6201 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6201 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 12 x 32 x 10 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 12 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 32 mm |
| Width B | 10 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 | 7.28 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 3.1 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 0.132 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 50000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 32000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 37 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6201 |
| 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 & 6200-series range
| Bore d | 0.472 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.26 in |
| Width B | 0.394 in |
| ISO bore code | 01 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 10 mm |
| Smallest bore in 6200-series | 3 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6200-series | 540 mm |
| Width range across 6200-series | 2.5–85 mm |
| Bore position in 6200-series (smallest first) | 8 of 45 |
| Bore above smallest 6200-series size | 9 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6201-2RS-FAG | FAG | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs 2RS) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6201-FAG | FAG | 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. |
| 6201-ZZ-FAG | FAG | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs ZZ) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6201 | 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. |
| 6201-2RS-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs 2RS) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6201-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. |
| 6201-RSR-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs RSR) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6201-ZZ-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant differs (OPEN vs ZZ) — confirm sealing suits the duty. |
| 6201-2RS-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant (OPEN vs 2RS) and load ratings differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6201-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
| 6201-RSR-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant (OPEN vs RSR) and load ratings differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6201-ZZ-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 12×32×10 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant (OPEN vs ZZ) and load ratings differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 7201 | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | — |
| W6201-2RS | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | SKF stainless execution W 6201-2RS1 shares the 12×32×10 mm envelope but rates differently (7.28/3.1 kN vs 5.72/3 kN) — not a load-rating equivalent. |
| W6201-ZZ | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | SKF stainless execution W 6201-2Z shares the 12×32×10 mm envelope but rates differently (7.28/3.1 kN vs 5.72/3 kN) — not a load-rating equivalent. |
| W6201 | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | SKF stainless execution W 6201 shares the 12×32×10 mm envelope but rates differently (7.28/3.1 kN vs 5.72/3 kN) — not a load-rating equivalent. |
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 6201 model number is decoded
6201 is supplied open, without shields or seals, so the arrangement around it must supply and retain the lubricant. Within the light 62xx section (diameter series 2 of ISO 15), its bore code 01 comes from the 10/12/15/17 mm exception table, giving a 12 mm bore; the 32 mm outside diameter and 10 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 12 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a j5 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. 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
- small fans and blowers
- garden equipment
- instrument drives
- fractional-horsepower electric motors
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- false brinelling from vibration while the shaft is stationary
- fretting corrosion on a loose shaft seat
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Bore codes 00–03 use the exception table: 6201 fits a 12 mm shaft — the code × 5 mnemonic does not apply below code 04 (it would imply 0 mm for code 00).
- The 62xx light series is the default general-purpose section at 12 mm bore; before upgrading to a 6301 for extra capacity, confirm the housing accepts a 32 mm OD and 10 mm width — it is not a drop-in swap.
- The open 6201 has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 12×32×10 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
- Open bearings tolerate the highest speeds in the 6200-series but need a defined regreasing interval; run-to-failure lubrication is the dominant cause of early failure in open 6201 units.
- Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 10 mm-wide ring seats square; provide an undercut or withdrawal groove instead of relying on an oversized radius.
- A 12 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 6201 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6201-2Z (shields) and 6201-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6201.
- The 7.28/3.1 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 6201 bearing?
A 6201 deep-groove ball bearing has a 12 mm bore, 32 mm outer diameter and 10 mm width (0.472 × 1.26 × 0.394 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
What internal clearance does 6201 have?
Unless a clearance suffix says otherwise, 6201 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 6201 and verify the residual clearance after mounting.
How should 6201 be mounted?
Apply the mounting force to the ring being fitted: on a 12 mm shaft seat the press load must pass through the inner-ring face only. A fitting sleeve and an arbor press are normally sufficient at this size. Never strike the outer ring, the cage or the seals.
What lubrication does 6201 need?
The open 6201 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 6201?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6201 — the open (unsealed) execution, 12×32×10 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 7.28 kN, C0 3.1 kN, Pu 0.132 kN, limiting speed 32000 r/min, mass 37 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH, 2RSL) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6201.
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.