or beam. A larger FLW usually reduces the allowable bearer span.

What is the difference between joist span and bearer span?

Joist span is the distance a joist spans between supports. Bearer span is the distance a bearer or beam spans between posts, piers or other supports.

Can this be used for final design?

No. SpanFinder is for preliminary comparison. Final selections should be checked against the current manufacturer span tables and the actual site conditions.