6204 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 6204 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 |
|---|---|
| Bore diameter d | 20 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 47 mm |
| Width B | 14 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 | 13.5 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 6.55 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 0.28 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 32000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 20000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +150 °C |
| Mass | 110 g |
| Manufacturer designation | SKF 6204 |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018) |
| Last verified | 2026-09-24 |
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 | 0.787 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 | 10 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 6200-series | 400 mm |
| Width range across 6200-series | 9–65 mm |
| Bore position in 6200-series (smallest first) | 5 of 33 |
| Bore above smallest 6200-series size | 10 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6204 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
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 model number is decoded
In the 6200-series (ISO 15 diameter series 2) the last two digits encode the bore: 6204 carries bore code 04 = 20 mm. Outside diameter 47 mm and width 14 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 20 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
- electric motors
- centrifugal pumps
- small gearboxes
- conveyors and drives
Known failure patterns
- contamination wear from dust and dirt ingress through the open arrangement
- lubricant starvation when no regreasing interval is maintained
- electrical pitting in VFD-driven motors without grounding protection
- raceway smearing under marginal lubrication at start-up
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At a 20 mm bore, a shaft-seat burr or an overtight setscrew can score the thin inner ring of 6204; check shaft finish and runout (target Ra ≤ 1.6 µm) before pressing it home.
- The 62xx light series is the default general-purpose section at 20 mm bore; before upgrading to a 6304 for extra capacity, confirm the housing accepts a 47 mm OD and 14 mm width — it is not a drop-in swap.
- The open 6204 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.
- 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 6204 units.
- A 20 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 6204 needs external sealing and application-supplied lubrication; in the SKF catalogue the protected variants are separate order numbers 6204-2Z (shields) and 6204-2RSH (contact seals), not suffix-free 6204.
- The 13.5/6.55 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 6204 bearing?
A 6204 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. Geometry-based estimated mass is about 101 g for a steel-cage unit; catalogue masses vary slightly with seal and cage design.
How does the 6204 bore code work?
The last two digits of 6204 are bore code 04, giving 04 × 5 = 20 mm bore. The 47 mm outside diameter and 14 mm width follow the ISO 15 diameter series, not the bore code alone.
What does no suffix on 6204 mean?
A bare 6204 designation means open: no shields or seals, normal CN radial clearance and P0 normal tolerance unless further suffixes are ordered. The application must supply and retain the lubrication.
How does the 6200 compare with other series at the same 20 mm bore?
The '2' is the light diameter series: 47×14 mm with a 13.5 mm radial section at 20 mm bore. A 6304 on the same bore is larger and higher-rated; a 6004 is smaller and lower-rated.
What is the SKF designation and catalogue data for 6204?
In the SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue this size is listed as 6204 — the open (unsealed) execution, 20×47×14 mm per ISO 15. Quoted values: C 13.5 kN, C0 6.55 kN, Pu 0.28 kN, limiting speed 20000 r/min, mass 110 g. Brand suffixes (2Z, 2RSH) differ from the industry-neutral spelling 6204.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018) on 2026-09-24. Read our editorial & correction policy.