Spherical roller thrust bearings are similar in purpose to ball thrust bearings in that they are designed to handle loads primarily in one direction. But unlike their ball-based cousins, the cylindrical design of the roller thrust bearing means they can handle heavy radial and axial loads, while operating at moderately high speeds. These bearings are also self-aligning and can accommodate shaft misalignment relative to the housing.

Unlike some other bearings, the internal design of the spherical roller thrust bearings are not standardized by the ISO, so there is variation between manufacturers. The bearings are usually manufactured from either steel, brass or sheet steel. They are often found in applications such as marine propulsion, gearboxes and extruders for injection molding.