# Bearing Life L10 Calculator

Calculate the basic rating life of a rolling bearing: L10 = (C/P)^p, with p = 3 for ball bearings and p = 10/3 for roller bearings. When a speed is provided, converts to L10h in operating hours.

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/bearing-life-l10

- **Category:** Math & Numbers

- **Keywords:** bearing life, L10, rating life, rolling bearing, ball bearing, roller bearing, ISO 281, machine design, mechanical engineering

## Overview

The Bearing Life L10 Calculator helps mechanical engineers and machine designers quickly determine the basic rating life of rolling bearings. By inputting the dynamic load rating, equivalent dynamic load, and bearing type, you can calculate the nominal life in millions of revolutions, or convert it to operating hours by specifying the rotational speed.

## Inputs

- **Bearing Type** (select)
- **Dynamic Load Rating C (N)** (number): e.g. 22000
- **Equivalent Load P (N)** (number): e.g. 4400
- **Speed n (rpm)** (number): Optional. If provided, the life in hours L10h = L10 × 10⁶ / (60 · n).
- **Decimal Places** (number)

## When to use

- When selecting and sizing ball or roller bearings from manufacturer catalogs during the machine design phase.
- When estimating the service life of a bearing under specific radial and axial load conditions.
- When converting nominal bearing life from millions of revolutions to operating hours based on shaft speed.

## How it works

- Select the bearing type to set the life exponent: p = 3 for ball bearings or p = 10/3 for roller bearings.
- Enter the dynamic load rating (C) and the equivalent dynamic load (P) in Newtons.
- Optionally enter the rotational speed in rpm to calculate the operating life in hours.
- Click calculate to generate the rating life in both million revolutions and operating hours.

## Use cases

- Verifying bearing suitability during the design phase of electric motors or gearboxes.
- Estimating maintenance intervals for industrial conveyor rollers under constant loads.
- Comparing the theoretical lifespan of ball bearings versus roller bearings for a specific application.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is L10 bearing life?

L10 life is the basic rating life associated with a 90% reliability rate, representing the number of revolutions that 90% of a group of identical bearings will achieve or exceed before fatigue occurs.

### How does the bearing type affect the calculation?

The calculation uses different exponents based on contact geometry: p = 3 for ball bearings (point contact) and p = 10/3 for roller bearings (line contact).

### What units should I use for the loads?

Both the dynamic load rating (C) and the equivalent load (P) must be entered in Newtons (N) to ensure correct calculation.

### Is shaft speed required for the calculation?

No, speed is optional. If omitted, the tool calculates life in millions of revolutions. If provided, it also outputs the life in operating hours (L10h).

### Does this calculator account for lubrication or contamination?

No, this calculator computes the basic rating life (L10) according to ISO 281. It does not calculate the adjusted rating life (Lnm) which considers lubrication, contamination, or reliability factors.

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