Stainless Caster Comparison
S304 grade stainless across all yoke construction. Wheel material drives capacity and floor compatibility.
| Wheel Size |
Wheel Material |
Config |
Capacity |
Best For |
| 3" x 1-1/4" |
TPR (gray, non-marking) |
Swivel / Rigid |
225 lb |
Light medical, lab carts |
| 4" |
TPR (non-marking) |
Swivel / Rigid |
300 lb |
Hospital beds, food service |
| 5" |
TPR (non-marking) |
Swivel / Rigid |
300-325 lb |
Light kitchen prep, lab equipment |
| 3"-5" |
Solid Polyurethane |
Swivel / Rigid |
275-350 lb |
Hospital washdown, pharma cleanrooms |
| 4" |
Heavy Solid Polyurethane |
Rigid |
800 lb |
Heavier washdown industrial |
| 6" |
Solid Polyurethane |
Rigid |
1,200 lb |
Heavy washdown industrial transfer |
| 6" x 2" |
Phenolic |
Swivel / Rigid |
1,200 lb |
Hot/dry environment industrial |
| 6" x 2.5" |
Hamilton Polyurethane |
Rigid |
2,200 lb |
Heaviest stainless duty — defense, pharma |
How to Choose
1. Confirm Stainless Grade Required
S304 (18-8 stainless) handles 99% of corrosion environments: food acids, sanitizers, hospital washdown, salt air, light marine. S316 is required for harsh marine (sustained salt spray), strong chlorides, and some pharmaceutical processes. We stock S304 as standard; S316 available on request.
2. Wheel Material for Floor
Gray TPR is the NSF/medical standard — non-marking, easy to clean, food-safe. Solid polyurethane handles greasy floors and higher capacities. Phenolic for hot or dry environments (autoclaves, ovens). Match wheel to floor type AND cleaning chemistry — some chemicals attack rubber compounds.
3. Capacity per Caster
Light medical and lab: 225-300 lb caster covers 4-leg cart loads up to 900-1,200 lb. Heavier washdown industrial: step up to 800-1,200 lb single caster. Highest stainless single-caster capacity in our catalog is the Hamilton 6x2.5 at 2,200 lb.
4. Swivel vs Rigid Configuration
Set of 4 with 2 swivel + 2 rigid for predictable straight-line tracking. All-swivel for easier maneuverability in tight spaces. Locking brake on at least one swivel caster for any cart that must stop and stay. Most stainless carts use all-swivel with brake.
Engineer Tip: In a true washdown environment (daily sanitation with hot water and quat sanitizers), zinc-plated casters fail in 12-18 months — the swivel bearing seizes from rust. S304 stainless lasts 8-10 years in the same conditions. The premium pays back in < 2 years. Do NOT mix stainless and zinc-plated on the same washdown cart — galvanic corrosion accelerates the zinc parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is S304 stainless steel?
S304 (also called 18-8 stainless or A2 stainless) is the most common grade of stainless steel — 18% chromium, 8% nickel. Highly corrosion-resistant in food, medical, washdown, and most outdoor environments. Lower cost than S316. Standard for 99% of stainless caster applications.
Should I specify S304 or S316?
S304 handles food acids, sanitizers, hospital washdown, salt air, light marine, and most pharma. S316 is required for sustained marine spray (boat decks, dock equipment), high-chloride process equipment, and some FDA-regulated pharmaceutical processes. We stock S304 as standard; S316 available on request with 1-2 week lead time.
Are these casters NSF certified?
The casters are NSF-compatible — stainless yoke, food-safe wheel material, smooth cleanable surfaces. NSF certification is at the assembled equipment level. Match casters to existing NSF rating documentation on your equipment. Our gray TPR and solid polyurethane wheels meet NSF material requirements.
Will stainless casters rust in salt air?
S304 stainless handles ocean salt air and light marine spray indefinitely without rusting. Sustained immersion in salt water or chloride-heavy process baths will eventually cause pitting on S304 — in those cases, specify S316. For salt-air storage, salt-air outdoor service, and marine deck equipment: S304 is sufficient.
Can stainless casters handle washdown sanitizers?
Yes. S304 is unaffected by quaternary ammonium sanitizers, mild acid sanitizers, and standard food-service hot water washdown. Bleach (sodium hypochlorite) at concentrated levels can cause pitting — rinse with clean water after bleach exposure. For continuous bleach exposure, specify S316.
Do stainless casters cost more than zinc-plated?
Yes — typically 2-4x the cost of zinc-plated equivalents. The cost premium pays back in 18-24 months in any washdown or wet environment because zinc-plated casters fail from bearing seizure within 12-18 months in the same conditions.
Can I mix stainless and zinc-plated casters on the same cart?
No. Mixing creates galvanic corrosion — the zinc plating sacrificially corrodes near the stainless contact point, accelerating zinc-plated failure. Specify all-stainless or all-zinc on the same cart. If retrofitting, replace ALL four casters to stainless together.
What stainless capacities are available?
Our stainless catalog spans 225 lb (light 3" TPR) to 2,200 lb (Hamilton 6x2.5 polyurethane). Above 2,200 lb stainless requires custom drop-forged stainless yokes — we can spec these on request through Hamilton Caster (contact 844-439-4335).
S304 Standard, S316 on RequestS304 stocked across all sizes. S316 available with 1-2 week lead time for harsh marine and FDA pharma.
NSF-Friendly MaterialsStainless yoke + gray TPR / polyurethane treads suitable for NSF-certified food service equipment.
Same-Day Ship from TexasStock orders ship same day from Mansfield, TX before 3pm CT.
Engineer Support844-439-4335 for grade selection, washdown chemistry review, and NSF documentation matching.
