Roller vs. Wheel — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 30, 2024
A roller is a cylinder used to facilitate movement by rolling, while a wheel includes a hub and spokes, enabling transport by attaching to an axle.
Difference Between Roller and Wheel
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A roller, typically a simple cylindrical object, is designed to move by rotating on its axis, which can be part of a larger system like conveyor belts or roller bearings. On the other hand, a wheel is a more complex component consisting of a rim, hub, and often spokes, designed to rotate on an axle, which is crucial in vehicles for transportation.
Rollers are primarily used to facilitate the movement of objects over them, reducing friction and making it easier to move heavy loads. They are found in various applications, from industrial machinery to everyday items like sliding doors. Whereas wheels, by attaching to axles, enable the transportation of vehicles and their loads, transforming rotational motion into linear motion, essential for the operation of cars, bikes, and carts.
The design of a roller focuses on its ability to roll smoothly and withstand the load placed upon it, often requiring materials that can handle repeated stress without deforming. Wheels, however, must be designed to not only support loads but also to withstand environmental conditions, such as road surfaces and temperatures, and to provide traction.
In terms of functionality, rollers may be part of a larger system and are not always directly involved in the propulsion of a vehicle or object. Wheels are integral to the propulsion system of vehicles, directly contributing to their movement and steering.
While rollers simplify the movement of objects across them, wheels are essential for the mobility of vehicles, allowing them to travel substantial distances. Wheels have enabled advancements in transportation technology, significantly impacting human society and the development of civilizations.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Simple cylinder
Rim, hub, and spokes
Function
Facilitates movement by rolling
Enables transport by attaching to an axle
Primary Use
Moving objects over them
Transportation of vehicles
Design Focus
Smooth rolling and load support
Support loads, withstand conditions, provide traction
Role in Movement
Part of a system, not directly involved in propulsion
Integral to vehicle propulsion and steering
Impact
Reduces friction, eases movement
Advances transportation, significant societal impact
Compare with Definitions
Roller
A cylinder designed to roll, facilitating movement.
The conveyor belt used rollers to transport goods across the warehouse.
Wheel
Can be specialized for different terrains.
Off-road vehicles have wheels designed for rugged terrain.
Roller
Used in machinery to reduce friction.
Rollers in the drawer slides made opening and closing smooth.
Wheel
A circular object that rotates on an axle.
The ancient cart was equipped with wooden wheels.
Roller
Often part of bearings to support rotational motion.
The roller bearings ensured the machine's shafts rotated freely.
Wheel
Essential for vehicle mobility and steering.
The car's steering wheel controlled its direction.
Roller
Can be used to apply coatings or compact surfaces.
The painter used a foam roller to apply an even coat of paint.
Wheel
Historical innovation significantly impacting transportation.
The invention of the wheel revolutionized ancient transport systems.
Roller
Variably sized for different applications.
The large rollers helped move heavy equipment with ease.
Wheel
Includes features like rims, hubs, and sometimes spokes.
The bicycle's lightweight wheels featured durable spokes.
Roller
A cylinder that rotates about a central axis and is used in various machines and devices to move, flatten, or spread something
Use a roller to resettle turf laid during autumn and winter
The sheets moved through rollers and down the folding machine
Wheel
In its primitive form, a wheel is a circular block of a hard and durable material at whose center has been bored a hole through which is placed an axle bearing about which the wheel rotates when torque is applied to the wheel about its axis. The wheel and axle assembly can be considered one of the six simple machines.
Roller
A long swelling wave that appears to roll steadily towards the shore
The Atlantic rollers
Wheel
A circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground
A chair on wheels
Roller
Relating to or involving roller skates
Roller hockey
Wheel
A machine or structure having a wheel as its essential part.
Roller
A brightly coloured crow-sized bird with predominantly blue plumage, having a characteristic tumbling display flight.
Wheel
A car
She's got wheels now
Roller
A bird of a breed of tumbler pigeon.
Wheel
A thing resembling a wheel, in particular a cheese made in the form of a shallow disc
A small wheel of Brie
Roller
A breed of canary with a trilling song.
Wheel
An instance of wheeling; a turn or rotation.
