<p>In this study, load capacity and flow rate in a hydrostatic gas bearing with an axial directed slot restrictor were compared using rotating experiments and CAE. The objective is to improve the accuracy of CAE analysis of hydrostatic gas bearings used in high-speed rotating equipment used in clean environments, such as medical equipment and industrial machinery. A further objective is to find the optimal combination of slot clearance and bearing clearance. Using an axial hydrostatic gas bearing, an analytical method was developed to determine the flow rate and axial restoring force by CAE analysis using a rotating shaft, and the performance of the bearing was evaluated. An experimental apparatus that can directly measure the shaft surface pressure was created, and its accuracy was verified by comparing it with the CAE analysis. The accuracy of the analysis was also verified for load capacity and flow rate. In addition, the effects of varying the slot clearance and bearing clearance parameters on the load capacity and flow rate were investigated. The results showed that the load capacity was maximized when the slot clearance was smaller than the bearing clearance by about 5–10 microns.</p>