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Find a V-Belt Profile by Dimensions
Ranks nominal profiles; it does not approve interchangeability.
Measure the belt’s top width and perpendicular height at an unworn location. Enter both dimensions to compare common industrial sections.
Closest nominal profiles
Identification limit: Nominal width and height identify likely families only. A worn belt can measure smaller or distorted, and a dimensional match does not establish the correct length, pulley groove, duty, construction, or manufacturer interchangeability.
- Section
- A
- Family
- North American classical · North American inch
- Active units
- 0.5 × 0.3125 in
- Source-native
- 1/2 × 5/16 in
- Common aliases
- AX
- Marking check
- A100 pattern; inside circumference
Reference table
Common V-Belt Cross-Section Sizes
22 system-qualified nominal profiles
Search markings or aliases, filter the visible table, sort supported columns, or select a row to update the diagram. Scroll inside the table for all columns.
No supported V-belt profile matches these filters. Clear the filters or verify whether the belt is automotive, V-ribbed, timing, variable-speed, or manufacturer-specific.
Scroll horizontally to view additional columns and vertically to view additional rows. Column headers remain visible while scrolling.
| View | Identification | Nominal cross section | Converted reference | Marking and provenance | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aliases | Native unit | Top width | Height | Representative marking | Length basis | Source / scope | ||||||
| A | North American inch | Classical | AX | in | 1/2 in | 5/16 in | 12.7 mm | 7.9375 mm | A100 pattern | Inside circumference | Gates 19993, p. 23 nominal | |
| B | North American inch | Classical | BX | in | 21/32 in | 13/32 in | 16.6688 mm | 10.3188 mm | B100 | Inside circumference | Gates 19993, p. 23 nominal | |
| C | North American inch | Classical | CX | in | 7/8 in | 17/32 in | 22.225 mm | 13.4938 mm | C100 pattern | Inside circumference | Gates 19993, p. 23 nominal | |
| D | North American inch | Classical | — | in | 1-1/4 in | 3/4 in | 31.75 mm | 19.05 mm | D100 pattern | Inside circumference | Gates 19993, p. 23 nominal | |
| E | North American inch | Classical | — | in | 1-1/2 in | 29/32 in | 38.1 mm | 23.0188 mm | E150 pattern | Inside circumference | Gates 19993, p. 23 nominal | |
| 3V | North American inch | Narrow | 3VX | in | 3/8 in | 21/64 in | 9.525 mm | 8.3344 mm | 3V750 pattern | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 21 nominal | |
| 5V | North American inch | Narrow | 5VX | in | 5/8 in | 35/64 in | 15.875 mm | 13.8906 mm | 5V750 | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 21 nominal | |
| 8V | North American inch | Narrow | 8VX | in | 1 in | 7/8 in | 25.4 mm | 22.225 mm | 8V1000 pattern | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 21 nominal | |
| 2L | North American inch | FHP | — | in | 1/4 in | 1/8 in | 6.35 mm | 3.175 mm | 2L200 pattern | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 27 nominal | |
| 3L | North American inch | FHP | — | in | 3/8 in | 7/32 in | 9.525 mm | 5.5563 mm | 3L280 | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 27 nominal | |
| 4L | North American inch | FHP | — | in | 1/2 in | 5/16 in | 12.7 mm | 7.9375 mm | 4L500 pattern | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 27 nominal | |
| 5L | North American inch | FHP | — | in | 21/32 in | 3/8 in | 16.6688 mm | 9.525 mm | 5L500 pattern | Outside circumference ×10 | Gates 19993, p. 27 nominal | |
| Z | ISO/DIN metric | Classical | ZX | mm | 10 mm | 6 mm | 0.3937 in | 0.2362 in | Verify maker code | Verify suffix and datum basis | SKF 2011, p. 10 product dimensions | |
| A | ISO/DIN metric | Classical | AX | mm | 13 mm | 8 mm | 0.5118 in | 0.3150 in | Verify maker code | Verify suffix and datum basis | SKF 2011, p. 10 product dimensions | |
| B | ISO/DIN metric | Classical | BX | mm | 17 mm | 11 mm | 0.6693 in | 0.4331 in | Verify maker code | Verify suffix and datum basis | SKF 2011, p. 10 product dimensions | |
