An incubator is one of those pieces of lab kit where buying used makes obvious sense. The technology has barely changed in twenty years, the units are built to run continuously for a decade, and a new one costs several times what a good ex-hospital unit does. The catch is that "incubator" covers at least four different machines, and buying the wrong one is an expensive mistake.
This guide explains the differences in plain terms, gives real prices from stock we hold at the time of writing, and lists what to actually check.
The four things people mean by "incubator"
1. CO2 incubator (cell culture)
Holds 37°C, high humidity, and a controlled CO2 concentration — usually 5%. This is what you need for mammalian cell culture. It is the most expensive type, because of the CO2 control and the sensor.
In stock: Binder CB 53 CO2 Incubator — £1,150.
2. Heated / fan incubator (microbiology)
Temperature control only, no CO2, no added humidity. Fine for bacterial culture, plate incubation, and general warming work. Much cheaper, and often all a teaching or QC lab actually needs.
In stock: QED GP/100/W 100L digital incubator / lab oven — £350, and a Gallenkamp Economy Fan Incubator Size 1 — £400.
3. Heating cabinet / drying oven
Higher temperature range, no humidity control. Used for drying glassware, sterilising by dry heat, and materials work. Often sold interchangeably with incubators, which causes confusion.
In stock: Thermo Heraeus B6030 heating cabinet — £1,120.
4. Shaking incubator / thermoshaker
Combines heating with orbital shaking, for liquid culture and sample mixing.
In stock: Algaetron AG 230 orbital shaking incubator — £5,000, and a benchtop VWR Peqlab Thriller Peltier thermoshaker — £200.
What to check before buying used
- Does it hold temperature, not just reach it? Reaching 37°C is easy. Holding it evenly across the chamber for days is what separates a good unit from a tired one. Ask for a run-up test.
- Door seals. Perished seals are the most common fault on an older incubator and the most common cause of drift. They are usually replaceable and cheap — but you want to know before, not after.
- CO2 sensor type (CO2 units only). Infrared sensors are more stable and need less recalibration than thermal conductivity sensors. Either can be fine; the sensor age matters more than the type.
- Shelving. Shelves and racks go missing between decommissioning and sale far more often than you would expect. Confirm what is included.
- Calibration. Used units are sold as-is unless stated. Budget for a calibration once it is on your bench if the work is regulated.
What you should expect to pay
As a rough guide from current UK used stock:
- Benchtop thermoshaker: £150–£400
- Fan / microbiology incubator: £300–£600
- Heating cabinet or drying oven: £600–£1,500
- CO2 incubator: £900–£2,500 depending on age and sensor
- Shaking incubator with a large chamber: £2,000+
Every unit we sell is a single physical item, so these are the real prices of real machines rather than a price list. When one sells it is gone.
Buying for an NHS trust, university or private lab
We supply NHS trusts, universities and independent laboratories. Purchase orders are accepted, quotes and pro-forma invoices are available on request, and a full VAT invoice is supplied with every order. If you need a unit before a year-end deadline, tell us the date and we will confirm what is realistic.