Swivel vs Rigid Casters: Differences, Brakes and Fittings

A swivel caster has a housing (the fork or rig) that rotates 360 degrees around its own axis on a swivel bearing. The cart, cabinet or machine it carries lines up with the direction of push by itself and turns easily in tight spaces. Swivel casters are the most common type of caster (castor, in UK spelling), found on everything from office chairs to industrial trolleys.

Swivel, rigid and locking casters: the difference

• Swivel caster: The housing turns freely. High manoeuvrability; the standard choice for most carts and furniture.
• Rigid (fixed) caster: The housing does not turn, so the wheel only rolls forwards and backwards. Rigid casters keep a cart tracking straight over long runs and make it easier to push.
• Swivel caster with brake (locking caster): A foot pedal on the swivel caster locks the wheel. On some models it also locks the swivel (total lock), holding the cart completely still. Needed on carts that stand on ramps, are worked on, or are loaded and unloaded.

How many swivel and rigid casters does a cart need?

• 2 swivel + 2 rigid: The most common layout on shopping and warehouse trolleys. The swivels go at the push end; the cart runs straight and still steers easily.
• 4 swivel: For tight spaces where the cart must move in any direction (service carts, medical equipment, furniture). Keeping a straight line over long distances takes more effort.
• Brakes: Usually two of the swivel casters, ideally diagonally opposite, are specified with brakes.

Mounting types

How the caster attaches also drives the choice:

• Top plate: A flat plate with four holes, screwed or bolted to a flat surface. The most common fitting.
• Threaded stem: A single threaded stem in the centre; common on furniture and light equipment.
• Bolt hole: A single hole through the top of the housing, fixed with a bolt and nut or slipped into tube legs.
• Plug-in stem and socket fittings: For chairs, seating and medical equipment with tubular legs.

Choosing the replacement to match the old caster's fitting (plate hole pattern, stem diameter) makes installation simple.

What to check when choosing swivel casters

1. Load: The total weight of the cart and its load. We explain how to work out the capacity per caster in our caster load capacity guide.
2. Floor: Soft treads (thermoplastic, rubber, polyurethane) on sensitive floors; tough wheels (polyamide, cast iron) on rough or dirty floors.
3. How often it moves: On carts that move all day, ball bearing wheels need less push force and last longer.
4. Environment: Stainless steel casters for wet or washdown areas, high temperature casters for ovens and hot areas.

Which product range to look at

• Chairs, coffee tables, cabinets: Furniture casters (50 and 75 mm / 2 and 3 in, 30–65 kg / 66–143 lb per caster)
• Shopping, service and shelf trolleys: Industrial casters (80–200 mm / 3–8 in, 50–300 kg / 110–660 lb)
• In-plant transport, machinery: Heavy duty casters (up to 1,000 kg / 2,200 lb)

Not sure which one you need? Send us a photo or the code of the caster you use, and we will tell you the equivalent and its stock status. Request a quote →