Roller
A car made by Rolls-Royce.
Wheel
Short for big wheel (sense 2)
Roller
One that rolls or performs a rolling operation or activity.
Wheel
A set of short lines, typically five in number and rhyming, concluding the stanza of a poem.
Roller
A small spokeless wheel, such as that of a roller skate or caster.
Wheel
Push or pull (a vehicle with wheels)
The tea trolley was wheeled out
Roller
An elongated cylinder on which something, such as a window shade or towel, is wound.
Wheel
(of a bird or aircraft) fly in a wide circle or curve
The birds wheeled and dived
Roller
A heavy revolving cylinder that is used to level, crush, or smooth.
Wheel
A solid disk or a rigid circular ring connected by spokes to a hub, designed to turn around an axle passed through the center.
Roller
(Printing) A cylinder, usually of hard rubber, used to ink the type before the paper is impressed.
Wheel
The steering device on a vehicle.
Roller
A cylinder of wire mesh, foam rubber, or other material around which a strand of hair is wound to produce a soft curl or wave.
Wheel
A potter's wheel.
Roller
A long rolled bandage.
Wheel
A water wheel.
Roller
A heavy swelling wave that breaks on a coast.
Wheel
A spinning wheel.
Roller
A tumbler pigeon.
Wheel
(Games) A device used in roulette and other games of chance.
Roller
Any of various Eurasian, African, or Australian birds of the genera Coracias and Eurystomus, characteristically having bright blue wings, stocky bodies, and hooked bills. They are noted for their habit of rolling and twisting in flight, especially during display flights.
Wheel
A firework that rotates while burning.
Roller
A breed of canary kept for its soft, trilling song.
Wheel
(Informal) A bicycle.
Roller
(heading) Anything that rolls.
Wheel
A large, roughly circular block of cheese.
Roller
Any rotating cylindrical device that is part of a machine, especially one used to apply or reduce pressure.
Wheel
A wheel-shaped instrument on which victims were bound for torture and execution in medieval and early modern Europe.
Roller
A cylindrical (or approximately cylindrical) item used under a heavy object to facilitate moving it; usually several are needed.
Wheel
Wheels Forces that provide energy, movement, or direction
The wheels of commerce.
Roller
A person who rolls something, such as cigars or molten metal.
Wheel
The act or process of turning; revolution or rotation.
Roller
(cricket) A large rolling device used to flatten the surface of the pitch.
Wheel
A military maneuver executed in order to change the direction of movement of a formation, as of troops or ships, in which the formation is maintained while the outer unit describes an arc and the inner or center unit remains stationary as a pivot.
Roller
A cylindrical tool for applying paint or ink.
Wheel
Wheels(Slang) A motor vehicle or access thereto
Do you have wheels tonight?.
Roller
An agricultural machine used for flattening land and breaking up lumps of earth.
Wheel
(Slang) A person with a great deal of power or influence
A wheel in state government.
Roller
One of a set of small cylindrical tubes used to curl hair.
Wheel
To roll, move, or transport on wheels or a wheel.
Roller
A roller towel.
Wheel
To cause to turn around or as if around a central axis; revolve or rotate.
Roller
A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc.
Wheel
To provide with wheels or a wheel.
Roller
(cycling) One of a set of rolling cylinders allowing a rider to practise balance while training indoors.
Wheel
To turn around or as if around a central axis; revolve or rotate.
Roller
Any insect whose larva rolls up leaves, especially those in family Tortricidae.
Wheel
To roll or move on or as if on wheels or a wheel.
Roller
A dung beetle that rolls dung into balls.
Wheel
To fly in a curving or circular course
A flock of gulls wheeled just above the dock.
Roller
The pl=s, small ground snakes of the genus Cylindrophis.
Wheel
To turn or whirl around in place; pivot
"The boy wheeled and the fried eggs leaped from his tray" (Ivan Gold).
Roller
A rolling pin
Wheel
To reverse one's opinion or practice
Don't be surprised if the boss wheels about on that idea.
Roller
(disc golf) A throw which involves the player throwing the disc in a way that makes it roll, by that being able to travel further than if thrown in the air. Only used on holes with open areas with short or no grass.
