Trapezoidal Timing Belts (MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH)

Q: Can I replace a trapezoidal belt with an HTD or GT belt?

Not directly. Different tooth profiles require different pulleys. Converting from trapezoidal to HTD or GT requires replacing both belts and pulleys. For replacement, always match the original trapezoidal profile.

Q: Are trapezoidal belts the same as T-profile belts?

No. ANSI trapezoidal (MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH) and European T-profile (T2.5, T5, T10) both have trapezoidal teeth but follow different dimensional standards and use different pulleys. Not interchangeable.

Q: How do I choose the right trapezoidal pitch?

For replacement, match the existing pitch. For new designs, smaller pitches (MXL, XL) for light loads, larger pitches (H, XH, XXH) for heavy loads. See the Timing Belt Selection Guide.

Q: Are trapezoidal belts available in urethane?

Yes for MXL, XL, L, and H pitches. Urethane with steel or Kevlar cord. XH and XXH are neoprene only. Urethane also available in open-end form.

Q: How do I read a trapezoidal timing belt part number?

Format: pitch length in tenths of an inch, then profile code, then width in hundredths of an inch. Example: 450H200 = 45.0 inch pitch length, H profile, 2.00 inch wide.

Q: Does Texas Belting stock all trapezoidal pitches?

Yes. All six pitches from multiple manufacturers. Common sizes ship same day from Houston. Call 888-203-2358 to confirm availability.

8700 products

Trapezoidal Timing Belts (MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH)

Trapezoidal timing belts are the original synchronous belt design, featuring straight-sided teeth with an angled (trapezoidal) profile that meshes with matching pulley grooves for positive, no-slip power transmission. The trapezoidal tooth form is the ANSI/RMA standard used on the majority of industrial equipment manufactured in North America. Texas Belting stocks trapezoidal timing belts in six standard pitches, from miniature MXL drives to extreme heavy-duty XXH applications.

The trapezoidal profile family covers a wider range of load capacities than any other single tooth form, spanning from precision instruments and encoders (MXL) to mining equipment and heavy presses (XXH). All trapezoidal belts are constructed with neoprene (rubber) bodies, fiberglass tensile cords, and nylon tooth facing as standard. Urethane versions with steel or Kevlar cord are available for MXL, XL, L, and H pitches.

Trapezoidal profile family overview:
Tooth form: Trapezoidal (straight-sided, angled)
Standard: ANSI/RMA (North American)
Pitches: MXL (0.080"), XL (0.200"), L (3/8"), H (1/2"), XH (7/8"), XXH (1-1/4")
Standard material: Neoprene with fiberglass cord, nylon tooth facing
Also available: Urethane with steel/Kevlar cord (MXL, XL, L, H); HNBR specialty compounds (XH, XXH)

Need trapezoidal timing belts?

Tell us the pitch, part number, or application. We will identify the correct belt and provide pricing and availability across all six trapezoidal pitches.

Request a Quote 888-203-2358

Trapezoidal Pitch Comparison

The six ANSI/RMA trapezoidal pitches cover the full range from miniature to extreme heavy-duty. Each pitch has a dedicated page with detailed specifications, part number decoders, width guides, and FAQs.

Profile	Pitch	Pitch (mm)	Load Class	Common Width Range	Typical Applications
MXL	0.080"	2.032mm	Very light	1/8" to 1/2"	Instruments, encoders, office equipment, 3D printers
XL	0.200" (1/5")	5.08mm	Light to moderate	1/4" to 1"	Small machinery, robotics, general industrial, light automation
L	3/8"	9.525mm	Moderate to heavy	1/2" to 2"	General industrial, packaging, compressors, pumps, fans
H	1/2"	12.7mm	Heavy	3/4" to 3"	Heavy industrial, machine tools, large compressors, conveyors
XH	7/8"	22.225mm	Very heavy	1" to 4"	High-torque conveyors, presses, extruders, machine tools
XXH	1-1/4"	31.75mm	Extreme	2" to 5"	Mining, steel processing, heavy presses, bulk material handling

What Makes Trapezoidal Belts Different?

