O-Ring Groove Design & Working Pressure Reference Guide|Sizes, Compression & Material Selection

O-Rings are critical components for sealing applications in hydraulic, pneumatic, and fluid systems. To ensure proper sealing performance and service life, correct groove design and working pressure tolerance must be carefully considered. This guide summarizes standard O-ring sizes, groove dimensions, and maximum pressure ratings by material and hardness.


🔧 O-Ring Design Factors

Effective sealing depends on:

  • O-Ring size (Inner Diameter & Cross Section)

  • Groove dimensions (width, depth, and squeeze ratio)

  • Operating pressure (static or dynamic)

  • Material hardness (Shore A)

  • Chemical compatibility (fluid or gas type)


📐 Common O-Ring Sizes (AS568 Extract)

AS568 #ID (mm)CS (mm)Groove Width (mm)Recommended Squeeze
0105.281.782.34 ~ 2.5415–30%
11212.372.623.25 ~ 3.4013–25%
21420.293.534.32 ~ 4.5012–22%
32557.005.336.55 ~ 6.8010–20%

Proper squeeze ensures sealing without overcompression.


💡 Max Working Pressure by Material & Hardness

MaterialHardness (Shore A)Max Pressure (No Backup Ring)With Backup Ring
NBR70≈ 5 MPaUp to 20 MPa
EPDM70≈ 4 MPaUp to 15 MPa
FKM75≈ 7 MPaUp to 25 MPa
HNBR80≈ 8 MPaUp to 30 MPa

👉 Use backup rings for pressures over 10 MPa or in dynamic motion.