Specialty Casters
Gate Casters
BBQ Pit & Smoker Casters
Keyed Drive Wheels
Drywall Cart Casters
Skid Wheels & Casters for RVs
Leveling Casters
Shopping Cart Wheels & Casters
Band Equipment Casters & Wheels
Low Profile Casters
Cart Wheels & Casters
Toolbox Caster Sets
Bakery Oven Rack Casters
Kitchen Prep Table Caster Sets
Wire Shelving Casters
Silent Glide Casters
Engineering tools
Work out the load rating each caster needs, then see casters we sell that are rated for it, with the math shown.
1Weight
Use the heaviest the equipment will ever be, not the average.
N−1 already covers a caster lifting on an uneven floor. Colson suggests choosing a caster rated above that minimum for shock loads, rough or outdoor floors, towing, or multi-shift use. There is no single industry number, so pick the margin you want.
2Caster choices
Each choice filters the casters on the right. The numbers show how many are rated for your load.
Per Hamilton: precision ball suits manual pushing and higher speeds, tapered roller suits towing and side loads, straight roller is economical for manual use, and Delrin needs no grease and handles wet or corrosive areas.
The N−1 rule is written for standard four-caster carts. For six or more casters, tilt carts, or off-center loads, the load may not split evenly. Ask an engineer to check the layout. Listed ratings assume normal floors and walking speed; check the listing for speed and temperature limits.
Sources: Colson Group, How to Calculate Caster Load Capacity (2026); Hamilton Caster, FAQ: minimum capacity per caster, bearing types; Colson Europe, Technical advice: load capacity (ratings at 4 km/h, normal conditions).
Nothing rated for your load?For very heavy loads, dual-wheel casters, tilt carts, towing, or a custom plate or stem, send us the details and an engineer will spec it.
Send it to an engineerCarts rarely rest evenly on every wheel. On uneven floors, at thresholds, or while towing, one caster can lift or carry little weight, so the others must carry the full load between them. Colson Group and Hamilton Caster both size a four-caster cart as if three casters carry it: (equipment weight + heaviest load) ÷ (number of casters − 1).
The result is a minimum. Colson Group recommends choosing a caster rated above it for demanding work, such as shock loads, rough or outdoor floors, towing, or continuous multi-shift use. Use the optional extra margin in the calculator if that fits your application.
Compare against the per-caster load rating the manufacturer lists for the caster in use. Size for the maximum operating weight, not the empty weight, and remember that movement, ramps and thresholds add stress the basic calculation does not capture (Colson Group).
Not necessarily. Colson Group notes that wheel diameter mainly affects how easily the cart rolls and clears obstacles, while load rating depends on the whole caster: wheel, bearing, fork and mount. Hamilton recommends the largest practical wheel for rough floors because it rolls over debris more easily and is easier to push.
Hamilton Caster's guidance: precision ball bearings suit manual pushing and higher speeds; tapered roller bearings suit towing, turns under load and side loads; straight roller bearings carry radial load for manual use and are economical; Delrin (sleeve) bearings need no grease and work well in corrosive areas.
The N−1 rule is written for standard four-caster carts with a caster at each corner. Six-caster tilt carts and other layouts share weight differently, so the simple formula may not apply. Send us the layout and an engineer will check it.
Ask us when nothing in the catalog is rated for your load, when the equipment is towed or runs faster than walking speed, for high-temperature or washdown areas, for tilt carts or off-center loads, or when you need a custom plate or stem. Send the details through Request a Quote.
Sources: Colson Group, How to Calculate Caster Load Capacity; Hamilton Caster, FAQ; Colson Europe, Technical advice: load capacity.