Trapezoidal timing belts were the first generation of synchronous belt design, introduced in the 1940s. The straight-sided tooth form provides reliable positive engagement at a lower manufacturing cost than newer curvilinear profiles. Understanding the trapezoidal tooth form helps buyers make informed decisions about when to specify trapezoidal versus newer profiles like HTD or GT.

Trapezoidal Tooth Form

The trapezoidal tooth has flat, angled sides that form a trapezoid shape. When the belt meshes with the pulley, the tooth enters the groove from the top and contacts the groove walls along the flat sides. This engagement pattern is simple and effective but concentrates stress at the tooth root corners, which limits the maximum load per tooth compared to curvilinear designs.

Trapezoidal vs. Curvilinear (HTD/GT)

Curvilinear profiles like HTD and GT use a rounded tooth form that distributes stress more evenly across the tooth surface. This allows curvilinear belts to carry higher loads per tooth and resist tooth shear better than trapezoidal belts at equivalent pitch. However, trapezoidal belts remain the dominant installed base in North America and are the correct replacement for any equipment originally designed with trapezoidal pulleys.

Factor	Trapezoidal (MXL/XL/L/H/XH/XXH)	Curvilinear (HTD / GT)
Tooth shape	Straight-sided, angled (trapezoid)	Rounded, semi-circular or modified curve
Stress distribution	Concentrated at tooth root corners	Distributed evenly across tooth surface
Load capacity per tooth	Standard	Higher (20-40% more at equivalent pitch)
Tooth shear resistance	Good	Better
Standard system	ANSI/RMA (North American)	HTD: RMA/ISO (global). GT: Gates proprietary.
Installed base	Very large (decades of North American equipment)	Growing (newer equipment, upgrades)
When to choose	Replacing existing trapezoidal. Matching installed pulleys.	New designs. Upgrades for higher load. Chain replacement.

For a detailed visual comparison of all tooth profiles, see the Timing Belt Tooth Profiles Explained guide. For help deciding between trapezoidal and curvilinear for a new design, see the Timing Belt Selection Guide.

Part Number Format for Trapezoidal Belts

All ANSI trapezoidal timing belts follow the same part number convention: pitch length in tenths of an inch, followed by the profile code, followed by the width in hundredths of an inch.

Example Part Number	Profile	Pitch Length	Width
54.4-MXL-025	MXL	5.44"	1/4" (0.25")
130XL037	XL	13.0"	3/8" (0.375")
225L075	L	22.5"	3/4" (0.75")
450H200	H	45.0"	2" (2.00")
630XH300	XH	63.0"	3" (3.00")
800XXH400	XXH	80.0"	4" (4.00")

For detailed part number decoding for each pitch, visit the individual pitch pages linked above. Texas Belting can cross-reference trapezoidal part numbers from Gates, Continental, Bando, Diesel Belting, Megadyne, and other manufacturers. Call 888-203-2358 or send us your part number. See our Pitch Chart for a complete reference of all pitches and formats.

Materials and Construction

Neoprene (Standard)

Standard trapezoidal timing belts are constructed with a neoprene (chloroprene rubber) body, fiberglass tensile cords, and nylon tooth facing. This construction provides good oil resistance, heat resistance, and long service life in general industrial environments. Neoprene trapezoidal belts are available in all six pitches (MXL through XXH) and are the default replacement for existing equipment.

Urethane (Specialty)

Urethane (polyurethane) trapezoidal belts with steel or Kevlar cord are available in MXL, XL, L, and H pitches. Urethane provides superior chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and low particulate generation for cleanroom, food-contact, and precision applications. Urethane trapezoidal belts are also available in open-end (continuous roll) form.

HNBR and Specialty Compounds

For XH and XXH pitches, HNBR (Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) and other specialty compounds are available for elevated temperature, chemical exposure, or extended service life requirements. Contact Texas Belting for specialty compound availability.

