What are the differences between LVL beams and I-beams?

Although LVL beams and I-joists are both engineered wood structural materials, they differ in structural form, load-bearing mechanisms, applications, and pricing structures. If you're targeting the Australian market, this distinction is very important, as customers often compare the two within the same project.

LVL is a solid material; an I-beam is a hollow I-shaped composite member, and the upper and lower flanges of an I-beam are often made of LVL.

LVL Beams (Laminated Veneer Lumber Beams)
Solid rectangular cross-section, made entirely of LVL material: multiple layers of thin wood veneers laminated together with the grain running in the same direction, resulting in a solid, cavity-free structure.
I-Joists (I-Joist / Wooden I-Beams)
I-shaped hollow cross-section, assembled by bonding three components:
Upper flange, lower flange: solid wood strips or LVL strips
Central web: OSB (Oriented Strand Board) / thin plywood sheets

2. Load-Bearing Characteristics
LVL (Solid-Web Beam)
Bears loads across the entire cross-section, providing strong shear resistance
Can withstand large concentrated loads and point loads
Suitable for main beams, lintels, large-opening beams, and load-bearing cross beams
Holes may be cut, but caution is advised for large openings
Wooden I-Beam (Hollow-Web I-Beam)
The upper and lower flanges resist bending, tension, and compression; the thin web resists shear only
Extremely lightweight with high bending efficiency; suitable for uniformly distributed loads over long spans
Cannot withstand large concentrated loads
Cutting large holes in the web is strictly prohibited; there are strict specifications for cutting holes

3. Typical Applications
LVL Beams
Load-bearing main beams for buildings, lintels for doors and windows, support beams, columns, replacement beams after the removal of load-bearing walls, and roof beams; they can also be used as flange material for I-beams.
Wooden I-Beams
Floor joists, roof purlins, and secondary beams; primarily used as densely spaced secondary joists with a spacing of 400–600 mm for long spans, and rarely used as primary load-bearing beams.