Abstract: The bearing idler is a necessary component of belt conveyors, the performance of the bearing idler in the belt conveyor is related to the efficiency and cost of the whole transportation process, and one of the important indexes for evaluating the performance of bearing roller is the rotational resistance.However, the existing researches have not yet clarified the law of the factors affecting the rotational resistance of the bearing idler.By using a self-made bearing idler rotational resistance test bench to carry out the idler rotation resistance test, the test bench meets the relevant technical requirements of the national standard “Belt Conveyor” GB/T 10595—2009, and the measurement principle is simple and reliable.Using the static torque sensor installed at both ends of the bearing idler shaft to be tested, the measured torque is the torque caused by the rotational resistance of the bearing idler.The rotational resistance of the bearing idler can be obtained by the subsequent formula calculation.The influence degree of each factor on the rotational resistance of the bearing idler was investigated, and the orthogonal test plan was developed.It was also determined that the load and the belt speed of the conveyor are the factors that have a great influence on the rotating resistance of the bearing idler.Therefore, the fixed load and the fixed belt speed test of single variable were designed.The two factors of load and belt speed were tested and analyzed respectively.The results showed that under the condition of a certain belt speed, the rotational resistance of the bearing idler increases with the increase of load, but it does not show a clear linear relationship.Under the condition of a certain load, the rotational resistance of the bearing idler increases gradually with the belt speed, but the rate of change decreases gradually.Finally, based on the experimental data in the test range of this paper, the rotational resistance was fitted.An empirical formula for describing the rotational resistance of the φ89 mm bearing idler with 6204 bearing under different belt speed and load was given.Due to the test conditions and time constraints, the follow-up work will be carried out around the test bench upgrade, and the higher conveyor belt speed test analysis.