6048 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6048 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 240 x 360 x 56 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 240 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 360 mm |
| Width B | 56 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 | 255 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 315 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 7.8 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3600 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2200 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 17000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6048 |
| 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 | 9.449 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 14.173 in |
| Width B | 2.205 in |
| ISO bore code | 48 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 60 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) | 40 of 61 |
| Bore above smallest 6000-series size | 236 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6048 | 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. |
| 6048-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. |
| 6048-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. |
| 6048-M | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | SKF 6048 M (machined brass cage, open arrangement) is the same-size execution on the 240×360×56 mm envelope with ratings within 10 % — boundary dimensions interchangeable. |
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 6048 model number is decoded
In the 6000-series (diameter series 0 of ISO 15) the last two digits encode the bore: 6048 carries bore code 48 = 240 mm. Outside diameter 360 mm and width 56 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 240 mm shaft, typical catalogue practice is a m6 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
- industrial fans and blowers
- hoists and winches
- heavy conveyors
- pulp and paper machinery
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- rolling-contact fatigue spalling after the rated L10 life is exceeded
- brinelling from static overload or hammering during mounting
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Large bores like the 240 mm of 6048 demand clean, burr-free seats; one raised burr under a ring this size cocks the bearing and concentrates load at the raceway edge, cutting life drastically.
- The 60xx extra-light section at 240 mm bore uses a smaller 360 mm OD than a 6248; load ratings are lower, so do not replace a failed 62-series bearing with a 60-series without re-rating the load.
- Storage matters for open bearings: 6048 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.
- Open bearings tolerate the highest speeds in the 6000-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 6048 units.
- Suffixes stack in a defined order — clearance follows the seal code, e.g. 6048-C3. No clearance suffix means normal CN clearance.
- A 240 mm bore listing showing the right d/D/B but no standard or precision-class reference may be a loose-tolerance import; measure bore/OD spread before fitting it to a machined shaft.
- The open 6048 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6048-2Z (shields) and 6048-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6048.
- The 255/315 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 6048 bearing?
A 6048 deep-groove ball bearing has a 240 mm bore, 360 mm outer diameter and 56 mm width (9.449 × 14.173 × 2.205 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
How does the 6000 compare with other series at the same 240 mm bore?
The second digit is the diameter series: 60 is the smallest standard section (360×56 mm, 60.0 mm radial section) at 240 mm bore — below 62/63/64 in load capacity, for light loads in compact spaces.
Are 6048 bearings from different brands interchangeable?
For boundary dimensions, yes: every brand's 6048 uses the same ISO 15 envelope (240×360×56 mm). Load ratings, limiting speeds, clearance, precision class and sealing design can differ, so verify those in the supplier catalogue when substituting.
What internal clearance does 6048 have?
Unless a clearance suffix says otherwise, 6048 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 6048 and verify the residual clearance after mounting.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 6048?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6048 — the open (unsealed) execution, 240×360×56 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 255 kN, C0 315 kN, Pu 7.8 kN, limiting speed 2200 r/min, mass 17000 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6048.
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.