If you know the Bearing nomenclature procedure and its simple

calculations, you can easily identify and decode Bearing details by its
Bearing number.

A Bearing number contains many hidden information about the bearing in

itself. The bearing no (pattern number) provide us enough details about
the bearing silently. In this post, we will discuss about How to Identify
Bearings by Bearing Number.

Let us take an example to understand the bearing nomenclature more

easily. Suppose, we have a bearing whose patt no is 6305ZZ. Let us
divide it in sub components. Here ‘6‘ indicate bearing type. There are few
companies which use their separate identifying nomenclature. However,
most of them follow a common standard for bearing nomenclature.

Fig. 1 – Bearing Number Nomenclature

Table of Contents
 1 Types of Bearings and Their Code
 2 Bearing Series and Their Code
 3 Bore size of Bearing
 4 Shielding/Sealing/Specialty of Bearing
Types of Bearings and Their Code

 Fig. 2 –
Types of Bearings and their Codes
Thus, we can easily identify now that in case of bearing 6305ZZ, the first
digit ‘6‘ means the bearing type is ‘Single row deep groove ball bearing’.
In case of Inch bearings, the bearing’s first digit will be ‘R’. After ‘R’, the
size of the bearing will be given in 1/16th of an inch. To understand it
better, Lets take an example of Inch bearing. Suppose, we have R4-3RS
bearing. Here, R4 means, it is an inch bearing whose bore size is 4/16 th or
you can say 1/4th of an inch.
Bearing Series and Their Code
The second digit of a bearing patter number indicates the bearing series.
Series of a bearing denotes the toughness of the bearing. They are:

Fig. 3 –
Series (Toughness) of Bearing
Thus, we can identify now that in case of bearing 6305ZZ, the second
digit ‘3‘ means the bearing is of medium toughness.
Bore size of Bearing
The third and fourth digit of bearing patter number indicates the bore size
of bearing. It is the inner diameter of the bearing and measured in
millimeters. In general, the bore size is equal to five times the third and
forth digit of bearing’s patter number. However, from ‘0’ to ‘3’, this
formula does not imply. The bore size indicated by ‘0’ to ‘3’ are :
 Fig. 4 – Bore size of bearing
Note : In case there is no fourth digit, then the 3rd digit indicates the bore
size in mm. For example: in case of bearing 636, the bore size of the
bearing will be 6mm.
Thus, we can identify now that in case of bearing 6305ZZ, the third and
fourth digit ‘05’ means the bearing’s bore size is 25 mm.

Shielding/Sealing/Specialty of Bearing
The last letters of the bearing indicates the availability/unavailability/type
of shielding or sealing and other specialty in the bearing. The various
types of indications are:
 Fig. 5 –
Sealing/Shielding/Any other details of Bearing
Thus, we can identify now that in case of bearing 6305ZZ, the last letters
‘ZZ’ means the bearing is shielded from both sides.
Coming to the conclusion, we can now easily decode bearing number of
most of the bearings. Here, Bearing 6305ZZ means “it is a Single row
deep groove ball bearing having medium toughness, with a bore size of
25 mm and is shielded from both sides.

Interesting???? Isnt it? Its fun to decode bearing number. Try some more
bearings pattern no and check how accurate you are.
Type
Bearing Name Description Image
Code

This type of bearing has

Self aligning Ball double rows of balls and
1
Bearing a concave raceway in
outer side.
 

This type of bearing has

double rows of rollers, a
Spherical Roller
2 concave raceway in outer
Bearing
side and double
raceways in inner side.

This type of bearing has

Double row double rows of balls and
3 Angular contact double concave raceway
Ball bearing
in outer side and inner
 
side.

This type of bearing has

its design similar to
Double row Ball single row ball bearing.
4 Bearing The only difference is
that it has double rows     
of balls.
 This type of bearing has
washer type raceway in
both sides surrounding
the caged rolling balls.
5 Thrust Ball bearing
They are used where
rotation is required
between parts of a  

system.

They are the most

Single row deep commonly used ball
6 groove ball bearing bearings. Suitable for
small axial loads
 

 
Single row angular They are generally used
7 contact bearing for axial and radial loads.
But only in one direction.
 

This type of bearing

contains one or more felt
seals. Its inner raceway
8 Felt seal bearing is a bit large. This is to
ensure that the seal
edge should not go  

beyond inner raceway.

 This type of most
commonly used for
wheels. They have rollers
Tapered Roller
32 / T Bearing in place of balls and are
conical in shape. They
can withstand high        
axial/radial loads.

They are ball bearings

with one row and are Available in various shapes and
R Inch Bearing
available in various inch designs.
sizes.

These types of bearings

use cylinders as rollers in
Cylindrical roller
N bearing place of balls. They are
available in various
shapes and designs.

As the name suggests,

Double row roller they have two rows of Available in various shapes and
NN bearing rollers. They can designs.
withstand heavy loads.

These types of bearings

contain cylinders as
rollers. They are name
Needle roller so because the length of
NA bearing the cylinder used is
much more in
comparison to its  

diameter.
 These types of needle
roller bearings are made
Needle roller closed type to protect it
BK bearing with closed from any moisture
end (Drawn cup)
ingress and external
contaminants. They hold  
the grease within it.

These types of needle

roller bearings are same
Needle roller
as needle roller bearing
HK bearing with open
ends (Drawn cup) with closed end except
that its both ends are
open.  

It contains the properties

of both spherical rollers
CARB toroidal roller as well as cylindrical
C bearings rollers i.e. it is self
aligning as well as free in
axis.  

They are similar to

Needle roller and Thrust ball bearing
K cage thrust except that they contains
assembly
cylindrical rollers in place
of balls.
 They are similar to single
row angular contact ball
Four-point contact bearing except than in
QJ ball bearings this case, both the inner
and outer raceways are
split in two half sections.  

A person dealing with electrical equipments like motors, generators etc

should have the knowledge of all types of bearings used in equipments.
Keeping it in mind, We have created this post to give you a brief idea
about different types of bearings. The various types of bearings available
in the market are :