6012 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6012 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 60 x 95 x 18 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 60 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 95 mm |
| Width B | 18 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN / C3 available |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 30.7 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 23.2 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 0.98 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 15000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 9500 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 410 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6012 |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018) |
| Last verified | 2026-09-25 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018)) · extracted 2026-09-24
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018)); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.
Dimensions in inches & 6000-series range
| Bore d | 2.362 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 3.74 in |
| Width B | 0.709 in |
| ISO bore code | 12 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 17.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in 6000-series | 4 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6000-series | 1150 mm |
| Width range across 6000-series | 4–155 mm |
| Bore position in 6000-series (smallest first) | 19 of 61 |
| Bore above smallest 6000-series size | 56 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6012 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
| 6012-2RS-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 60×95×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs 2RS) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6012-NSK | NSK | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Identical ISO 15 envelope, seal and ratings band — standard interchange; re-verify precision class and clearance per supplier. |
| 6012-RSR-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 60×95×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs RSR) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6012-ZZ-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 60×95×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs ZZ) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6012-2RS-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 60×95×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs 2RS) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6012-NTN | NTN | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Identical ISO 15 envelope, seal and ratings band — standard interchange; re-verify precision class and clearance per supplier. |
| 6012-RSR-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 60×95×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs RSR) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6012-ZZ-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 60×95×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs ZZ) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.
How the 6012 model number is decoded
In the 6000-series (diameter series 0 of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 6012 carries bore code 12 = 60 mm. Outside diameter 95 mm and width 18 mm come from the ISO 15 boundary-dimensions general plan. With no seal suffix the bearing is open: no shields or seals are fitted and lubrication is supplied by the application. For normal-load mounting with a rotating inner ring on a 60 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a k5 shaft seat with an H7 housing bore — verify against the actual load direction and magnitude. In the SKF catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately as -2Z and -2RSH.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- centrifugal and positive-displacement pumps
- gearboxes and speed reducers
- conveyor drives
- material-handling equipment
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- cage damage from operation beyond the limiting speed
- electrical pitting in VFD-driven motors without grounding protection
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 60 mm bore, induction heating to roughly 80–100 °C is the clean mounting method; never exceed 120 °C, and hold 6012 against the shaft shoulder while it cools so the ring cannot creep back.
- Choosing the 60xx extra-light section saves radial space at 60 mm bore, but the trade-off is rating: if the drive sees shock or frequent start-stop cycles, re-check the L10 life against a 6212 before committing to the smaller envelope.
- The open 6012 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 60×95×18 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
- Storage matters for open bearings: 6012 leaves the factory with rust preventive only, so clean it and apply the service grease at assembly even if the rings look oily from the wrapper.
- Suffixes stack in a defined order — clearance follows the seal code, e.g. 6012-C3. No clearance suffix means normal CN clearance.
- Do not quieten a noisy bearing by preloading it: the 6000-series is a deep-groove design, not angular-contact; axial preload raises temperature and shortens grease life.
- The open 6012 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6012-2Z (shields) and 6012-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6012.
- The 30.7/23.2 kN ratings here are SKF Explorer-class figures from catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018); SKF can revise internal geometry and ratings without changing the designation, so treat the catalogue version and date as part of the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 6012 bearing?
A 6012 deep-groove ball bearing has a 60 mm bore, 95 mm outer diameter and 18 mm width (2.362 × 3.74 × 0.709 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
What internal clearance does 6012 have?
Unless a clearance suffix says otherwise, 6012 is manufactured to normal (CN) radial internal clearance. Tight fits and hot shafts consume clearance in service — for those conditions order the C3 execution of 6012 and verify the residual clearance after mounting.
How should 6012 be mounted?
Apply the mounting force to the ring being fitted: on a 60 mm shaft seat the press load must pass through the inner-ring face only. Induction heating of the inner ring (max 120 °C) is the clean method at this size. Never strike the outer ring, the cage or the seals.
What lubrication does 6012 need?
The open 6012 is lubricated by the application; a NLGI 2 lithium-soap grease filled to roughly 25–35% of the free volume is the common choice, with a defined relubrication interval.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 6012?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6012 — the open (unsealed) execution, 60×95×18 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 30.7 kN, C0 23.2 kN, Pu 0.98 kN, limiting speed 9500 r/min, mass 410 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6012.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018) on 2026-09-25. Read our editorial & correction policy.