If you are looking for a proper bearing match or replacement, you will also need to pay attention to some other important aspects of the bearing number to find the correct bearing. The suffix can contain a few details about the bearing design and features:

Bearinglookup

Bearings are measured by their inner diameter, outer diameter, and width; the size of a bearing is normally listed as such: ID x OD x W. These measurements are normally taken in millimeters, but can be converted to inches. In fact, most manufacturers and suppliers offer bearing measurements in both imperial and metric systems.

SKFBearingSelect

Each combination of these measurements corresponds to a series number, usually located directly on the bearing. Ball bearing size charts are widely available, and can be used to find the measurements of a specific bearing. Series 6200 and 6300 are the most commonly used, and typically range from 10 x 30 x 9 mm (.394 x 1.181 x .354 in) to 150 x 320 x 65 mm (5.906 x 12.598 x 2.559 in).

Name size

Generally, smaller ball bearings have more limited load capacities. They are used in applications where space-efficiency is more important than load capacity. Miniature bearings, often constructed as precision ball bearings, are used for extremely small applications, such as medical instrumentation, robotics, or semiconductor equipment. On the other hand, larger bearings have greater load capacities. They are used for heavy-duty industries such as agriculture machinery, mining and drilling equipment, or heavy power tools. Many manufacturers also offer custom bearing size options for very specific applications that have unique requirements.

SKFbearing

As stated before, size depends on the shaft size and application requirements. Bearing size can greatly impact the performance and capabilities of a ball bearing; therefore different sizes are used in different industries.

Each manufacturer may use unique suffix codes; it is best to look up a suffix guide to find the correct bearing match or replacement.

Ball bearings are available in all different sizes, depending on the shaft size and requirements of the application. As they are used in all types of industries, they are needed for a large variety of application sizes, from skateboard wheels to oil drills. How are these bearing sizes determined?

It is not uncommon that the bearing identification number may be illegible or worn completely after long term use, requiring a bearing to be measured manually. This can easily be done using a vernier caliper to easily provide accurate measurements. If this tool is not available, measurements can be taken carefully using a ruler.