Trapezoidal Timing Belt Brands We Carry

Brand	Trapezoidal Products	Notes
Gates	PowerGrip MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH	Industry standard. Full range of trapezoidal pitches.
Continental / ContiTech	Synchroforce, Synchrobelt trapezoidal	OEM and industrial replacement. All pitches.
Bando	Bando MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH	High-quality Japanese manufacturing. Strong OEM presence.
Diesel Belting	Diesel trapezoidal, all pitches	Cost-effective replacement for all standard trapezoidal sizes.
Megadyne	Megapower trapezoidal	European manufacturing. Neoprene and urethane options.

Trapezoidal Timing Belt FAQs

What is a trapezoidal timing belt?

A trapezoidal timing belt is a synchronous toothed belt with straight-sided teeth that form a trapezoid shape. It is the original timing belt tooth design and follows the ANSI/RMA standard used on the majority of industrial equipment in North America. The trapezoidal family includes six standard pitches: MXL (0.080"), XL (0.200"), L (3/8"), H (1/2"), XH (7/8"), and XXH (1-1/4").

What do the letters MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH stand for?

The letters describe the belt's load class: MXL = Miniature Extra Light, XL = Extra Light, L = Light, H = Heavy, XH = Extra Heavy, XXH = Double Extra Heavy. Each designation corresponds to a specific tooth pitch. As the pitch increases, the tooth depth and load capacity increase.

Can I replace a trapezoidal belt with an HTD or GT belt?

Not directly. Trapezoidal belts and HTD/GT belts use different tooth profiles and require different pulleys. A conversion from trapezoidal to HTD or GT requires replacing both the belt and the pulleys. This is sometimes done as an upgrade to gain higher load capacity, but it is a drive redesign, not a drop-in replacement. For replacement, always match the original trapezoidal profile. See HTD vs GT Comparison for more on curvilinear alternatives.

Are trapezoidal belts the same as T-profile belts?

No. ANSI trapezoidal belts (MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH) and European T-profile belts (T2.5, T5, T10) both have trapezoidal-shaped teeth, but they follow different dimensional standards and use different pulleys. For example, XL (5.08mm) and T5 (5mm) have very similar pitches but are not interchangeable. Always match the belt to the pulley system on your equipment.

How do I choose the right trapezoidal pitch?

For replacement, match the existing belt pitch exactly. For new designs, pitch selection depends on the required torque, speed, and available space. Smaller pitches (MXL, XL) are for light loads and compact drives. Larger pitches (H, XH, XXH) are for heavy loads and high torque. The Timing Belt Selection Guide walks through the selection process step by step.

Are trapezoidal belts available in urethane?

Yes, for smaller pitches. Urethane trapezoidal belts with steel or Kevlar cord are available in MXL, XL, L, and H pitches. XH and XXH are manufactured in neoprene only (with HNBR specialty compounds available). Urethane trapezoidal belts are also available in open-end form for custom lengths.

How do I read a trapezoidal timing belt part number?

All ANSI trapezoidal belts follow the format: [pitch length in tenths of an inch][profile code][width in hundredths of an inch]. Example: 450H200 = 45.0" pitch length, H profile, 2.00" wide. MXL uses a slightly different format with a decimal point. See our Pitch Chart for all format details, or visit the individual pitch page for specific decoding examples.

Does Texas Belting stock all trapezoidal pitches?

Yes. Texas Belting stocks trapezoidal timing belts in all six pitches (MXL, XL, L, H, XH, XXH) from multiple manufacturers. Common sizes ship same day from our Houston warehouse. Less common sizes may require 3 to 7 business days. Call 888-203-2358 to confirm availability for your specific size.

Need Trapezoidal Timing Belts?

Tell us the pitch, part number, or application details. We stock all six trapezoidal pitches for fast shipping from Houston.

Request a Quote

888-203-2358