If a bearing is unavailable, discontinued, or from a brand you can't get quickly, the good news is that most standard ball and roller bearings are built to the same ISO dimension standards. That means a 6205 from one maker is dimensionally the same bearing as a 6205 from another - what changes is the suffix that describes seals, clearance and cage. Once you understand the suffix, cross-referencing is straightforward.
The base number is the same across brands
The base designation - the type and bore part, like 6205 or 22210 - follows ISO 15 and is shared by SKF, FAG (Schaeffler), NSK, NTN, Koyo (JTEKT), Timken and others. So 6205 is always a deep-groove ball bearing with a 25 mm bore, whoever makes it. If you can read the base number, you already have most of the cross-reference. (For a refresher, see our guide on how to read a bearing part number.)
Seal and shield suffixes - where brands differ
The same sealed bearing carries a different suffix depending on the manufacturer. These are the most common equivalents for two contact rubber seals:
- SKF: 2RS1 (also -2RSH / -2RSL)
- FAG / Schaeffler: 2RSR
- NSK: DDU
- NTN: LLU
- Koyo: 2RS / DDU
For two metal shields you'll typically see SKF 2Z, FAG 2ZR, NSK ZZ and NTN ZZ. So an SKF 6205-2RS1, FAG 6205-2RSR, NSK 6205DDU and NTN 6205LLU are the same physical bearing: a 25 mm-bore sealed deep-groove ball bearing.
Internal clearance is universal
Clearance codes are shared across brands, so they carry straight over: C2 (less than normal), CN or no code (normal), C3 and C4 (greater than normal). C3 is common in electric motors because of thermal expansion - if the original is a C3, the replacement should be too.
Cage and material codes
- Brass cage: M / MA / MB depending on brand.
- Polyamide (plastic) cage: TVH, TN9, T2, or similar.
- Steel cage: often J or no special code.
A cross-reference is a starting point - verify it
Interchange charts get you to the right family fast, but they are not a guarantee. For high-speed, high-precision, high-temperature or specially-lubricated applications, confirm clearance, cage material, precision class (ABEC/ISO P-grade) and lubrication before you fit a substitute. When in doubt, match the full suffix, not just the base number.
Send us the number and we'll cross-reference it
Give us the bearing designation you have - even a partial or worn one, or a photo - and we'll identify a verified equivalent and respond within two business days, with pricing and lead time to follow once our supplier network confirms. We source bearings on request and reference more than 4,000 manufacturers. We are an independent reseller, not an authorized distributor of the brands named, which are used here only for identification.