What does ABEC mean? Skateboard bearings often have an ABEC rating, and skaters are often confused about what that means. What are ABEC bearings? Is the ABEC bearing rating important?
   Answer: ABEC stands for Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee, and is the American method for rating the accuracy and tolerance rating of bearings. ABEC standards are set by the American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA).
   Bearings rated with the ABEC rating system typically have five ratings in the class scale that range from the widest tolerances to the tightest tolerances of the bearings with rating numbers of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. Each number corresponds to a degree of roundness in the outer and inner races of a bearing. The higher the rating number of bearings, the tighter the component parts for tolerance, meaning that a higher ABEC grade is assigned to a ball bearing manufactured against a higher standard of precision. For instance, a ball bearing rated at a grade of 9 provides the highest precision and efficiency.

Industry Uses for Precision Bearings

A ball bearing rated under the Annular Bearing Engineers' Committee system is typically called a precision bearing. Those bearings that do not conform to a class rating of at least 1 are not precision bearingsThe bearings rating scale makes it easy for users to make a decision as to which type of bearings they need for their applications. For critical applications that require smooth operation and optimal performance users need to look at ABEC bearings with high grades. Super precision class bearings are used in high spindle bearings, grinding spindles, aerospace, medical industry, military, and many more applications. Ball bearings that have a lower grade are more commonly used for standard everyday applications like electric motors, industrial machinery, gear boxes, skates, fishing reels, automotive, hobbies, and so on. The majority of applications can be effectively handled using a standard precision ball bearing. A standard bearing in this case is one that is in such worldwide demand that large volumes are produced. This virtually guarantees continuity of supply while assuring pricing benefits.

So what does that mean? Well, bearings are used for all kinds of things, not just skateboard wheels. The higher an ABEC rating, the more accurate and precise the bearing is. When companies make bearings, sometimes they cheaply slap them together, and sometimes they are very carefully designed and assembled so that there is as little space as possible between the parts. When bearings are used in expensive and important machines, companies will spend hundreds of dollars on just one bearing - it has to be perfect!

   But for skateboarding, we use much less precise bearings. This is because they are cheaper, and because with all the slamming and sudden starts and stops, a really expensive, delicate bearing would get ruined.

   ABEC ratings are only odd numbers, and start with ABEC 1:

   •ABEC 1 is the most crude, the least precise, the most durable and the cheapest.
   •ABEC 3 is what most cheap complete skateboards come with, especially skateboards from China. ABEC 3 bearings will work for most skateboarding, but won't roll very smoothly or fast.
   •ABEC 5 bearings are the norm in skateboarding. You get a reasonable amount of speed, and at a reasonable cost. However, there are lots of people who argue that the skateboarding industry is lying, and that most ABEC 5 skateboard bearings you see aren't actually built to ABEC 5 standards...
   •ABEC 7 bearings would be very fast and smooth, but very expensive. Plus, you start to run the risk of needlessly damaging them if you skate hard or aggressively. Also, if you are buying cheap ABEC 7 bearings made in China, you are probably being lied to (read The Truth about Skateboard Bearings.