He threw a beautiful roller that cut the corner perfectly and stopped just outside the circle.
Wheel
A circular device capable of rotating on its axis, facilitating movement or transportation or performing labour in machines.
Roller
A long wide bandage used in surgery.
Wheel
A steering wheel and its implied control of a vehicle.
Roller
A large, wide, curling wave that falls back on itself as it breaks on a coast.
Wheel
(nautical) The instrument attached to the rudder by which a vessel is steered.
Roller
(heading) A bird.
Wheel
A spinning wheel.
Roller
A breed or variety of roller pigeon that rolls (i.e. tumbles or somersaults) backwards (compare Penson roller, Birmingham roller, tumbler).
Wheel
A potter's wheel.
Roller
Any of various aggressive birds, of the family Coraciidae, having bright blue wings and hooked beaks.
Wheel
The breaking wheel, an old instrument of torture.
Roller
A police patrol car or patrolman (rather than an unmarked police car or a detective)
Wheel
(slang) A person with a great deal of power or influence; a big wheel.
Roller
A padded surcingle that is used on horses for training and vaulting.
Wheel
A superuser on certain systems.
Roller
A roll of titles or (especially) credits played over film or video; television or film credits.
Wheel
(poker slang) The lowest straight in poker: ace, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Roller
(slang) A wheelchair user.
Wheel
(automotive) A wheelrim.
Roller
(intransitive) To roller skate.
Wheel
A round portion of cheese.
Roller
One who, or that which, rolls; especially, a cylinder, sometimes grooved, of wood, stone, metal, etc., used in husbandry and the arts.
Wheel
A Catherine wheel firework.
Roller
A bandage; a fillet; properly, a long and broad bandage used in surgery.
Wheel
(obsolete) A rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb.
Roller
One of series of long, heavy waves which roll in upon a coast, sometimes in calm weather.
Wheel
A turn or revolution; rotation; compass.
Roller
A long, belt-formed towel, to be suspended on a rolling cylinder; - called also roller towel.
Wheel
(figurative) A recurring or cyclical course of events.
The wheel of life
Roller
A cylinder coated with a composition made principally of glue and molassess, with which forms of type are inked previously to taking an impression from them.
Wheel
A dollar.
Roller
A long cylinder on which something is rolled up; as, the roller of a map.
Wheel
A crown coin; a "cartwheel".
Roller
A small wheel, as of a caster, a roller skate, etc.
Wheel
A bicycle or tricycle.
Roller
Any insect whose larva rolls up leaves; a leaf roller. see Tortrix.
Wheel
A manoeuvre in marching in which the marchers turn in a curving fashion to right or left so that the order of marchers does not change.
Roller
Any one of numerous species of Old World picarian birds of the family Coraciadæ. The name alludes to their habit of suddenly turning over or "tumbling" in flight.
Wheel
(transitive) To roll along on wheels.
Wheel that trolley over here, would you?
Roller
Any species of small ground snakes of the family Tortricidæ.
Wheel
(transitive) To transport something or someone using any wheeled mechanism, such as a wheelchair.
Roller
A grounder that rolls along the infield
Wheel
To ride a bicycle or tricycle.
Roller
A long heavy sea wave as it advances towards the shore
Wheel
(intransitive) To change direction quickly, turn, pivot, whirl, wheel around.
Roller
A small wheel without spokes (as on a roller skate)
Wheel
(transitive) To cause to change direction quickly, turn.
Roller
A cylinder that revolves
Wheel
(intransitive) To travel around in large circles, particularly in the air.
The vulture wheeled above us.
Roller
A mechanical device consisting of a cylindrical tube around which the hair is wound to curl it;
A woman with her head full of curlers is not a pretty sight
Wheel
(transitive) To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to make or perform in a circle.
Roller
Old World bird that tumbles or rolls in flight; related to kingfishers
Wheel
A circular frame turning about an axis; a rotating disk, whether solid, or a frame composed of an outer rim, spokes or radii, and a central hub or nave, in which is inserted the axle, - used for supporting and conveying vehicles, in machinery, and for various purposes; as, the wheel of a wagon, of a locomotive, of a mill, of a watch, etc.
The gasping charioteer beneath the wheelOf his own car.
