The below capacity ranges indicate the working (dynamic) load that each caster will support. A safety factor should be included in your formula to determine your required load rating per caster.
W/(C-1)=R W is total weight needed to move. C is total number of casters required. R is ideal load rating, with safety factor built in. Divide the total load weight by one less caster than you will use to safely determine load rating.
Plate dimensions shown are overall mounting plate size. When replacing existing casters, select the closest plate size and verify bolt-hole compatibility. BHP = Bolt Hole Pattern, shown under each plate.
Threaded stem casters bolt directly into the existing threaded socket on your equipment, cart, or machinery — no plate, no welding. 1/2-13 and 3/8-16 stem sizes standard, plus 7/16, 1/4-20, and metric options. 2-inch through 5-inch wheels in polyurethane, hard rubber, thermo rubber, phenolic, nylon, and polyolefin. 80 to 350 lb per caster, stocked at our Mansfield, TX facility.
1/2-13 & 3/8-16 Stem Sizes Standard7/16, 1/4-20, Metric Available2" to 5" Wheel Diameters80 to 350 lb Per-Caster Capacity99% Same or Next-Day Ship
Compare every threaded stem caster configuration we stock by wheel size, material, capacity, stem spec, and best application. The 1/2-13 and 3/8-16 stem sizes cover the vast majority of OEM equipment, carts, and machinery in the U.S.
Wheel Size
Wheel Material
Capacity
Common Stem Spec
Best Application
2"
Hard Rubber
90 lb
3/8-16 x 1" or 1-1/4"
Light equipment, A/V carts, office
2"
Polyurethane (locking)
80 lb
3/8-16 x 1"
Service carts with side-lock brake
2"
Thermo Rubber (TPR)
80 lb
3/8-16 x 1" or 1-1/4"
Soft floors, hospital, food prep
2-1/2"
Polyurethane / Hard Rubber
100 lb
3/8-16 x 1-1/2"
Light commercial equipment
3"
Polyurethane
300 lb
1/2-13 x 1-1/2"
Industrial carts, machinery, MRO
3"
Phenolic
300 to 350 lb
1/2-13 x 1-1/2"
High-temp ovens, bakery, dish rooms
3"
Nylon (White)
300 lb
1/2-13 x 1-1/2"
Food service, chemical, wash-down
3"
Thermo Rubber
100 to 225 lb
3/8-16 or 1/2-13
Hospital, library, residential
3"
Semi-Steel
350 lb
1/2 x 1.5"
Industrial mfg, heavy carts
4" - 5"
Polyurethane / Polyolefin
300 to 350 lb
1/2-13 x 1-1/2"
Heavy-duty industrial, OEM equipment
How to Choose the Right Threaded Stem Caster
1. Measure the Existing Stem Before Ordering
This is the single most important step. Measure thread diameter (1/2" or 3/8" or 7/16" etc.), thread pitch (TPI — 13 for 1/2-13, 16 for 3/8-16), and stem length (typically 1" or 1-1/2" long). A 1/2-13 caster will not thread into a 1/2-20 socket. A 1-inch stem will bottom out in a 1-1/4" deep socket before tightening. Measure with a thread gauge or take the existing caster to the hardware store for a direct match.
2. Pick Wheel Material for Floor and Load
Polyurethane is the default for industrial floors — non-marking, 80 to 350 lb depending on size, decade of service. Phenolic for sustained heat above 180°F (ovens, bakeries, dish lines). Hard rubber for general light-duty service. Thermo rubber (TPR) for soft floors, hospital, and noise-sensitive applications. White nylon for food contact and chemical environments. Semi-steel for heavy industrial loads on concrete.
3. Swivel, Locking, or Side-Lock Brake
Swivel is the default — the caster rotates freely 360 degrees. Locking (top-lock or side-lock brake) adds a wheel brake so the caster stays still when engaged. Side-lock is engaged by pressing a lever on the side of the caster body. Use locking on any cart or piece of equipment that must hold position when loaded. Rigid (non-swivel) stem casters are available for fixed-track applications — ask for the rigid variant.
4. Light Duty vs Heavy Duty Stem Spec
3/8-16 stem casters are typically light to medium duty — 80 to 300 lb per caster — used on furniture, AV equipment, light commercial carts. 1/2-13 stem casters are medium to heavy duty — 200 to 350 lb per caster — used on industrial carts, OEM equipment, manufacturing fixtures. 7/16, 1/4-20, and metric stems are specialty — usually OEM equipment-specific replacements.
Not sure which stem you need? Contact CasterHQ Engineering with the existing stem specs and we'll match it. Bulk pricing on fleet orders over 100 units.
