Swivel casters rotate a full 360 degrees so carts, racks, and equipment steer and reposition in any direction. CasterHQ stocks 1,700+ swivel casters from under 100 lb to over 20,000 lb per caster: polyurethane, rubber, phenolic, nylon, pneumatic, and stainless wheels on plate, threaded-stem, grip-ring, and kingpinless mounts, with brake and total-lock options. Most orders ship same day from Mansfield, TX.
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A swivel caster is a wheel assembly mounted on a rotating raceway or kingpinless bearing that lets the wheel pivot a full 360 degrees, so equipment can be steered or repositioned in any direction. It differs from a rigid caster, which is fixed to roll in a straight line only. Swivel casters are specified by load capacity, wheel diameter and material, mount type (plate, threaded stem, grip-ring stem, or kingpinless), and optional brake or swivel-lock hardware. Most mobile equipment uses a mix of swivel and rigid casters to balance maneuverability against straight-line tracking.
Pair the two for control. Swivel casters provide steering; rigid casters hold a line and resist side load.
Choose swivel casters when you need to turn, spin, or position equipment in tight aisles, dock doors, or workcells: service carts, tow lines that change direction, AGVs, and any cart that must maneuver around obstacles.
Choose rigid casters when you need straight-line tracking and higher side-load resistance: long corridor pushes, trailer loading, or the back pair of a cart so it does not crab.
Standard cart setups: 4 swivel for maximum maneuverability and spin-in-place; 2 swivel plus 2 rigid to track straight and steer from one end; or a 6-caster "diamond" (2 swivel, 2 rigid, 2 center-rigid) for long carts.
Engineer Tip: Swivel Caster Mistakes That Cost You
A swivel caster rotates 360 degrees so equipment can steer in any direction; a rigid (fixed) caster only rolls straight. Most carts combine both: swivel for maneuvering, rigid for straight-line tracking and side-load resistance.
Four swivel casters give maximum maneuverability and spin in place but track loosely on long pushes. Two swivel plus two rigid track straight and steer from one end, the most common industrial setup. Long carts often add a center rigid pair.
CasterHQ swivel casters range from under 100 lb to over 20,000 lb per caster. Size by dividing total loaded weight by the number of casters and adding a 25% safety margin, then size the swivel pair for the load it carries during a turn.
A total-lock (total-locking) caster brakes both the wheel and the swivel at once, so the caster can neither roll nor rotate. Use it for parking on inclines, precision positioning, and equipment that must stay put.
Choose kingpinless above roughly 1,500 lb per caster, or in continuous 24/7 and shock-load duty. Kingpinless rigs spread swivel load across a large bearing race instead of a single kingpin bolt, which is the part that fatigues and fails on heavy-duty swivel casters.
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