Bearing Life Calculator

Estimate basic rating life for a radial ball bearing.

Live concept view — geometry scales with the entered design condition.

PRELIMINARY RESULT

Basic rating life27.00 million rev

Estimated L₁₀ life: 310.34 hours

Calculation detail

Formula: L₁₀ = (C / P)³ × 10⁶ revolutions

Basic L10 rating life uses the 90% reliability basis and exponent p = 3 for ball bearings; it is not a prediction of actual service life.

Bearing Life Calculator: operating questions

Is L10 life a guaranteed service life?

No. Basic rating life is a statistical rating at 90% reliability for an apparently identical bearing population under the stated idealized load. Lubrication, contamination, mounting and temperature can dominate field life.

May static load be entered as equivalent dynamic load?

Only when it has been converted using the bearing type, radial and axial load factors, and the applicable load case. Manufacturer data and ISO 281 methodology govern that conversion.

Why does a small load change strongly affect life?

For ball bearings the model uses a cubic load-life exponent. A modest increase in equivalent load therefore produces a much larger reduction in calculated basic rating life.

Illustrative input values and units
Parameter	Unit	Example
Dynamic rating C	N	19500
Equivalent dynamic load P	N	6500
Speed	RPM	1450

Technical verification

Equation checked: 2026-09-15 · Units checked: 2026-09-15 · Independent numerical case: Pass

Source basis: STANDARD — ISO 281:2007 metadata; SKF basic rating-life framework

Unit basis: C and P in N; n in rpm; hours

Independent example: C=19500 N, P=6500 N, n=1450 rpm: 27 million rev; 310.3448 h.

Scope: 90% reliability basis for ball bearings, not actual service life. Modified life needs lubrication, contamination, temperature, fatigue-limit and load-spectrum data. ISO 281:2007 is published, confirmed 2021; a revision is in development.

Technical verification is not professional engineering certification and does not approve a specific real-world design.