6204-FAG bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6204-FAG is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 20 x 47 x 14 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | FAG |
| Bore diameter d | 20 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 47 mm |
| Width B | 14 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 14.7 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 6.6 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 18100 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 24300 rpm |
| Mass | 100 g |
| Manufacturer designation | FAG 6204-C |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) |
| Last verified | 2026-09-25 |
Source: catalog reference (HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)) · extracted 2026-09-25
Parameters extracted from the official FAG Rolling Bearings catalogue (HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020)); FAG® is a trademark of Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized FAG/Schaeffler distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at schaeffler.com.
Dimensions in inches & 6200-series range
| Bore d | 0.787 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.85 in |
| Width B | 0.551 in |
| ISO bore code | 04 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 13.5 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) | 11 of 45 |
| Bore above smallest 6200-series size | 17 mm |
Mounting, lubrication & life for 6204-FAG
Recommended fits & mounting
- Rotating inner ring on a 20 mm shaft: k5; housing bore H7 for normal stationary-load outer rings. Reverse the logic if the outer ring rotates.
- Fit by induction heating (max 120 °C) where practical — never drive the ring home through the rolling elements.
- Keep shaft and housing fillet radii below the bearing chamfer so the 14 mm-wide ring seats square on its shoulder.
Lubrication strategy
Open execution: the application supplies lubrication. Use the grease relubrication chart for this bearing — pitch diameter dm = 33.5 mm, so the speed factor at the 24,300 r/min limiting speed is 814,050 mm·r/min. Intervals shorten steeply as that factor rises.
Worked L10 life example (illustrative duty)
For ball bearings, L10h = (C/P)3 · 106 / (60·n). Taking an example radial equivalent load P = 3 kN at n = 1,500 r/min (a small belted motor duty — substitute the real equivalent load from the application calculation):
C = 14.7 kN → L10h ≈ 1,307 hours — a warning that this section is lightly rated for a 3 kN load; a heavier section at the same 20 mm bore is the usual fix
Choosing a section at the same 20 mm bore
| Series | Open execution | OD × width | C (kN) | Limiting speed (r/min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60xx | 6004-FAG | 42 × 12 | 10.6 | 27,500 |
| 62xx | 6204-FAG | 47 × 14 | 14.7 | 24,300 |
| 63xx | 6304-FAG | 52 × 15 | 16.9 | 19,800 |
| 64xx | 6404-FAG | 72 × 19 | 30.5 | 14,000 |
| 618xx | 61804-FAG | 32 × 7 | 4.0 | 33,500 |
| 619xx | 61904-FAG | 37 × 9 | 6.4 | 28,500 |
| 160xx | 16004 | 42 × 8 | 7.9 | 26,000 |
A larger section is not a drop-in swap — OD and width change — and same-envelope seal variants are compared on the 20×47×14 envelope page. Match meaning, not the size chart alone: see what the cross-reference levels mean.
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6204-2RS-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-RSR-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-ZZ-NSK | NSK | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-NSK | NSK | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-NTN | NTN | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-2RS-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-RSR-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-ZZ-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-ZZ | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-2RS | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| 6204-RSR | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| W6204-2RS | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| W6204-ZZ | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
| W6204 | SKF | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 20×47×14 mm envelope per ISO 15; seal variant and load ratings may differ — confirm sealing and rating before substituting. |
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 6204-FAG model number is decoded
6204 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), multiplying bore code 04 by five gives the 20 mm bore; the 47 mm outside diameter and 14 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 20 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a k5 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. In the Schaeffler HR 1 catalogue this open execution carries the bare designation; protected variants are ordered separately with suffixes 2Z (steel shields), 2RZ (non-contact rubber seals) and 2RSR (lip-contact rubber seals).
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- centrifugal pumps
- small gearboxes
- conveyors and drives
- agricultural equipment
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- raceway smearing under marginal lubrication at start-up
- edge loading from shaft deflection or housing misalignment
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Sizes around 20 mm bore are normally pressed on cold with a sleeve against the inner-ring face; the press force must never route through the outer ring or the balls of 6204-FAG.
- At 20 mm bore the 62xx light series is the workhorse section; its 47×14 mm envelope is what most motor and gearbox seats are machined for, so any alternative section must be checked against both this OD and this width, not the bore alone.
