Tapered roller bearings are designed so that the imagined conical apices formed by the raceways of the inner and outer rings and the rollers all converge at one point on the bearing axis. The trapezoidal tapered rollers used as the rolling elements are guided by a large rib on the inner ring.

These bearings can take radial loads and axial loads in one direction. When load is applied, the axial component generated inside the bearing generally requires the use of two opposed bearings (similar to angular contact ball bearings) or double-row bearings. Spacers are used to adjust the inner and outer rings in the axial direction to achieve the proper internal clearance. Since they are separable, the inner ring (cone) assemblies and outer rings (cups) can be mounted independently.