Watch: How to Find a Replacement Caster — Full Tutorial
Step-by-step walkthrough on identifying and measuring an existing caster stem so the replacement fits the first time. The most common return reason on stem casters is thread mismatch — this video prevents it.
CasterHQ stocks 83 threaded stem caster configurations at our Mansfield, TX facility — spanning 1/2-13, 3/8-16, 7/16, 1/4-20, and metric stem sizes; 2-inch through 5-inch wheel diameters; polyurethane, hard rubber, thermo rubber, phenolic, nylon, semi-steel, and polyolefin wheel materials. Most OEM equipment in the U.S. uses 1/2-13 x 1-1/2" or 3/8-16 x 1" stems — both are stocked in depth. 99 percent of orders ship same or next business day via FedEx Ground. Fleet orders over 100 casters ship freight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a threaded stem caster?
A threaded stem caster has a threaded rod extending from the top of the caster body. The rod screws directly into a matching threaded socket on your equipment, cart, or machinery — no plate, no welding. It's the most common mounting style for service carts, AV equipment, and light to medium industrial gear because installation takes 30 seconds per caster.
What's the most common stem size?
1/2-13 x 1-1/2" is the most common industrial stem — used on the majority of medium-duty industrial carts, manufacturing fixtures, and OEM equipment. 3/8-16 x 1" or 1-1/4" is the most common light-duty stem — used on service carts, AV racks, office equipment. Both are stocked in 30+ wheel variations at CasterHQ.
How do I measure the stem on my existing caster?
Three measurements: thread diameter (use calipers across the threads), thread pitch / TPI (use a thread gauge or count threads per inch), and stem length (measure from the top of the caster body to the end of the threads). Common combinations: 1/2-13, 3/8-16, 7/16-14, 5/16-18, 1/4-20, M10x1.5, M12x1.75. Our 19-minute walkthrough video above shows the exact technique.
Can I replace plate casters with stem casters?
Only if your equipment has a threaded socket where you can install a stem. If your equipment uses a bolted plate, you need a plate caster, not a stem caster. To convert from plate to stem (or vice versa), you'd need to modify the equipment leg — usually not worth the effort. Match the mount type to what's already there.
What's the difference between 1/2-13 and 3/8-16?
The first number is the thread diameter in inches. The second is the threads per inch (TPI). So 1/2-13 = 1/2 inch diameter, 13 threads per inch. 3/8-16 = 3/8 inch diameter, 16 threads per inch. They are not interchangeable — a 1/2-13 stem will not thread into a 3/8-16 socket and vice versa.
Do you have 7/16, 1/4-20, or metric stem casters?
Yes — 7/16-14, 1/4-20, M10, and M12 stem casters are stocked but in smaller quantities than the 1/2-13 and 3/8-16 standards. These are common on European OEM equipment and certain specialty fixtures. If you don't see your exact spec listed, contact us — we can source 100+ different stem configurations on standard lead times.
Do these have brakes?
Many models have side-lock or top-lock brakes built in. Side-lock engages by pressing a lever on the side of the caster body. Top-lock engages from above. Both stop the wheel from rotating. For carts that must lock both the wheel AND the swivel (so the equipment can't rotate in place), see our separate total locking caster collection.
What's the weight capacity of a threaded stem caster?
Per-caster capacity ranges from 80 lb (2-inch polyurethane on 3/8-16 stem) up to 350 lb (5-inch semi-steel on 1/2-13 stem). For a 4-caster equipment set, multiply by 4 — total set capacity 320 lb to 1,400 lb. Always include at least 25 percent headroom over your expected load.
Can these be used outdoors?
Most threaded stem casters in this collection are indoor industrial use. Polyurethane and phenolic wheels handle indoor floors well. For outdoor use, choose a corrosion-resistant variant (nylon wheel + zinc-plated frame) or contact us about stainless steel stem casters. Pneumatic and flat-free outdoor casters typically use plate mounts, not stems.
How fast do they ship?
99 percent of single and multi-pack orders ship same or next business day from our Mansfield, TX facility via FedEx Ground. Bulk fleet orders over 100 casters ship freight (24 to 48 hour transit to most U.S. metros). Cutoff is 2pm Central for same-day shipment.
Why Buyers Choose CasterHQ Threaded Stem Casters
CHQ Bolt-In Stem Caster Specialist99% Ship Same or Next Business Day30-Day Return Policy50,000+ Commercial BuyersBBB A+ Rated Since 2008Built for OEM, MRO & Equipment Manufacturers
