NU216 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NU216 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 80 x 140 x 26 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 80 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 140 mm |
| Width B | 26 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 160 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 166 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 21.2 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 5300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 5600 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 1550 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NU 216 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 | 3.15 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 5.512 in |
| Width B | 1.024 in |
| ISO bore code | 16 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 30 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) | 15 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest NU200-series size | 65 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NU216-NTN | NTN | partial Main dimensions match; tolerances, seals or internal clearance differ. | Same 80×140×26 mm envelope per ISO 15; catalogue load ratings differ by >10% — re-rate the application before substituting. |
| 6216 | 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. |
| 6216-2RS | 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. |
| 6216-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. |
| N216-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF N 216 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
| NJ216-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF NJ 216 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
| NUP216-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF NUP 216 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 NU216 model number is decoded
NU 216 ECP belongs to the SKF single-row cylindrical roller range — the 80 mm bore entry in the NU200 series, dimensioned 140 mm OD and 26 mm wide to the ISO 15 boundary plan. On the SKF nameplate, NU216 follows the ISO 15 convention: NU for the separable-inner-ring type, 2 for the standard, final digits 16 for the 80 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. Speed planning uses two different ceilings: 5,300 r/min thermal reference and 5,600 r/min mechanical limiting speed. The outer ring has no ribs and cannot locate the shaft axially; pair NU216 with a locating bearing (e.g. deep-groove ball or angular contact) or use an NJ/NUP variant if one-direction location is required.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large pump and turbine shafts
- rolling-mill work-roll backup bearings
- paper-machine dryer and calender rolls
- cement-kiln support-roller 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
- cage pocket wear from roller skidding at insufficient radial load or during start-up before oil film build-up
- roller-end scoring from inadequate oil flow in the roller-raceway contact
- hard-particle indentation of the raceway in unfiltered oil systems
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Mount the 80 mm bore NU216 by induction heating of the inner ring (max 120 °C — the polymer cage sets the ceiling, not the steel); driving it home through the rollers brinells the raceway.
- The NU200 series at 80 mm bore (140×26 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 5,300 r/min reference is a thermal criterion under load, while the 5,600 r/min limiting value is the mechanical ceiling — observe both.
- The ECP polymer cage is rated for standard industrial service up to 120 °C; sustained running above the limiting speed or with degraded lubricant softens the cage — inspect at every relubrication interval.
- The 160/166 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 NU216 (ECP polymer cage, ECJ pressed steel, ECM machined brass); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full NU 216 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 NU216?
The NU 216 ECP is a single-row cylindrical roller bearing with 80 mm bore, 140 mm outer diameter and 26 mm width (3.15 × 5.512 × 1.024 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 160 kN, C0 166 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 21.2 kN, reference speed 5,300 r/min, limiting speed 5,600 r/min, mass about 1550 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage.
How does the NU216 bore code work?
The last two digits of NU216 are bore code 16, so 16 × 5 = 80 mm bore. The 140 mm OD and 26 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 NU216?
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 NU216 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 NU216 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.