Roller
Pigeon that executes backward somersaults in flight or on the ground
Wheel
Any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel.
Wheel
A spinning wheel. See under Spinning.
Wheel
A bicycle or a tricycle; a velocipede.
Wheel
An instrument of torture formerly used.
His examination is like that which is made by the rack and wheel.
Wheel
A rolling or revolving body; anything of a circular form; a disk; an orb.
Wheel
A circular frame having handles on the periphery, and an axle which is so connected with the tiller as to form a means of controlling the rudder for the purpose of steering.
Wheel
A turn revolution; rotation; compass.
According to the common vicissitude and wheel of things, the proud and the insolent, after long trampling upon others, come at length to be trampled upon themselves.
[He] throws his steep flight in many an aëry wheel.
Wheel
A potter's wheel. See under Potter.
Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
Turn, turn, my wheel! This earthen jarA touch can make, a touch can mar.
Wheel
A firework which, while burning, is caused to revolve on an axis by the reaction of the escaping gases.
Wheel
The burden or refrain of a song.
You must sing a-down a-down,An you call him a-down-a.O, how the wheel becomes it!
Wheel
To convey on wheels, or in a wheeled vehicle; as, to wheel a load of hay or wood.
Wheel
To put into a rotatory motion; to cause to turn or revolve; to cause to gyrate; to make or perform in a circle.
Now heaven, in all her glory, shone, and rolledHer motions, as the great first mover's handFirst wheeled their course.
Wheel
To turn on an axis, or as on an axis; to revolve; to more about; to rotate; to gyrate.
The moon carried about the earth always shows the sameface to us, not once wheeling upon her own center.
Wheel
To change direction, as if revolving upon an axis or pivot; to turn; as, the troops wheeled to the right.
Being able to advance no further, they are in a fair way towheel about to the other extreme.
Wheel
To go round in a circuit; to fetch a compass.
Then wheeling down the steep of heaven he flies.
Wheel
To roll forward.
Thunder mixed with hail,Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky,And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls.
Wheel
A simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
Wheel
A handwheel that is used for steering
Wheel
A circular helm to control the rudder of a vessel
Wheel
Game equipment consisting of a rotating wheel with slots that is used for gambling; players bet on which slot the roulette ball will stop in
Wheel
An instrument of torture that stretches or disjoints or mutilates victims
Wheel
A wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
Wheel
Change directions as if revolving on a pivot;
They wheeled their horses around and left
Wheel
Wheel somebody or something
Wheel
Move along on or as if on wheels or a wheeled vehicle;
The President's convoy rolled past the crowds
Wheel
Ride a bicycle
Common Curiosities
Are all wheels circular?
Yes, all wheels are fundamentally circular, as this shape enables efficient rotation and movement over surfaces.
Can rollers be used in vehicles?
Yes, rollers can be used in vehicles, particularly in systems like roller bearings, which support rotational motion, but they do not function as wheels.
Why is the wheel considered an important invention?
The wheel is considered one of the most important inventions because it significantly enhanced transportation, allowing for the movement of goods and people over longer distances more efficiently.
How do rollers reduce friction?
Rollers reduce friction by providing a smooth, cylindrical surface that objects can easily move over, minimizing the resistance encountered.
What materials are rollers made from?
Rollers can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, rubber, and plastic, depending on their intended use and the loads they must support.
What distinguishes a roller from a wheel?
A roller is a simple cylindrical object that facilitates movement by rolling, whereas a wheel includes a hub, rim, and often spokes, enabling transportation by attaching to an axle.
Can wheels function without an axle?
Wheels require an axle to function effectively, as the axle provides the central support around which the wheel rotates.
Do rollers have an axle?
Rollers themselves may rotate around a central axis, but they do not use an axle in the same way wheels do; instead, they may be mounted on shafts or bearings.
How are wheels designed for different terrains?
Wheels are designed for different terrains by varying the tread pattern, material, and overall structure to optimize traction, durability, and performance under specific conditions.
How has the design of wheels evolved?
The design of wheels has evolved from simple wooden or stone circles to complex structures incorporating materials like steel and rubber, designed to enhance performance, safety, and durability.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
