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 & High Temperature Casters
Kitchen Prep Table Caster Sets
Wire Shelving Casters
Silent Glide Casters
Every caster wheel material side by side: durometer, load capacity, floor compatibility, temperature range, roll ease, and noise. Sort it, filter it by your floor, and jump straight to the wheels that fit. Use it to pick a material, then hand off to the Caster Finder to spec the full caster.
For most smooth indoor concrete, polyurethane is the default: high capacity, low roll resistance, non-marking, and floor-friendly. Go phenolic or steel for high heat and extreme loads, nylon or polyolefin for chemical and washdown, and rubber or pneumatic when quiet operation and floor protection matter more than capacity. Match the wheel material to the floor and the environment first, then size the load.
Tap a column header to sort. Capacity and temperature are typical per-wheel ranges; exact specs are on each product. Roll ease is relative (5 = easiest to push).
| Wheel Material | Durometer | Capacity / wheel | Best floors | Temp range | Roll ease | Non-marking | Noise | Shop |
|---|
Durometer is hardness on the Shore A scale for elastomers (urethane, rubber); harder wheels roll easier and carry more, softer wheels protect floors and run quieter. Phenolic and metal wheels are not measured in Shore A and are listed as hard composites or metals. Capacity and temperature are typical ranges across common sizes; a 6 inch wheel carries more than a 3 inch wheel of the same compound. Roll ease tracks rolling resistance, which also improves with larger diameter (see the Wheel Diameter Calculator).
The matrix gets you to the right wheel. The Caster Finder takes it from there: load, mount, plate size, and brake, filtered to in-stock SKUs. Or send us the application and we will spec it.
Open the Caster Finder → Request a Quote →Polyurethane is the default for sealed or smooth concrete: it carries high loads, rolls with low resistance, is non-marking, and will not chew up the floor. Phenolic or steel only if you also need high heat or extreme capacity, at the cost of floor protection and noise.
Nylon and polyolefin resist water and most chemicals and are common in food and pharma washdown. For heat plus washdown, nylon holds up better. Avoid mold-on rubber and standard urethane where harsh chemicals or steam are present.
Thermoplastic rubber (TPR) and mold-on rubber run quietest and are gentlest on finished floors, which is why they are common on hospital and office carts. The tradeoff is lower capacity and higher rolling resistance than urethane.
Durometer is wheel hardness, usually on the Shore A scale. Harder wheels (higher number) roll easier and carry more load; softer wheels absorb shock, run quieter, and protect floors but increase push force. It is the single biggest lever on roll ease after wheel diameter.
Reviewed by Bob Camp, Director of Caster Sales, 45+ years in the caster industry. Updated June 14, 2026.
Methodology: values are typical per-wheel ranges across common sizes and series; verified specs for any SKU are on its product page. Durometer references the Shore A scale for elastomers. Roll ease is a relative index of rolling resistance, which also improves with wheel diameter.