- The open 6204-FAG has no lubricant retention: grease escapes and contaminants migrate straight into the 20×47×14 mm raceway, so specify a sealed arrangement for dusty or washdown duty.
- Storage matters for open bearings: 6204-FAG 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.
- Assign fits by which ring rotates: an interference shaft fit for a rotating inner ring; if the outer ring rotates instead, reverse the logic — a loose rotating ring creeps and frets its seat.
- The housing bore for the 47 mm OD should be round within IT7; an oval bore pinches the outer ring of 6204-FAG and shows up later as two-point loaded raceway wear.
- The open 6204 has no integral sealing; in the Schaeffler HR 1 catalogue the protected variants carry suffixes 2Z (two steel shields), 2RZ (two non-contact rubber seals) and 2RSR (two lip-contact rubber seals). Do not confuse FAG's 2RZ with a contact seal — the RZ lip does not touch the inner ring, which is why its speed capability stays close to the open bearing.
- FAG rates 6204 at 24300 r/min mechanical limiting speed (thermal reference speed 18100 r/min) — a high-speed range where the thermal reference speed governs continuous duty; use low-viscosity turbine oil or high-speed grease and avoid lip-contact seals entirely.
- The 20 mm bore puts 6204 in Schaeffler's light industrial range; the standard cage and CN clearance cover most fractional-horsepower motor and small-pump duty, and FAG's X-life generation of these sizes carries higher ratings than legacy HR 1 printings — check the current eKatalog listing before reordering.
- FAG rates 6204 at 14.7 kN dynamic (C) and 6.6 kN static (C0); this light-to-medium rating suits fractional-horsepower drives and instruments — verify the equivalent dynamic load stays well below C for conveying or gearbox duty with shock.
- At 100 g, 6204 is light enough for hand assembly but should be pressed on with a fitting sleeve against the inner ring; do not strike the outer ring or cage with a hammer.
- The 20×47×14 mm envelope of 6204 gives a D/d ratio of 2.35 and 13.5 mm radial section height — a heavy FAG section for high-load, lower-speed duty; specifying it in a high-rpm motor generates excess heat and shortens grease life, so prefer a 62/63-series there.
- The 14.7/6.6 kN load ratings, mass 100 g here are Schaeffler HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) catalogue figures for 6204-C on the 20×47×14 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6204 in a rated drive. Where FAG has since released an X-life version of this size, its expanded C/C0 ratings supersede the HR 1 print values quoted here.
- FAG standard tolerance for this size is P0 (PN); P6/P5 precision executions exist for spindle-adjacent duty but carry different order numbers in the Schaeffler system — they are not a selectable sorting of standard stock.
- For hot shafts above roughly 100 °C continuous, consult Schaeffler about seal material and grease options for the 2RSR execution of 6204; the standard NBR lip is the economical general-duty choice, not the high-temperature one.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a 6204-FAG bearing?
A 6204-FAG deep-groove ball bearing has a 20 mm bore, 47 mm outer diameter and 14 mm width (0.787 × 1.85 × 0.551 in), per ISO 15 boundary dimensions. It is an open bearing with no seals or shields.
Are 6204 bearings from different brands interchangeable?
For boundary dimensions, yes: every brand's 6204 uses the same ISO 15 envelope (20×47×14 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 6204-FAG have?
Unless a clearance suffix says otherwise, 6204-FAG 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 6204 and verify the residual clearance after mounting.
What is the FAG order number for an open 6204?
FAG lists the open 6204 under the bare designation 6204-C; protected versions use suffixes 2Z (steel shields), 2RZ (non-contact rubber seals) and 2RSR (lip-contact rubber seals) on the same 20 mm bore envelope.
What is the difference between FAG 2RZ and 2RSR seals?
2RZ is a non-contact rubber seal: minimal drag, speed close to the open bearing, not liquid-tight. 2RSR is a lip-contact seal: better protection against moisture and fine dust at the cost of speed and torque. Both keep the ISO 15 envelope of 6204-C.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog HR 1 Rolling Bearings (Jan 2020) on 2026-09-25. Read our editorial & correction policy.