Bearing Numbers Explained

(1) Prefix :
(2) Basic Number:
(3) Suffix

Prefix

K Cage with roller elements

L Removable bearing ring
R Ring with roller set
S Roll body of stainless steel
W Stainless steel deep groove ball bearing

*Note: Each bearing company may create their own prefixes. e.g. E2. = SKF Energy Efficient
bearings

Suffix

Bearing with rubber seal on both sides. RS provides a better seal but
2 RS
more rolling friction than 2Z.
RS Bearing with rubber seal on one side, one side open.
2 Z / ZZ Bearing with a metal seal on both sides.
Z Bearing with a metal seal on one side, one side open.
E Reinforced Design
P2 Highest precision
K Bearing with taper bore

Bearing Numbers

The example at the header shows a 6001 2RS bearing. So what does the 6001 actually mean?
Lets attempt to break it down.

(6)001

This first number relates to the bearing type, as shown in the table below type 6 is a deep
grooved roller bearing.

Self-Aligning Ball Bearing

This kind of ball bearing has a spherical outer race, allowing

1
the axis of the bearing to "wander around". This is important
because misalignment is one of the big causes of bearing
failure.

2 Barrel and Spherical Roller Bearings

Tapered Roller Bearing

3
Designed to take large axial loads as well as radial loads.
 Deep Groove Double-Row Ball Bearing
4
Designed for heavy radial loads.

Axial Deep Groove Ball Bearing

5
Intended for exclusively axial loads.

Deep Groove Ball Bearing (Single row)

6
Typical ball bearing. Handles light axial loads as well as radial
loads.

Single-Row Angular Contact Bearing

7 Specific geometry of angular contact bearing raceways and

shoulders creates ball contact angles that support higher axial
loads

Axial Cylindrical Roller Bearings

Axial cylindrical roller bearings comprise axial cylindrical

roller and cage assemblies and shaft and housing locating
8
washers.
The bearings have particularly small axial section height, have
high load carrying capacity and high rigidity and can support
axial forces in one direction.
Bearing Numbers Explained

(1) Prefix :
(2) Basic Number:
(3) Suffix

Bearing Numbers Continued..

6(0)01

This second number relates the bearing series, which reflects the robustness of the bearing. As
you go up the scale below from 9 to 4 the inner and outer race thickness will usually increase
along with the ball size, this will be to help cope with extra load.

9 Very thin section

0 Extra light
1 Extra light thrust
2 Light
3 Medium
4 Heavy

60(01)

The 3rd and 4th digits of the bearing number relate to the bore size of the bearing, numbers 00
to 03 have a designated bore size depending on the number.

00 10mm
01 12mm
02 15mm
03 17mm

While numbers over 03 simply have a bore size which is 5 times that of the 3rd and 4th digit.
The main part of the numbering system may have either 3, 4 or 5 digits.

Three digits Four digits Five digits

1st digit - type 1st digit - type 1st digit -type

2nd & 3rd digit -

2nd digit - series 2nd digit - series
series

3rd digit - inside 3rd & 4th digit 4th & 5th digit -
diameter inside diameter inside diameter

1st digit - Type (dashes indicate number of digits)

1--- Self Aligning Ball Bearing

1---- Narrow Series Deep Groove Ball Bearing

2--- Self Aligning Ball Bearing

2 - - - - Spherical Roller Bearing

3--- Double Row Angular Contact Ball Bearing

3 - - - - I.S.O. Metric Tapered Roller Bearing

4--- Double Row Ball Bearing

5--- Double Row Angular Contact Ball Bearing

5 - - - - Thrust Ball Bearing

Single Row Deep Grove Ball Bearing - bore less than

6--
10mm

6--- Single Row Deep Grove Ball Bearing

7--- Angular Contact Ball Bearing

BL- - - Maximum Capacity Ball Bearing (always BL)

NU- - - Cylindrical Roller Bearing (or N, NC, NF, NJ, NUP, RNU)

NU- - -
Wide Series Cylindrical Roller Bearing (or NF, NJ, NUP)
-
 2nd digit (in 3 & 4 digit no's)

0 Extra light series

2 Light series

3 Medium series

4 Heavy series

3rd digit (in

2nd digit (in 5 digit no's)
5 digit no's)

(Diameter
(width series)
series)

Very
1 Very Narrow series 0 Small
series

Small
2 Narrow series 1
series

medium
3 Wide series 2
series

Large
4 Extra Wide series 3
series

Bore Size

00 10 mm

01 12 mm

02 15 mm

03 17 mm

20 mm and over -
bore size x 5