| C | ISO/DIN metric | Classical | CX | mm | 22 mm | 14 mm | 0.8661 in | 0.5512 in | Verify maker code | Verify suffix and datum basis | SKF 2011, p. 10 product dimensions | |
| D | ISO/DIN metric | Classical | — | mm | 32 mm | 20 mm | 1.2598 in | 0.7874 in | Verify maker code | Verify suffix and datum basis | SKF 2011, p. 10 product dimensions | |
| E | ISO/DIN metric | Classical | — | mm | 38 mm | 23 mm | 1.4961 in | 0.9055 in | Verify maker code | Verify suffix and datum basis | SKF 2011, p. 10 product dimensions | |
| SPZ | ISO/DIN metric | Wedge | XPZ | mm | 10 mm nominal | 8 mm nominal | 0.3937 in | 0.3150 in | SPZ800 pattern | Verify standard / maker | Gates p. 24 nominal; SKF product 9.7 × 8 mm | |
| SPA | ISO/DIN metric | Wedge | XPA | mm | 13 mm nominal | 10 mm nominal | 0.5118 in | 0.3937 in | SPA1000 pattern | Verify standard / maker | Gates p. 24 nominal; SKF product 12.7 × 10 mm | |
| SPB | ISO/DIN metric | Wedge | XPB | mm | 16 mm nominal | 13 mm nominal | 0.6299 in | 0.5118 in | SPB2000 pattern | Verify standard / maker | Gates p. 24 nominal; SKF product 16.3 × 13 mm | |
| SPC | ISO/DIN metric | Wedge | XPC | mm | 22 mm nominal | 18 mm nominal | 0.8661 in | 0.7087 in | SPC2000 pattern | Verify standard / maker | Gates p. 24 nominal; SKF product 22 × 18 mm | |
Values are limited nominal or manufacturer-product reference dimensions, not tolerances. Gates’ rounded metric nominal values and SKF’s finished-product values are identified separately; they are not averaged. Full CSV/JSON export is intentionally disabled.
Table actions and scope
Automotive application codes, V-ribbed/serpentine belts, timing belts, variable-speed belts, double-V sections, power ratings, sheave limits, tolerances, and stock-length catalogs are outside this table.
How to Use the V-Belt Size Chart
- Clean and inspect the belt. Avoid a cracked, polished, crushed, or visibly tapered location.
- Measure top width and height. Use calipers without squeezing the rubber. Height is perpendicular to the top surface—not along a sloped sidewall.
- Review all close candidates. An exact dimensional tie is possible; the default 1/2 × 5/16 in input intentionally shows both A and 4L.
- Check the printed marking. Confirm section characters, construction suffix, and the manufacturer’s length convention.
- Verify the drive. Confirm pulley groove, required length, number of belts, matched-set requirements, speed, load, environment, and OEM instructions.
How the nearest-profile score works
The finder converts both inputs to millimetres and ranks each supported row by d = √[((Wm − Wr)/Wr)² + ((Hm − Hr)/Hr)²]. This dimensionless score balances relative width and height differences. It is a ranking device only—there is no pass/fail tolerance.
Classical, Narrow, FHP, and Metric V-Belt Families
Section names qualify a belt family; they do not provide a universal interchange rule. North American classical A–E, narrow 3V–8V, light-duty 2L–5L, ISO/DIN classical Z–E, and wedge SPZ–SPC use different design and marking contexts.
| Family | Common sections | Construction aliases | Key caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| North American classical | A, B, C, D, E | AX, BX, CX | Similar cross sections do not make light-duty belts equivalent. |
| ARPM narrow | 3V, 5V, 8V | 3VX, 5VX, 8VX | Uses narrow-section sheaves and family-specific marking conventions. |
| FHP / light duty | 2L, 3L, 4L, 5L | Manufacturer-specific variants | Intended classification and duty differ from classical industrial sections. |
| ISO/DIN classical | Z, A, B, C, D, E | Cogged forms vary | An unqualified “A” or “B” is ambiguous across systems. |
| ISO/DIN wedge | SPZ, SPA, SPB, SPC | XPZ, XPA, XPB, XPC | Rounded nominal and finished-product dimensions can differ slightly. |
Inside, outside, datum, and effective length
Li identifies inside length; La or Lo commonly identifies outside length; Ld or Lw identifies datum length; and Le identifies effective length. The exact label and conversion depend on the belt family, standard, and manufacturer. Do not apply one universal offset.
