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If you have been comparing skateboard bearings and keep seeing ABEC 5, ABEC 7 or ABEC 9, it is easy to assume the higher number must be the better choice. That is not quite how it works. ABEC ratings tell you something about how precisely a bearing is made, but they do not tell you everything about how it will feel on a skateboard.
This guide explains skateboard bearings ABEC ratings in plain English. We will cover what the numbers mean, whether ABEC matters for skateboarding, and how to choose bearings that suit the way you actually ride.
ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers’ Committee. It is a system that measures manufacturing tolerance. In simple terms, it tells you how precisely a bearing has been made.
The ratings you will usually see are ABEC 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The higher the number, the tighter the tolerance and the more precisely the bearing is made.
That sounds useful, but there is a catch: ABEC was created for industrial machinery, not skateboards. It does not take into account the knocks, grit, sideways pressure and wet weather that skateboard bearings deal with every day.
So while ABEC skateboard bearings can give you a rough idea of precision, they do not give you the full picture.
Yes, but only a bit.
A more precisely made bearing may spin more smoothly, but once it is in a skateboard, a lot of other things affect how it rides. Lubrication, seals, wheel quality, spacers, installation and dirt all play a part. A bearing that is rated higher on paper will not automatically feel faster or last longer on a board.
If you are asking does ABEC matter for skateboarding, the honest answer is: it matters, but it should not be the main thing you judge by.
For most skaters, a good-quality skate bearing from a brand that makes bearings for boards will usually be a better choice than chasing the highest ABEC number. The best skateboard bearings are the ones that suit your setup, your surface and how often you skate.
ABEC 7 skateboard bearings and ABEC 9 skateboard bearings are both made to tighter tolerances than lower-rated bearings.
In theory:
In real skateboarding, the difference between ABEC 7 vs ABEC 9 is usually small. Most riders will not feel a huge change in normal street skating, park sessions or cruising around town.
A well-made ABEC 7 bearing that is properly lubricated and kept clean will often feel better than a dry or dirty ABEC 9 bearing. That is why many skaters see ABEC 7 as a sensible middle ground: good performance, decent value and no unnecessary fuss.
ABEC 9 skateboard bearings may suit riders who want a higher-spec bearing, but they are not automatically worth the extra money for everyone.
This is the part that gets missed most often. Skateboard bearings explained properly means looking at what affects real-world performance, not just the number on the box.
Bearing lubrication makes a big difference. Some bearings come pre-lubed with oil or grease that is suited to skating. Too little lubrication can make a bearing feel quick at first, but it may wear out faster and get noisy sooner.
Most bearings use metal shields or rubber seals to help keep out dirt and moisture. Good protection matters in the UK, where rough ground, damp patches and general street grime are part of everyday skating. Very tightly sealed bearings may feel a touch less free at first, but they often stay cleaner for longer.
The steel, the finish on the races and the quality of the balls all affect how the bearing performs over time. Some ceramic skateboard bearings are sold as a premium option because they can reduce friction and resist corrosion well, but they are not essential for most skaters.
Even a good bearing will slow down if it gets packed with dirt. Cleaning and re-lubing bearings can keep them rolling well for longer. If you skate often, especially outdoors, maintenance matters more than a small difference in ABEC rating.
If bearings are badly installed, or the wheels and spacers do not suit the setup, they will not roll as efficiently as they should. A properly assembled board often feels better than one built around a higher number on the bearing box.
It helps to choose bearings based on how the board will actually be used.
For beginners, reliability and value matter most. A decent set of ABEC skateboard bearings is usually enough. There is no need to pay extra for the highest rating if the rider is still learning to push, turn, stop and get comfortable on the board.
If you are buying for a child or looking at a first setup, it often makes more sense to focus on a well-balanced complete skateboard or a beginner skateboard setup. That way the bearings, wheels, deck and trucks all work together properly.
Park skaters usually want a setup that feels smooth and consistent through transitions, speed checks and repeated landings. ABEC 7 skateboard bearings are often a solid starting point, but the rest of the build matters just as much. Deck size, wheel hardness and truck choice all affect how the board feels in the park.
Cruisers and commuters often care more about smooth rolling and durability than the highest precision rating. If you are skating to the shops, to school or across rough pavements, bearings that stay clean and keep rolling well will usually be more useful than chasing a high ABEC number.
For this kind of riding, the wheels and deck shape can matter even more than the bearings. A complete skateboard with a more suitable setup is often the easiest way to get something that rides well straight out of the box.
If you want a simple way to choose, start with these points:
If you are comparing options, our Skateboard Bearings collection is a good place to start. If you are building a full board, it is also worth looking at our Beginner Skateboard Setups and Complete Skateboards pages to see how the bearings fit into the rest of the setup.
There are a few myths that crop up again and again when people look at skateboard bearing ratings.
Not true. Speed depends on the bearing quality, lubrication, wheel condition, rider weight, surface and maintenance as well.
Not for every skater. The real-world difference is often small, and a well-made ABEC 7 bearing can be the better value choice.
Definitely not. Seals, grease, dirt resistance and overall build quality can make a bigger difference than the rating alone.
Ceramic skateboard bearings can be a good premium option, but they are expensive and not necessary for most riders.
They cannot. If the deck, trucks or wheels are wrong for the rider, new bearings will not solve the problem.
ABEC skateboard bearings can be a useful guide, but they are only one part of the decision. If you remember one thing, make it this: the right bearing is not just about the number on the box.
For most skaters, especially beginners and parents buying a first board, a good skate-focused bearing is usually the smartest choice. ABEC 7 skateboard bearings are often a solid all-round option, while ABEC 9 skateboard bearings may appeal to riders who want a higher-spec feel. But the rest of the setup, and how the bearings are used and maintained, matters just as much.
If you are still comparing options, it is worth looking at a few bearings side by side and checking how they fit into the full board build. Our Skateboard Bearings range, Beginner Skateboard Setups and Complete Skateboards collections are a good place to start.
ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers’ Committee. It is a rating system that measures how precisely a bearing is made. On skateboard bearings, it tells you about tolerance, not overall skate performance.
On paper, ABEC 7 bearings are made to tighter tolerances than ABEC 5 bearings. In real use, that does not always mean they skate better. A well-made ABEC 5 bearing can feel smoother than a poor-quality ABEC 7 if it is better lubricated or better sealed.
Sometimes, but not for everyone. ABEC 9 skateboard bearings may suit skaters who want a higher-spec option, but most riders will not notice a huge difference compared with a good ABEC 7 bearing.
It matters a little, but not as much as people often think. Speed and performance are affected by bearing quality, lubrication, seals, dirt, installation and the rest of the setup.
Material quality, lubrication, seal quality, maintenance, fit, wheel condition and the rider’s style all matter. These often make a bigger difference than the ABEC number alone.
