Measuring Round Caster Stems
Determining the size (diameter) of your caster stem, while difficult, is critical to avoid ordering and receiving the wrong casters. Take a look at the tips on this page for help in confirming the stem size that you need.
Near the end of this page is a listing of the more common threaded stem sizes. Once you have determined the diameter and threads-per-inch (TPI) of your caster stem, you can confirm it with the listing.
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Calipers may be the best method to accurately measure the stem diameter. While you may not have any calipers, here's a perfect excuse to buy some. They are inexpensive and you'll use them more than you think.
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An open-ended wrench can determine the stem size.
Grip neck stems will typically be 5/16" while grip ring stems will typically be 7/16" or 3/8".
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Tighten an adjustable wrench onto the stem until just touching. Then, remove the wrench and use a ruler or tape measure to measure the distance between the wrench jaws.
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Take a narrow strip of paper and wind it around the stem. Make a pencil mark exactly at the spot where the paper makes a full circle. Remove the paper and measure from the end to the pencil mark.
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For threaded stems, consider using your local hardware. In the nuts and bolts aisle, find a nut that easily screws onto the caster. The label on the bin from which you selected the nut will tell you the size of the threaded stem.
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Common threaded stem sizes:
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