The 8 Best Benchtop Centrifuges

Editor's Notes

March 08, 2021:

For various reasons, I’ve had to replace a lot of options on this list with alternatives from a range of different brands, most of them offering variable speeds of up to around 4,000 RPM, as well as timer functions. These features are pretty standard on benchtop analyzers nowadays, and most variations you’ll find are on capacity, design, display and additional features – the Parco Scientific Spinplus for instance has a short spin button. Obviously centripetal force – or apparent centrifugal force, typically labeled in multiples of ‘G’ – is another variation to consider, but, for the most part, a speed of 4,000 RPM will produce a force of around 1500xG, largely depending on the radius of the rotor, which, in the case of benchtop centrifuges, is usually a fixed-angle rotor with a 45-degree tilt.

Naturally, these low-speed benchtop centrifuges fall short of high-speed centrifuges which can generate speeds in excess of 25,000 RPM, and lack features like temperature control, though they’re fine for small-scale uses, like the separation of particles in the lab. One model I have decided to keep is the Bear BC-200R, because of its notably high-speed rating and force for a benchtop model, and I’ve also included the Oxford BenchMate C8-M, since we don’t have a separate list for micro centrifuges as of yet.

November 11, 2018:

Most consumers may find their selections to be guided by their specific needs regarding a particular speed setting, so while maximum speeds were taken into account, the degrees by which those speeds could be adjusted proved more important. Companies like Bear and Ample Scientific are among those with the most renown, but features like the LCD readout on the Elmi CM-7S pushed a few other brands up the list.