Use the wheel selection charts below to compare industrial wheels by load capacity, wheel diameter, tread material, hardness, floor protection, noise level, ease of rolling, and operating conditions. These references are designed to help you narrow your options before choosing a wheel for carts, equipment, machinery, or custom caster applications.
The Wheel Selector Aid Chart provides a general comparison of wheel performance by surface and application need. The Wheel Capacity Range chart helps compare wheel types by load capacity, while the Guidelines for Selecting Wheel Diameter table gives a basic starting point for matching wheel size to total load weight. The Wheel Hardness Comparison Chart also helps compare tread materials and durometer ratings when comfort, durability, noise, and floor protection are important.
For additional product guidance, our industrial wheel options can help you compare available materials, sizes, and configurations. These charts are general references, so unusual operating environments, heavy loads, high temperatures, outdoor use, or specialized manufacturing needs may require additional review.
Wheel Selector Aid Chart
This chart provides a general guide for selecting wheels based on surface conditions, rolling ease, floor protection, load needs, noise level, and operating environment. It can help you identify which wheel materials may be better suited for factory, warehouse, production, or material handling applications.
Wheel Capacity Range by Type
The wheel capacity range chart gives a broad view of how different wheel types compare by load capacity. This is useful when narrowing options for carts, racks, machinery, and other industrial equipment where the wheel must support both the equipment weight and the expected load.
NOTE: This chart is very general in scope. For applications other than normal factory or warehouse conditions, we strongly recommend contacting your RWM representative.
Guidelines for Selecting Wheel Diameter
Wheel diameter plays an important role in load support, rollability, and ease of movement. In general, larger wheels can make heavier loads easier to move, especially when equipment must travel over uneven surfaces, debris, thresholds, or long distances.
| Total Weight Including Cart |
Wheel Diameter | Total Weight Including Cart |
Wheel Diameter | Total Weight Including Cart |
Wheel Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 to 250 | 3″ | 500 to 1000 | 5″ | 1500 to 2000 | 8″ |
| 250 to 500 | 4″ | 1000 to 1500 | 6″ | 2000 to 3000 | 10″ |
If your application requires a specific wheel material, load rating, or performance feature, our wheel descriptions guide can help explain common wheel types and their intended uses.
Wheel Hardness Comparison Chart
Wheel hardness affects how a wheel performs under load, how much noise it creates, how well it protects floors, and how easily it rolls. Softer wheels may offer quieter movement and better floor protection, while harder wheels may provide better durability and lower rolling resistance in certain industrial settings.
| Wheel Type | Tread Material | Durometer | Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| SR | Soft Tread Rubber | 70 – 80 | A |
| HR | Hard Tread Rubber | 75 – 85 | D |
| DU | Phenolics | 145 – 150 | R |
| UI, UT, UO, UW, UP, UA, INF | Polyurethane | 90-95 | A |
| UI, UT, UW | 80 A Polyurethane | 80-85 | A |
| UI, UT, UW, SU, MU | 70D Polyurethane | 70-75 | D |
| RI, RA, SW | Rubber | 70-80 | A |
| RP | Gray Rubber | 70-80 | A |
| PO | Polyolefin, Polypropylene | 55-75 | D |
| SW | EHT Rubber | 65-70 | A |
| FN | Pneumatic | 60-65 | A |
When comparing softer and harder wheel materials, it can also help to review polyurethane wheel options and rubber wheel materials side by side. The right choice depends on your load requirements, floor conditions, operating environment, and movement needs.
Choosing the Right Wheel for Your Application
A caster wheel load capacity chart is a helpful starting point, but it should not be the only factor used when selecting a wheel. Load weight, wheel diameter, tread hardness, bearing type, floor surface, exposure to moisture or chemicals, operating temperature, and frequency of use can all affect performance.
If floor protection, quiet movement, or shock absorption is a priority, reviewing rubber wheel options may help narrow your choices. For heavier industrial use, higher-capacity materials or custom wheel configurations may be a better fit.
If you need help choosing the right wheel, contact RWM Casters to review your application and request a custom recommendation.
FAQ
How do I calculate caster wheel load capacity?
To estimate caster wheel load capacity, start with the total weight of the cart, equipment, and maximum expected load, then divide that number by the number of load-bearing wheels. For more complex applications, our design information resources can help you understand additional selection factors. Safety margins may be needed for uneven floors, shock loads, towing, or harsh operating conditions.
What wheel diameter should I choose?
Wheel diameter depends on the total load weight, floor condition, and how easily the equipment needs to move. Larger wheels generally roll more easily and handle heavier loads better, while smaller wheels may work for lighter equipment with limited clearance. Our industrial wheel options can help you compare available wheel types after reviewing the chart.
What does wheel durometer mean?
Wheel durometer measures the hardness of the wheel tread material. Softer wheels can help reduce noise and protect floors, while harder wheels may improve durability and rollability for certain industrial applications. Many polyurethane wheel options are available in different durometer ranges. The best choice depends on your load, floor surface, and operating environment.
Which wheel material is best for floor protection?
Softer wheel materials are often better for floor protection because they can reduce marking, vibration, and surface damage. Rubber, polyurethane, and other tread materials may each be useful depending on the application. Reviewing rubber wheel options is a good starting point for applications where noise reduction and floor protection matter. Load capacity and durability should still be considered before choosing a final wheel.