How to Read Common V-Belt Markings
B100B identifies the classical section. In the cited Gates product example, 100 is inside circumference in inches.
5V7505V identifies the narrow section. In the cited Gates example, 750 means 75.0 in outside circumference.
3L2803L identifies the FHP section. In the cited Gates example, 280 means 28.0 in outside circumference.
BX100X identifies molded-notch/cogged construction in the cited line; the B cross section remains the parent size.
5VX7505VX is the molded-notch form of the 5V family in the cited catalog.
XPZ800XP is notched and SP wrapped in the cited Metric-Power line. The numeric portion is a length designation; verify its basis in the current standard and manufacturer catalog.
Before ordering: Treat these as representative manufacturer examples, not a universal decoder. Confirm suffixes and the current manufacturer’s catalog for the exact product.
Worked V-Belt Identification Examples
Example 1: 0.500 × 0.3125 in
Assumption: The belt is an industrial or light-duty single V-belt and the measured area is not badly worn. Converting with 25.4 mm/in gives 12.7 × 7.9375 mm. Both the North American classical A row and the FHP 4L row have the same nominal dimensions, so each receives a zero ranking difference. The dimension result is therefore ambiguous. Check the surviving marking, duty, sheave, length basis, and equipment documentation before choosing.
Example 2: approximately 16 × 13 mm
Assumption: The belt appears to be a metric wedge profile. The Gates nominal chart places SPB at 16 × 13 mm, while SKF lists a finished SPB product at 16.3 × 13 mm. A measured value near either width can point to SPB/XPB, but the small source difference is not an acceptance tolerance. Verify the marking and current product data instead of averaging the two widths.
Sources, Scope, and Data Limitations
Dataset: V-belt-profile-reference-2026-08 · limited identification reference · source checked August 10, 2026
This page uses a limited, reorganized set of common profile dimensions and representative marking examples. It does not reproduce complete standards, stock-length catalogs, ratings, tolerances, or manufacturer artwork.
- ISO 4184:2025 — Belt drives — Classical and narrow V-belts — Lengths in datum systemOfficial public record used to confirm the current standard’s family and datum-length scope; detailed copyrighted requirements are not reproduced.
- MPTA — ARPM Belt Drive ResourcesPublic index used to confirm IP-20 classical, IP-22 narrow, and IP-23 light-duty family scope; purchased publications control detailed requirements.
- Gates Industrial Power Transmission Catalog, No. 199932021 catalog pages 21, 23, 24, and 27 support the limited nominal dimensions and representative marking conventions used here.
- SKF Power Transmission BeltsProduct data current at the beginning of 2011; pages 8–12 cross-check metric, narrow, and classical product dimensions and show nominal-versus-finished differences.
Dataset and Source-Check Details
- Publisher
- Turn2Engineering
- Canonical conversion
- 1 in = 25.4 mm exactly
- Source-controlled fields
- Profile family, section dimensions, aliases, representative markings
- Calculated fields
- Converted dimensions, input deltas, normalized nearest-profile ranking
- Excluded
- Standards tolerances, power ratings, sheave limits, stocked lengths, automotive applications
- Rights decision
- Limited transformed reference with attribution; bulk CSV and JSON disabled
Related Engineering Tools
V-Belt Size Chart FAQs
The letters usually identify the section or family. The numeric portion commonly describes a length, but the inside, outside, datum, or effective basis depends on the family and manufacturer.
Their nominal cross sections can be the same, but duty, construction, length convention, pulley groove, and equipment requirements can differ. Verify all of those before substitution.
Measure the cross-section width and height first. For circumference, follow the applicable manufacturer’s inside, outside, datum, or effective-length method rather than assuming one method fits every family.
Sidewall wear, deformation, compression by the calipers, measurement location, and manufacturer tolerances can all shift a used-belt measurement away from a nominal chart value.
No. The primary dataset covers common industrial and light-duty single V-belt sections. Automotive application codes and V-ribbed or serpentine belts require separate references.
V-Belt Replacement Checklist
Use the finder to narrow the profile, then confirm the printed section, construction, length basis, exact length, pulley groove, number of belts, matched-set requirement, transmitted load, speed, environment, tensioning procedure, and OEM instructions. A cross-section match is the start of replacement selection—not the final approval.