Replacing casters on carts and equipment: look at the floor first, then choose the wheel
Industrial casters (also called swivel casters, trolley wheels or quiet wheels) are unpowered wheels mounted under carts or equipment. Swivel casters turn 360°; fixed casters roll only forward and backward. This page offers five wheel types — rubber, TPR, heavy-duty rubber, pneumatic and conductive — in 1.5 to 10 in., in fixed, swivel, swivel with brake and wheel-only (no bracket) versions; conductive wheels also come in threaded-stem swivel and threaded-stem swivel with brake. Rubber wheels come in medium, heavy and iron-core grades, and conductive wheels in light, medium and heavy grades; the same diameter in a different grade is a different model at a different price. For stainless steel brackets for washdown and wet areas, please ask about our SUS304 stainless steel casters.
Models
| Wheel | Grade | Diameter | Type | Plate hole pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rubber | Medium | 3, 4, 5 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake, wheel only | 75 × 45 mm (3, 4, 5 in.); 75 × 55 mm (4 in.); 75 × 85 mm (5 in.) |
| Rubber | Heavy | 4, 5, 6, 8 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake, wheel only | 85 × 75 mm |
| Rubber | Iron core | 6, 8 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake | 85 × 75 mm |
| Blue TPR | — | 4, 5 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake, wheel only | 75 × 55 mm (4 in.); 85 × 72 mm (5 in.) |
| Blue TPR | — | 6 in. | Fixed, swivel, wheel only | 85 × 72 mm |
| Gray high-elastic TPR | — | 4, 5, 6, 8 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake, wheel only | Given with quote |
| High-elastic quiet TPR | — | 3, 4, 5 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake, wheel only | Given with quote |
| Pneumatic | — | 6, 8, 10 in. | Fixed, swivel, wheel only | Given with quote |
| Heavy-duty rubber | — | 4, 5, 6, 8 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake | Given with quote |
| Conductive | Light | 1.5, 2 in. | Fixed, swivel, brake, wheel only, threaded-stem swivel, threaded-stem swivel with brake | Given with quote |
| Conductive | Medium | 3, 4, 5 in. | Fixed, swivel, swivel with brake, wheel only, threaded-stem swivel, threaded-stem swivel with brake | Given with quote |
| Conductive | Heavy | 4, 5, 6, 8 in. | Fixed, swivel, brake, wheel only | Given with quote |
Diameter, grade and type are as listed in the product options; load per wheel is confirmed with the quote. Volume pricing on request.
How to choose
- Load: divide the total weight of the cart plus load among the wheels on the ground. On uneven floors often only 3 wheels touch the ground, so leave a margin on the load per wheel.
- Floor: for outdoor use, gravel, grass or cracked and uneven floors, use pneumatic wheels — the tire cushions the load and absorbs vibration. For other floors choose the wheel by diameter, type and hole pattern from the table.
- Swivel and brake: common sets are 2 swivel + 2 swivel with brake, or 2 swivel + 2 fixed. Fixed casters only roll forward and backward and make long straight runs easier. For the “brake” versions of light conductive (1.5, 2 in.) and heavy conductive (4–8 in.) wheels, swivel or fixed is not stated — please confirm when you ask for a quote.
- Grade: the same diameter in different grades is a different model; load per wheel for each grade is not stated on this page — please confirm with the quote.
- Mounting: for plate mounting, match the hole pattern. Medium rubber 4 in. comes with 75 × 45 or 75 × 55 mm, and 5 in. with 75 × 45 or 75 × 85 mm — measure the plate of your existing casters before ordering. Light and medium conductive wheels are also available with threaded stems; stem size is given with the quote. If unsure, send a photo of your existing caster and the plate size with your inquiry.
FAQ
What sizes are available? 1.5 to 10 in.: conductive wheels start at 1.5 in., pneumatic wheels go up to 10 in., and most other wheels are 3 to 8 in.
What wheel materials are available? On this page: rubber, TPR, heavy-duty rubber, pneumatic and conductive. Bracket material is not stated on this page; for wet areas and washdown, choose SUS304 stainless steel bracket casters.
What is the difference between swivel and fixed casters? A swivel caster has an extra pivot above the wheel and turns 360°; a fixed caster’s bracket does not turn, so it rolls in a straight line. A brake locks the wheel.
Is the resistance of the conductive wheels specified? No resistance value or ESD class is stated for the conductive wheels on this page. If they must work with an ESD floor or meet a resistance requirement, please tell us when you ask for a quote.
Sources: ICWM, Casters, Wheels, and Accessories Guide 101; Wikipedia, Caster; Caster Concepts, When to Use Pneumatic Wheel Casters; Barron Equipment, Pneumatic Caster Wheels.
When you request a quote, please tell us: wheel diameter, wheel type and grade, how many swivel / fixed / brake casters, plate hole pattern or stem size, and the approximate total weight of the cart.
Email us for a quote: [email protected]