Tapered roller bearings are rolling element bearings that can support axial forces (i.e., they are good thrust bearings) as well as radial forces,which are used in a variety of industrial applications. The tapered rollers allow the bearings to accommodate heavy radial, axial and combination loads. This loading flexibility combined with a variety of configurations can be designed from single cups, double cups, and cones. This is why tapered roller bearings are designed into almost every industry, particularly large diameter tapered roller bearings.

A tapered roller bearing consists of inner and outer rings which house the rolling elements. The rollers taper into conical shapes. The corresponding raceways that the rollers interface with are angled to accommodate their tapered form. The rollers themselves are held together in a cage (aka retainer) that fits the inner and outer rings. The following diagram shows the main components which hold the rollers together.