Bearing Numbers Explained

K	Cage with roller elements
L	Removable bearing ring
R	Ring with roller set
S	Roll body of stainless steel
W	Stainless steel deep groove ball bearing

*Note: Each bearing company may create their own prefixes. e.g. E2. = SKF Energy Efficient bearings

2 RS	Bearing with rubber seal on both sides. RS provides a better seal but more rolling friction than 2Z.
RS	Bearing with rubber seal on one side, one side open.
2 Z / ZZ	Bearing with a metal seal on both sides.
Z	Bearing with a metal seal on one side, one side open.
E	Reinforced Design
P2	Highest precision
K	Bearing with taper bore

The example at the header shows a 6001 2RS bearing. So what does the 6001 actually mean?
Lets attempt to break it down.

(6)001

This first number relates to the bearing type, as shown in the table below type 6 is a deep grooved roller bearing.

1	Self-Aligning Ball Bearing This kind of ball bearing has a spherical outer race, allowing the axis of the bearing to "wander around". This is important because misalignment is one of the big causes of bearing failure.
2	Barrel and Spherical Roller Bearings
3	Tapered Roller Bearing Designed to take large axial loads as well as radial loads.
4	Deep Groove Double-Row Ball Bearing Designed for heavy radial loads.
5	Axial Deep Groove Ball Bearing Intended for exclusively axial loads.
6	Deep Groove Ball Bearing (Single row) Typical ball bearing. Handles light axial loads as well as radial loads.
7	Single-Row Angular Contact Bearing Specific geometry of angular contact bearing raceways and shoulders creates ball contact angles that support higher axial loads
8	Axial Cylindrical Roller Bearings Axial cylindrical roller bearings comprise axial cylindrical roller and cage assemblies and shaft and housing locating washers. The bearings have particularly small axial section height, have high load carrying capacity and high rigidity and can support axial forces in one direction.