You can spend under $10 for a general-purpose caster or thousands on super heavy-duty casters that can handle loads that weigh several tons. Different factors impact the pricing and costs of ball bearing casters. Whether you work with tables, carts, office chairs, material handling equipment or anything else using caster wheels, you may need to replace them or their parts at some point or add accessories, especially to prolong the life of equipment during tight times.

Factors impacting bearing casters include materials used, load the casters can bear, brand name, specialty casters and whether you need general-purpose or light-duty, medium-duty, heavy-duty or super heavy-duty casters. This guide concentrates on three factors impacting ball bearing caster prices:

1. Cost factors associated with caster wheels.

2. Increasing the cost of wheels because of enhanced castor bearings, accessories and spare parts.

3. Special deals that can affect the price of ball bearing caster wheels.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider cost factors associated with different types of caster wheels and caster bearings

The cost you pay for caster wheels depends on the number of processes used to construct wheels for casters and the products used in manufacturing the wheels. The price also fluctuates depending on whether the caster will get light, medium or heavy use.

I recommend: Visit the Apollo Caster website to learn about different caster wheels, the processes and materials used in their construction and the differences in price for wheel type. Click on links near the bottom of the page at the CasterShop website to view price ranges for general-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty casters. Find prices for equipment casters of all sizes at Stanley E. Smith Company.

Expect accessories and different caster types to increase caster wheel prices

Besides wheels with caster bearings, you'll pay more for caster wheels depending on accessories and other parts included with your order. Think about spending a little extra for accessories that enhance the safety and functionality of casters like swivel locks, wheel brakes, thread guards and swivel assembly seals. If you work in unusual environments with high heat or extremely cold conditions, high moisture, high humidity or around lots of solvents or chemicals, spend a little more on special lubricants that can help extend the life of swivel and wheel bearings.

I recommend: For an example of how prices change when you add accessories, compare prices on the Colson thermoplastic elastomer casters from C&H Distributors after you add swivel and total lock brakes. For under $30, Access Casters offers customers leveling casters useful in optical, medical, clean room, control panels, switch boards, furniture and other applications. Additionally, the company offers standard plate size casters, heavy-duty plate casters, super heavy-duty casters, stem casters, pneumatic casters, stainless steel casters and even gate and ladder casters in different prices ranging from roughly $4 to just under $5,000.

Find special deals to save even more on ball bearing caster wheels

Even though prices of wheel and ball and socket casters vary depending on the application, vendor, performance quality and materials, still look for special deals offered by caster providers before making your final decision.

I recommend: If you work in the medical industry, check out the casters offered by Ocelco, a patient aid equipment and parts company. The company offers wholesale pricing to nursing homes, hospitals and related facilities, doesn't require a minimum purchase and it offers customers reward points for use toward future purchases. If you're looking for casters for office chairs or carts, check with Easy Parts, a division of Glen Products, for a volume ball caster or single wheel caster discount.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For the best return on your investment, purchase ball castors that handle a load you'll actually use. Don't spend money on casters that will support a load of 1,000 or 2,000 pounds if you only need to support 500 pounds.

If you need to move heavy equipment or inventory, ball bearing casters can facilitate your work. Casters are wheels attached to the bottom of any object, which swivel in the direction they’re being pushed. Ball bearings are used to reduce friction, so with a ball and socket caster setup, you’ll be moving loads smoothly.

There are hundreds of industrial suppliers that sell caster wheels of all kinds and sizes. Know the size of the loads you'll be moving before purchasing your caster wheels, as a weight overload can squash and deform the casters bearing ball.

When searching for the caster and bearing to fit your needs, some of key points to consider include:

1. Know the weight of your load so you buy the correct ball caster for your needs
2. If you need caster wheels in bulk, look for a wholesale vendor
3. Compare prices of similar casters before making your purchase

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the internet to browse hundreds of ball bearing caster styles at once

Caster wheels are sold and shipped from every corner of the country. Find an online source that will allow you to compare the products and prices of multiple vendors at once. Search for various solutions to your moving needs at once to save time.

I recommend: Find direct links to hundreds of casters bearing ball products at Shopping.com. Find prices for numerous products and see links to direct vendors of more ball bearing casters.

Stock up on extra caster bearings to replace worn caster wheels

Whether your caster requirements are big or small, it's always useful to keep a stock of extras available so your operations can run smoothly and on time. Find a wholesale vendor and purchase more bearing casters than you immediately need to allow for used up bearings.

I recommend: National Caster Corporation manufactures and assembles more than 200 brands and holds more than 40,000 models in stock. Check out their catalog online or request to receive a paper catalog. They sell bearing casters in all weight categories.

