NU208 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NU208 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 40 x 80 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 | 40 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 80 mm |
| Width B | 18 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 62 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 53 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 6.7 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 9500 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 370 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NU 208 ECP |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings); 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 & NU200-series range
| Bore d | 1.575 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 3.15 in |
| Width B | 0.709 in |
| ISO bore code | 08 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 20 mm |
| Smallest bore in NU200-series | 15 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NU200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across NU200-series | 11–92 mm |
| Bore position in NU200-series (smallest first) | 7 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest NU200-series size | 25 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NU208-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 40×80×18 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
| 6208 | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| 6208-2RS | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| 6208-RSR | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| 6208-ZZ | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| N208-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF N 208 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
| NJ208-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF NJ 208 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
| NUP208-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF NUP 208 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
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 NU208 model number is decoded
In SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000, NU208 appears as NU 208 ECP: an open, single-row cylindrical roller bearing in the NU200 series, with glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage and line-contact geometry for high radial capacity. On the SKF nameplate, NU208 follows the ISO 15 convention: NU for the separable-inner-ring type, 2 for the standard, final digits 08 for the 40 mm bore. The SKF catalogue adds the ECP suffix for the standard glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage; ECJ (pressed steel) and ECM (machined brass) are alternative executions with different speed and temperature ratings. Catalogue mass 370 g for the 40×80×18 mm open execution covers the polymer cage and standard roller complement; steel or brass cage variants differ slightly in mass and carry their own order numbers. Check raceway alignment after mounting: single-row cylindrical roller bearings tolerate only ≈ 3–4 minutes of arc misalignment; beyond that edge loading accelerates fatigue.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- paper-machine wet-section rolls
- rolling-mill auxiliary gear trains
- crane hoist and trolley wheel shafts
- industrial gearbox input/output shafts
Known failure patterns
- inner-ring raceway spalling from overload or contamination in the line-contact hertz zone
- outer-ring raceway fatigue after extended service at loads above the catalogue L10 rating
- polymer cage cracking or softening after sustained running above 120 °C or with incompatible lubricant
- surface distress (micro-pitting) when the EHL film falls below the composite roughness at high specific load
- false brinelling on standby machines exposed to external vibration
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On this 40 mm bore, thermal expansion of the shaft can preload the inner ring if the fit is too tight; calculate the residual interference at operating temperature and confirm the outer ring can still slide axially in the housing.
- The NU200 series at 40 mm bore (80×18 mm) is the standard-section cylindrical roller envelope; stepping to a wide-section 22/23 variant changes OD, width and heat generation — it is not a drop-in swap when the housing and speed are fixed.
- Catalogue reference speed and limiting speed are different limits: the 9,500 r/min reference is a thermal criterion under load, while the 11,000 r/min limiting value is the mechanical ceiling — observe both.
- The NU208 shares its ISO 15 envelope with other cylindrical bearings of the same code but is not a drop-in replacement for a ball bearing: it has no axial load capacity in the NU design, and a deep-groove bearing cannot replace its radial-capacity duty.
- The 62/53 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the ECP polymer-cage execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
- SKF lists several executions of NU208 (ECP polymer cage, ECJ pressed steel, ECM machined brass); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full NU 208 ECP designation when purchasing and match the execution to the speed and temperature requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of NU208?
The NU 208 ECP is a single-row cylindrical roller bearing with 40 mm bore, 80 mm outer diameter and 18 mm width (1.575 × 3.15 × 0.709 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 62 kN, C0 53 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 6.7 kN, reference speed 9,500 r/min, limiting speed 11,000 r/min, mass about 370 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage.
How does the NU208 bore code work?
The last two digits of NU208 are bore code 08, so 08 × 5 = 40 mm bore. The 80 mm OD and 18 mm width come from the ISO 15 dimension-series plan, shared with other cylindrical bearings of the same code.
What does the ECP suffix mean on NU208?
ECP stands for a glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage (PA66), the SKF standard for this size. Alternative executions include ECJ (pressed steel cage) and ECM (machined brass cage), which have different speed and temperature ratings and are separate order numbers.
Can NU208 take axial load?
No — the NU design has no ribs on the outer ring and cannot support axial load in either direction. It is intended for pure radial load with axial location provided by adjacent components. If axial location is required, consider NJ (one-direction) or NUP (two-direction) variants, or pair the NU bearing with a thrust or angular-contact bearing.
How does NU208 compare with a ball bearing of the same bore?
A cylindrical roller bearing has line contact and much higher radial capacity than a ball bearing of the same bore, but it cannot take axial load in the NU design and is sensitive to misalignment (≈ 3–4 minutes of arc). Speed limits are generally lower than deep-groove ball bearings. A ball bearing cannot be dropped into a pure radial cylindrical-roller position without re-checking life and deflection, and vice versa.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.