Knowledge · Selection guide
Bearing types compared
Which design fits your application? The matrix compares radial and axial capacity, speed suitability and misalignment compensation — with typical applications and a link into each range.
| Design | Radial capacity | Axial capacity | Speed suitability | Misalignment | Typical applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep groove ball bearing | ●●●● | ●●●●both directions | ●●●● | ●●●● | Motors, gearboxes, universal use |
| Angular contact ball bearing (single row) | ●●●● | ●●●●one direction, use in pairs | ●●●● | — | Spindles, pumps, combined loads |
| Four-point contact bearing | ●●●● | ●●●●both directions | ●●●● | — | Axial locating bearings, gearboxes |
| Self-aligning ball bearing | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | Misaligned shafts, agriculture |
| Cylindrical roller bearing | ●●●● | ●●●●design-dependent (NU none, NJ/NUP limited) | ●●●● | — | Gearboxes, electric machines, floating side |
| Needle roller bearing | ●●●● | — | ●●●● | — | Minimal space: gearboxes, levers, pivots |
| Tapered roller bearing | ●●●● | ●●●●one direction, use in pairs | ●●●● | — | Wheel bearings, gearboxes, high combined loads |
| Spherical roller bearing | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | Heavy duty: crushers, paper machines, wind |
| Barrel roller bearing | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | Shock loads, vibratory machinery |
| Thrust ball bearing | — | ●●●●single/double acting by design | ●●●● | — | Vertical shafts, slewing arrangements |
| Spherical roller thrust bearing | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | ●●●● | Heavy axial loads: cranes, extruders |
●●●● very well suited · ●●●● conditionally suited · — not suitable
Ratings are qualitative catalogue classifications relative to each other — not a substitute for sizing in the individual case. For concrete selection by load, speed and dimensions use the bearing finder or ask our application engineers.