Channel steel is divided into ordinary channel steel and light channel steel. The specifications for hot-rolled ordinary channel steel range from 5 to 40#. The specifications for hot-rolled flexible channel steel, supplied upon agreement between the supplier and the buyer, range from 6.5 to 30#. Channel steel is primarily used in building structures, vehicle manufacturing, other industrial structures, and for securing panels and cabinets. It is also often used in conjunction with I-beams.

Channel steel can be further divided into four types based on their shapes: cold-formed equal-leg channel steel, cold-formed unequal-leg channel steel, cold-formed inner-curved edge channel steel, and cold-formed outer-curved edge channel steel.

According to the theory of steel structure, the channel steel flange should be under stress, which means the channel steel should be standing upright, not lying down.

The specifications of channel steel are mainly represented by dimensions such as height (h), leg width (b), and waist thickness (d). The specifications of domestic channel steel range from No. 5 to No. 40, corresponding to heights of 5 to 40 cm.

At the same height, light-duty channel steel has narrower legs, thinner webs, and lighter weight compared to regular channel steel. Size 18-40 is considered large-sized channel steel, while size 5-16 is medium-sized. Imported channel steel is labeled with its actual dimensions and relevant standards. The ordering of channel steel, both imported and domestic, is generally based on the required specifications after determining the corresponding carbon steel (or low alloy steel) grade. Apart from the specification number, channel steel does not have specific composition and performance series.

The delivery lengths of channel steel are categorized into two types: cut-to-length and multiple-length, with allowable deviation values specified in the corresponding standards. The length selection range for domestic channel steel is divided into three types based on different specification numbers: 5-12m, 5-19m, and 6-19m. The length selection range for imported channel steel is generally 6-15m.