This paper presents the contact thermal behaviors of mechanical seals depending on the contacting face geometry. Using the finite element analysis, the temperature distribution, thermal distortion and leakage have been analyzed as functions of sealing gap and rotating speed of the seal ring shaft. The FE results indicate that the inclined contacting face may be more effective and stable based on the results of thermal characteristic analysis if the seal ring has been designed with a same thermal capacity between conventional rectangular sealing faces and inclined seating surface of seal rings.