Laboratory benches 5 min read
The price of laboratory benches depends on the frame system (C-frame, H-frame or plinth), whether they are wall or island benches, their dimensions, the worktop material, base and wall cabinets, sinks and fittings, service units and the scope of installation. A single price per metre can therefore mislead; the right price comes from the layout and the chemicals to be used.
People searching for laboratory bench prices usually want a figure per metre. Two benches of the same length do not necessarily do the same job, however: one may have a chemical-resistant ceramic worktop, a service unit and a sink, the other only a plain work surface. Below are the factors that set the price and the information to prepare when you ask for a quotation.
9 Factors That Affect the Price of a Bench
| Factor | Options | Effect on price |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Frame system | C-frame, H-frame, plinth | Changes the structure, the base cabinets and access to services |
| 2. Bench type | Wall bench, island bench | An island bench used from both sides has a greater depth and surface area |
| 3. Dimensions | Height 75, 90, 100 cm; depth 75, 90, 150 cm | Total length and depth set the amount of worktop and frame |
| 4. Worktop | Compact laminate, Corian, stainless steel, polypropylene, industrial ceramic, Kalesinterflex | Material and thickness change the price directly |
| 5. Base cabinets and drawers | Mobile, suspended or fixed; with doors or drawers | Number and type of cabinets affect the total |
| 6. Wall cabinets and shelves | Solid or glazed wall cabinets, short or full-height shelving | Cost rises with storage needs |
| 7. Sinks and fittings | Number and material of sinks; water, gas and vacuum points | Each service point adds fittings and pipework |
| 8. Service units | Mediacell type, panel type, cable trunking on the bench | Varies with the density of services |
| 9. Delivery and installation | Delivery, on-site installation, service connections | Added according to the scope of the quotation |
Worktop: Start with the Chemicals
The worktop is the most important part of a bench. The right choice is not the most expensive surface but the one that stands up to the work. Using different surfaces in different sections of one laboratory can improve both durability and budget.
| Worktop | Construction | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Compact laminate | High-pressure HPL phenolic resin, 12–20 mm | Physical and instrumental analysis, wet laboratories without heavy acid use |
| Corian | 12 mm Corian on 18 mm MDF, 30 mm | Microbiology laboratories |
| Stainless steel | 1.00 and 1.20 mm 316 AISI, 30 mm | Wet laboratories testing with perchloric acid, fume hoods |
| Polypropylene | One piece, 30 mm | Acid and solvent environments, usually wash benches with sinks |
| Industrial ceramic | To DIN EN 12916, 26 mm | Chemical analysis laboratories, fume hoods |
| Kalesinterflex | 5 mm porcelain plates laminated with epoxy and glass fibre | Benches where a porcelain surface is wanted |
Compare all the options on our worktops page. Test reports are available on request.
C-Frame, H-Frame and Plinth Benches
- C-frame: A C-type structure carries the load and the base cabinets are suspended or mobile. Suspended cabinets stay 180 mm above the floor, which keeps it easy to clean, and the back panel comes off for access to services.
- H-frame: Horizontal and vertical legs of 40 × 40 × 2 mm tube are bolted together on site; the base cabinets are lockable and mobile.
- Plinth: The base cabinets carry the worktop; a fixed solution with an 18 mm MDF carcass.
Because the systems are modular and demountable, benches can later be taken apart, moved, extended and added to, so the choice should take future changes in the laboratory into account as well as the initial price.
What to Check When Comparing Prices Per Metre
- Worktop: Are the material and thickness the same?
- Cabinets: Are base cabinets and drawers included, and how many?
- Services: Are sinks, fittings, sockets and service units in the scope?
- Pipework: Is there a 15–20 cm service void at the back, and who makes the connections?
- Installation: Are delivery and on-site installation included?
- Documents: Can a test report be provided for the worktop?
Information to Prepare for an Accurate Quotation
- Laboratory plan or sketch: wall dimensions, door and window positions
- Wall and island benches needed, with approximate lengths
- Seated or standing work (75 or 90 cm height)
- Chemicals to be used and processes to be carried out
- List and weights of the instruments that will stand on the benches
- Number of sinks; water, gas, vacuum and socket points
- Base cabinets, wall cabinets and shelving needed
- For public institutions, the technical specification or tender documents
With this information the KRCLAB technical team selects the right frame system and worktops, carries out a site survey if necessary and prepares an itemised quotation. If the benches are part of a new laboratory, see also how to set up a laboratory.
An Example from Our Projects
For the Nurol Teknoloji Quality Control Laboratory we went beyond standard island benches, designing mobile systems whose base cabinet modules can serve as transfer carts, along with benches tailored to mechanical test analyses. It shows how a bench can change with the users' workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are laboratory benches priced per metre?
- A price per metre gives only a rough idea. As worktop material, cabinets, sinks, fittings and service units change, two benches of the same length can differ noticeably in price.
- Which laboratory worktop is the most durable?
- No single surface suits every use. The chemicals and processes decide: stainless steel for wet areas working with perchloric acid, industrial ceramic for chemical analysis, polypropylene for wash benches with sinks, and Corian for microbiology.
- Does compact laminate resist acid?
- Compact laminate is used in physical and instrumental analysis laboratories and in wet laboratories without heavy acid use. Another surface should be considered where acids are used heavily.
- Can a bench be extended or moved later?
- Yes. Our benches are modular and fully demountable, so they can be taken apart, moved and extended, and new modules can be added.
- Why does KRCLAB not publish bench prices?
- Benches are made for each project and the price varies with the factors above, so a fixed list would mislead. We prepare an itemised quotation from your plan and list of requirements.
