SKF, FAG, NTN, NSK or KOYO: which bearing brand should you buy?
The five big names all make bearings to the same standard sizes. Here is how to choose between them, and why avoiding fakes matters more than the brand.
People often ask us which bearing brand is best. The honest answer is that the main makers all produce good bearings, and the bigger risk is not choosing the wrong one of them but buying a counterfeit. Still, there are real differences worth knowing.
Any of them fits the same housing
Bearings follow international standards for their boundary dimensions, so a 6205 from SKF, FAG, NTN, NSK or KOYO has the same bore, outside diameter and width, 25 × 52 × 15 mm. You can swap brands without changing the shaft or housing. What differs between brands is how they write the letters after the number, their seals, cages and internal designs, and the price. See the bearing number decoder and how to read a bearing number.
The brands at a glance
- SKF: a Swedish company founded in 1907 with one of the widest ranges, from small deep groove bearings to large spherical roller bearings. Its sealed deep groove bearings use letters such as 2RSH and 2Z.
- FAG: a German brand that belongs to the Schaeffler Group, like INA. It is strong in roller bearings, including spherical and cylindrical types.
- NTN: a Japanese maker with a broad range of ball and roller bearings. It writes rubber seals as LLU.
- NSK: a Japanese maker, widely used in motors and machines. It writes rubber seals as DDU and has its own motor clearance code, CM.
- KOYO: a Japanese brand of JTEKT, with a wide range for general machinery.
We also supply HCH bearings where a lower price matters more. See all our brands.
How to choose
- Follow the machine maker. If the manual or the old bearing says a particular brand or series, match it, especially on critical equipment such as a spindle or a large gearbox.
- Match the whole number, not only the brand. Seals, clearance and cage letters matter as much as the brand name. Quote the full number from the old bearing.
- Buy pairs and sets from one brand. Matched angular contact pairs and sets should come from one maker. See angular contact bearings explained.
- Match the cost to the job. A premium bearing makes sense where a stop is costly or the load is heavy. A good standard bearing is a sensible choice for a light, easy-to-reach application.
The brand matters less than it being genuine
Counterfeit bearings are sold under every well-known name, and they fail early. A fake carrying a famous brand is worse than an honest bearing from a lesser one. Buy from a dealer who sources from the makers, check that the marking on the ring matches the box, and be wary of prices far below the market. Our guide to how to spot fake bearings shows what to check.
Not sure which brand to ask for?
Tell us the machine, the old bearing number and your budget on WhatsApp, and we will quote the options from the makers we supply, for a single repair or a full list.