Bearing Grease Quantity Calculator
Too little grease starves a bearing and too much overheats it. This calculator applies the common rule of 0.005 times outer diameter times width to give a regrease quantity in grams, then turns it into gun shots, annual kilograms and cost.
Your numbers
From the bearing designation or data sheet.
Check your gun: many deliver 1 to 2 g per stroke.
Your results
The 0.005 x D x B rule is a general estimate for regreasing. Always follow the bearing or equipment manufacturer's guidance, and adjust for speed, temperature and contamination.
Annual grease use vs regrease interval
Sweeps Regrease interval from 15 to 180, holding your other inputs fixed.
Lubrication consumption review
Share your point count and intervals and ask for a plain review of stocking and schedule.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the calculator
Enter the bearing's outer diameter and width in millimetres, found on the bearing data sheet or by measuring. Add the regrease interval, the number of similar bearings, the output of your grease gun per stroke and your grease price. The result shows grams per bearing, shots per bearing, grams per year and the cost. Sweep the chart to see how interval changes consumption.
The formula and its limits
The widely quoted estimate for relubrication quantity is G = 0.005 x D x B, where G is grease in grams and D and B are outer diameter and width in millimetres. For an 80 mm by 18 mm bearing that gives 7.2 g. Treat it as a starting point: electric motor bearings with a purge outlet differ from sealed housings, and some manufacturers give their own figures. Where a manual conflicts with the rule, the manual wins.
- Do not mix grease types unless compatibility is confirmed
- Clean the nipple before every shot
- Grease slowly while the machine runs where safe and allowed
- Use an outlet or purge path to prevent over-pressure
Using the annual numbers
Annual kilograms and cartridges show what to stock and buy. If your plan uses ten different products, repeat the calculation per grease type. The cost output helps make the case for ultrasonic or condition-based greasing, which can reduce both over-greasing and bearing failures; if a bearing set costs more than a year of grease, getting the schedule right usually pays for itself.
Common mistakes
Common errors are using bore diameter instead of outer diameter, forgetting that gun output varies by gun and grease stiffness, and applying the formula to bearings that use oil. Calibrate your gun by pumping ten strokes onto a scale and dividing by ten.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 0.005 x D x B formula accurate?
It is a widely used estimate and gives sensible quantities for typical bearings, but it is not a substitute for the manufacturer's recommendation. Speed, temperature, bearing type and housing design all matter. Use it for planning, and refine with condition monitoring.
How do I measure my grease gun output?
Pump ten strokes into a container on a scale, subtract the empty weight and divide by ten. Do it with the grease you actually use, since stiffness and temperature change output. Many hand guns deliver roughly one to two grams per stroke.
Can I use this for oil-lubricated bearings?
No. The rule applies to grease. Oil-lubricated bearings are managed by sump level, oil change intervals and analysis. Use the lubrication route worksheet to schedule oil checks and changes by volume instead.
What happens if I over-grease?
Excess grease causes churning, raising temperature and speeding oil separation, and can push past seals into motor windings. Over-greasing is among the most common causes of premature bearing failure, so apply measured quantities and use a purge path where provided.
If lubrication quantities are managed by hand, we can help connect point lists, intervals and stock levels to your ERP so purchasing follows the real schedule.
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