Deep groove ball bearing · 618 series (thin section)
61801 bearing
12 × 21 × 5 mm
The 61801 is a deep groove ball bearing with a 12 mm bore, 21 mm outside diameter and 5 mm width. Very thin section for compact designs and large hollow shafts.
- Bore d
- 12 mm 0.4724 in
- Outside diameter D
- 21 mm 0.8268 in
- Width B
- 5 mm 0.1969 in
- Dimension series
- 18
- Load directions
- Radial and moderate axial in both directions
Designation explained
What 61801 means
Standard bearing numbers encode the type, the dimension series and the bore. Anything after the base number — seals, clearance, cage — is a suffix.
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
6 | Deep groove ball bearing |
1 | Diameter series 1 (undefined), dimension series 18 |
01 | 01 → 12 mm bore (fixed code for small bores) |
Variants
Common 61801 variants
Suffixes change the bearing without changing its boundary dimensions. The exact letters differ between manufacturers — always order by the full designation from the maker you choose.
| Suffix | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Z / ZZ (2Z) | 61801-ZZ | Metal shield on one / both sides; keeps out coarse dirt, low friction |
RS / 2RS | 61801-2RS | Rubber contact seal on one / both sides; better protection against dust and water |
C2 | 61801-C2 | Internal radial clearance smaller than normal |
CN (no suffix) | 61801 | Normal internal clearance |
C3 | 61801-C3 | Internal clearance greater than normal — common for electric motors and heated shafts |
C4 | 61801-C4 | Internal clearance greater than C3 |
| Manufacturer | Shields both sides | Contact seals both sides |
|---|---|---|
| SKF | 61801-2Z | 61801-2RS1 |
| FAG (Schaeffler) | 61801-2Z | 61801-2RSR |
| NSK | 61801-ZZ | 61801-DDU |
| NTN | 61801-ZZ | 61801-LLU |
| Koyo (JTEKT) | 61801-ZZ | 61801-2RS |
61801-2RS (sealed)
- Rubber contact seals on both sides
- Best protection against dust, water and grease loss
- Slightly more friction and a lower speed limit
- Choose for dirty, wet or outdoor use
61801-ZZ / 2Z (shielded)
- Metal shields on both sides, small gap to the inner ring
- Keeps out coarse dirt; not water-tight
- Lower friction, higher speeds
- Choose for clean, fast-running applications
Same bore
Other 12 mm bore bearings
Every standard bearing in this reference with a 12 mm bore, from light to heavy sections.
| Designation | Type | D | B / H |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6001 | Deep groove ball bearing | 28 mm | 8 mm |
| 6201 | Deep groove ball bearing | 32 mm | 10 mm |
| 6301 | Deep groove ball bearing | 37 mm | 12 mm |
| 61901 | Deep groove ball bearing | 24 mm | 6 mm |
| 16001 | Deep groove ball bearing | 28 mm | 7 mm |
| 1201 | Self-aligning ball bearing | 32 mm | 10 mm |
| 1301 | Self-aligning ball bearing | 37 mm | 12 mm |
| 2201 | Self-aligning ball bearing | 32 mm | 14 mm |
| 2301 | Self-aligning ball bearing | 37 mm | 17 mm |
| 7201 | Angular contact ball bearing | 32 mm | 10 mm |
| 7301 | Angular contact ball bearing | 37 mm | 12 mm |
| 51101 | Thrust ball bearing | 26 mm | 9 mm |
| 51201 | Thrust ball bearing | 28 mm | 11 mm |
| UCP201 | Pillow block bearing unit | — | — |
Where to buy
Find 61801 at sellers
Search results on independent sellers. We are not affiliated with them, do not earn from these links and do not see their prices or stock. Results mix brands and variants — check the full designation before you order.
About these dimensions. Boundary dimensions follow ISO 15 (radial bearings — boundary dimensions, general plan), dimension series 18, and are the same for every manufacturer of a standard 61801. Chamfers, load ratings, speed limits and weight depend on the manufacturer and design and are not shown — use the maker's datasheet for engineering decisions. Last checked 9 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Learn more
What size is a 61801 bearing?
A 61801 is a deep groove ball bearing with a 12 mm bore, 21 mm outside diameter and 5 mm width (12 × 21 × 5 mm). These boundary dimensions follow the ISO dimension plan, so they are the same across manufacturers.
What does 61801-2RS or 61801-ZZ mean?
Same size, different closures: 2RS has rubber contact seals on both sides, ZZ (2Z) has metal shields on both sides. Manufacturers use different letters for the same idea — for example NSK DDU or NTN LLU for contact seals.
Can I replace 61801 with another bearing of the same size?
Other bearing types can share the same 12 × 21 × 5 mm envelope, but a different type has different load directions, speed limits and mounting needs. Same dimensions alone do not make two bearings interchangeable.
Where are the load ratings and speed limits?
They depend on the manufacturer and internal design, so we do not list a single value. Check the datasheet for the exact full designation you intend to use.
Need 61801 data for a whole catalog?
We can help with that.
Normalized specifications, variants and supplier listings for every bearing you sell, with the source behind each value.