Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
When a worn bearing or undersized ball causes vibration, noise, or premature failure in a mechanism, finding the right replacement quickly matters. Engineers, maintenance technicians, hobbyists, and small-batch manufacturers who need reliable, corrosion-resistant rolling elements in a wide range of sizes rely on these 304 stainless steel ball bearings to keep equipment running smoothly.
These 304 stainless steel ball bearings are available in 35 diameter options spanning 1mm to 20mm (approximately 0.039 in to 0.787 in), sold in quantities from 1 piece to 5,000 pieces per order. Each ball is manufactured from 304-grade stainless steel, offering a balance of corrosion resistance, surface hardness, and dimensional consistency suited to general industrial and mechanical use.
Typical applications include replacement rolling elements in miniature and standard ball bearing assemblies, valve seats and check valves in fluid systems, load-distributing balls in linear guides and drawer slides, decorative or functional components in jewelry making and craft projects, and test or calibration balls in gauging fixtures.
| Material | 304 Stainless Steel |
|---|---|
| Diameter Range | 1mm – 20mm (approx. 0.039 in – 0.787 in) |
| Available Diameters | 1, 1.5, 2, 2.381, 2.5, 3, 3.175, 3.5, 3.969, 4, 4.5, 4.763, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.35, 6.5, 7, 7.144, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 12.7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 mm |
| Surface Finish | Smooth, bright finish |
| Corrosion Resistance | Suitable for humid and mildly corrosive environments |
| Quantity Options | 1 – 5,000 pcs per order (see variant options) |
| Hardness | See variant options |
| Grade / Tolerance Class | See variant options |
| Application | Bearing assemblies, valve seats, linear guides, gauging, crafts |
| Unit of Sale | Per piece / per pack (see variant options) |
Measure the existing ball with a micrometer or digital caliper, or refer to the bearing manufacturer's datasheet for the rolling element diameter. For valve seats, the ball diameter should match the seat bore specification — typically 1.5× to 2× the port diameter for check valves. If you are replacing a worn ball, measure the seat bore and select the closest standard diameter from the available options (1mm–20mm).
304 stainless steel has a tensile strength of approximately 515 MPa (75,000 psi) and a hardness in the range of 70–90 HRB. This makes these balls suitable for moderate-load applications such as drawer slides, light-duty linear guides, and low-speed bearing assemblies. For high-load, high-speed precision spindle bearings, a higher-grade ball (e.g., Grade 10 chrome steel or ceramic) may be more appropriate. Contact us to confirm suitability for your specific load and speed requirements.
304 stainless steel forms a passive chromium oxide layer that resists rust in most humid and mildly corrosive environments, including rain exposure and freshwater contact. However, 304 is not fully resistant to chloride-rich environments (e.g., saltwater or chlorinated pools) over extended periods. For marine or high-chloride applications, 316 stainless steel balls would provide better long-term corrosion resistance. For general outdoor and indoor humid use, 304 performs reliably.
These balls are sized to standard metric and fractional-inch diameters (e.g., 3.175mm = 1/8 in, 4.763mm = 3/16 in, 6.35mm = 1/4 in, 7.144mm = 9/32 in, 12.7mm = 1/2 in) and are compatible with bearing housings and races designed for those dimensions. Always verify the raceway groove radius and internal clearance of your bearing before substituting balls, as tolerance class affects fit and performance.
For one-off repairs or prototyping, small quantities (1–10 pcs) let you verify fit and function before committing to a larger order. For production runs, maintenance kits, or resale, bulk packs (100–5,000 pcs) reduce the per-unit cost significantly. Review the price-per-piece across quantity tiers for your chosen diameter to find the most cost-effective option for your volume.
304 stainless steel is widely used in food processing equipment and is generally considered food-safe for incidental contact applications. However, formal food-contact or medical-device compliance depends on the specific regulatory standard applicable to your product (e.g., FDA, EU 10/2011, ISO 13485). If your application requires certified food-grade or medical-grade materials with full traceability documentation, please contact us to confirm before ordering.