Find the casters with the industrial features you need

Industrial casters may be equipped with extra features to fit your every need. While the most basic caster wheels will have your standard caster and bearing, there are ball bearing casters available with brakes or hooded wheels, or any regulatory specification your business requires.

I recommend: Global Caster Corporation has an online selection of their own ball bearing casters, as well as those of multiple other vendors. Their website offers suggestions of use for each model they sell, so you can be sure the model you buy will match your needs. Caster City has a wide range of industrial casters, from light to heavy duty, sorted on their website by weight bearing capacity.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If unsure about the right bearing for your project, call a customer service representative who can direct you to the perfect caster wheel.

If you have equipment you need to move frequently, you know how important it is to have caster wheels that work properly. Ball bearing casters make it easy to navigate heavy pieces of equipment around your shop or office.

If you are considering new mobile equipment of any sort, you should have a general idea of the ball bearing casters types and styles that you may find attached. Or, you may want to replace worn out ball casters with new models. In that case it pays to know what is available.

As you consider the ball bearing casters types and styles you may purchase, you need to know what you intend for the caster bearings to do. Before you buy a caster, here are some things you should know:

1. How much weight the bearing must carry. Divide the total weight of the equipment load by three to figure out the load-bearing capability you need for each ball caster.

2. What the floor and operating conditions are. Some casters work best on concrete, while others work best on softer surfaces.

3. Whether the caster can withstand any extreme temperatures. Extreme hot or cold can quickly ruin inappropriate casters.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pick general duty caster wheels for your equipment

General duty caster wheels generally come in light-to-medium duty, heavy duty and kingpin-less. Some casters come with brakes while others do not. As you consider general duty caster wheels to attach to your mobile equipment, remember to also find casters that will fit your equipment.

I recommend: Select the right size caster bearings for your equipment from All States Casters. It has a large selection of ball casters from which to choose. There are also have a wide variety of casters for all needs available from MSC Industrial Supply.

Use ball and socket casters

Choose this type of caster if you want good rolling capabilities. Generally made with stainless steel balls encased in sockets, only a very small area of the ball bearing actually contacts the floor's surface. Use ball and socket casters in the traditional manner or turn them over and use them for your ball and socket transfer needs.

I recommend: Ball and socket casters are available from the Acme Caster Company in a variety of sizes and configurations. Charles P. Lauman also offers a selection of ball and socket casters.

Select pneumatic ball bearing casters

If you wish to protect your floor or need to move carts and other equipment easily and efficiently, consider pneumatic ball bearing casters types and styles. The design of the casters bearing ball allows for extra shock absorption as well.

I recommend: Choose one of the pneumatic caster wheels from the Service Caster Corporation. These shock absorbing ball bearing casters allow for easier movement on rougher surfaces. Caster City has a large selection of ball bearing caster wheels. You can choose pneumatic bearing casters with or without a locking mechanism.

If you are looking for equipment with ball bearing caster wheels, you should be familiar with ball bearing casters key terms to get the best products for your needs. You'll find you have a large selection of types and styles of ball bearing casters to choose from on today’s market. Once you understand the basic parts of a ball bearing caster, you can shop for a long-lasting product.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Ball bearings

Ball bearings use metal balls to keep the parts of the bearing separated. As the central ball rotates, the axial balls move as well. Ball bearings are relatively inexpensive to produce. They are incapable of carrying as much weight as other types of bearings.

I recommend: The Colson Caster Company provides ball bearing casters. The company's website has information about the ball bearings used in its products.

Race

Two round pieces of metal, called races, keep the bearings in place. They help to distribute the load placed on the ball bearings.

I recommend: For an in-depth explanation of how races expedite the work of ball bearings, read this article at HowStuffWorks.

Polyurethane wheels

Polyurethane wheels provide a smooth ride for the casters. Polyurethane is a non-marking material, so it's a good choice for carpet or treated flooring. It can stand up to some weight, but it's not ideal for extremely heavy products. You can order polyurethane wheels for casters in a variety of colors.

I recommend: See the selection of wheels for ball bearing casters available from Trew Industrial Wheels.

Forged steel wheels

For heavy duty use and use on concrete, forged steel wheels are a good choice. You can expect long life with this type of wheel on your ball bearing casters.

I recommend: See the forged steel wheel example at Drill Spot.

Hooded wheels

Hooded wheels on a ball bearing caster can add a decorative touch. They can also serve to protect the wheel. You often find this type of caster on furniture and lighter duty equipment. Most pieces of office furniture, including chairs, have hooded wheels.

I recommend: E.R. Wagner carries hooded wheels.

Transfer caster

A transfer caster is one large metal ball inside a metal sheathing. The large ball bearing makes direct contact with the flooring material. This type of ball bearing caster can hold a considerable amount of weight.

I recommend: Acme Caster Company offers a number of ball bearing transfer casters.