What Is Laboratory Casework? Types, Materials & Costs
A plain-English guide to lab casework: the five main types, how steel, wood, phenolic, stainless, polypropylene and laminate compare, what drives cost, and what to send for a quote.
What Is Laboratory Casework?
Short answer: laboratory casework is the built-in and modular cabinetry a lab is organized around: base cabinets, wall cabinets, tall storage and fume hood base cabinets, topped with a chemical-resistant work surface and fitted for sinks and services. It is engineered and tested for lab loads, chemicals and cleaning, which is what separates it from office or kitchen cabinets. Browse every system we supply on our Laboratory Casework hub.
People use “casework,” “lab cabinets” and “lab furniture” loosely, so it helps to draw the line. Lab furniture is the wider family: tables, workstations, seating, shelving, fume hoods and casework. Casework is the cabinet system inside that family. It usually runs along walls and through islands, carries the countertop, holds the plumbing and services, and stays in place for years. A freestanding table is furniture. A run of base cabinets with an epoxy top, a sink and a reagent shelf is casework.
What a casework package usually includes
- Base cabinets: drawer, door, combination, sink base, corner and knee space units. See base cabinets.
- Wall cabinets: solid or glass doors above the work surface. See wall cabinets.
- Tall storage: full height cabinets for supplies, glassware and equipment. See tall storage cabinets.
- Fume hood base cabinets: standard storage or vented acid and flammable storage under a hood. See laboratory safety cabinets.
- Work surfaces: epoxy resin, phenolic resin, stainless steel or laminate tops. See laboratory work surfaces.
- Completion items: filler panels, end panels, backsplashes, knee space enclosures, reagent shelves and service chases.
How lab casework is built differently
A lab cabinet has to hold instruments, survive spills and get wiped down with disinfectants every day. Lab-grade lines are built heavier than commercial cabinetry. For example, the painted steel casework we supply uses 18-gauge steel end panels and backs, 20-gauge shelves and internal parts, full-extension drawer slides rated to 100 lb and self-closing hinges rated past 150,000 cycles, with an electrostatic powder-coat finish (painted steel casework specs).
The industry reference is SEFA 8, the Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association’s recommended practices for laboratory casework. SEFA publishes separate documents by material (metal, wood, phenolic and polypropylene) covering load tests, hardware, construction and finish chemical resistance. Ask for SEFA 8 compliance in writing on every quote.
The 5 Main Types of Laboratory Casework
Most labs mix two or three of these. Pick a type for each zone by asking one question: how often will this part of the room change?
1. Fixed casework
Fixed casework is anchored to the floor or wall and set in continuous runs, with one countertop spanning several cabinets. It is the standard for perimeter walls, where sinks, drains, gas and electrical are already roughed in. Fixed runs give the most stable work surface and the cleanest, built-in look, and they usually cost the least per cabinet.
The trade-off is flexibility. Moving a fixed run means plumbing, electrical and countertop work. Use it where the function of the wall will not change for many years.
2. Mobile casework
Mobile cabinets sit on locking casters and roll under a table or bench. They let a team move storage to where the work is, open up knee space when a station is used seated, and pull cabinets out for cleaning. Mobile pedestals pair well with table-based and adaptable layouts.
Keep mobile units for storage, not for sinks or heavy instruments, and specify locking casters so a cabinet stays put when a drawer opens.
3. Adaptable (modular) casework
Adaptable systems use table frames, uprights, overhead shelving and service spines or carriers that bring power, data and gases to the bench. Cabinets hang from or roll under the frames, so a room can be re-arranged in hours or days instead of being renovated. Our modular casework page notes a typical 10 to 20 percent premium up front for modular systems, which is often recovered the first time the lab changes.
Adaptable layouts suit biotech start-ups, contract research, grant-funded university labs and leased space. The laboratory testing market keeps growing and changing, according to The Business Research Company’s market report, and that churn is the main reason owners ask for layouts that can move. Compare the two approaches on custom vs. modular casework.
4. Suspended casework
Suspended cabinets hang from a table frame or a wall rail instead of standing on the floor. The floor stays clear, which makes cleaning easier and leaves open knee space for seated work. Because the cabinets are not tied to the floor, they can be repositioned along the frame when the bench layout changes.
Suspended systems cost more than floor-standing casework, and the frame or wall must be rated for the load. They are common in clinical, instrument and data-entry zones.
5. Wall-mounted casework
Wall cabinets, open wall shelving and wall-strut systems put storage above the work surface. Glass doors make glassware and supplies easy to find; solid doors keep dust and light out. Standard wall cabinets on the steel lines we supply come in 12 or 15 inch depths and 30 or 36 inch heights.
Wall-mounted units need solid blocking or a strut in the wall, and they should never crowd the work surface below or block sightlines to a fume hood sash.
| Type | Best for | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed | Perimeter walls, sinks, plumbed and gas-fed stations | Hard and costly to relocate |
| Mobile | Flexible storage under tables, seated stations | Not for sinks or heavy instruments; lock the casters |
| Adaptable / modular | Research labs that change, leased space, CROs | Higher first cost; plan services to move with benches |
| Suspended | Clear floors, knee space, cleanability | Frame or wall must carry the load; higher cost |
| Wall-mounted | Glassware, supplies and reference storage above benches | Needs wall blocking; keep clear of hood sashes |
Laboratory Casework Materials Compared
Material decides how casework handles chemicals, water, heat and cleaning, and it is the biggest single driver of cost. Choose it zone by zone. Many labs use painted steel for general areas and a more resistant material only where the work demands it.
| Material | What it is | Strengths | Limits | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Painted steel | Cold-rolled steel with a baked powder-coat finish | Strong, widely specified, usually fastest to ship, lowest cost of the lab-grade metals | Finish can chip; continuous strong acids and wash-down call for something else | Teaching, clinical, QC, R&D, government labs |
| Wood | Hardwood veneers and solid frames with a catalyzed chemical-resistant finish | Warm, architectural look; quiet; repairable | Not for heavy wet chemistry, cleanrooms or strong solvents | Academic, executive, reference and calibration labs |
| Phenolic resin | Solid phenolic panels, the same material through the full thickness | Moisture impervious, broad chemical resistance, no coating to wear off | Some concentrated oxidizing acids attack it with long contact | Wet chemistry, biology, histology, water labs |
| Stainless steel | Welded 304 or 316 stainless, satin or electropolished | Cleanable, corrosion resistant, tolerates heat and disinfectants | Highest first cost; chlorides need 316 | Cleanrooms, pharma, clinical, food testing |
| Polypropylene | Metal-free welded polypropylene cabinets | Excellent acid and corrosive resistance; no metal to corrode | Not for high heat or open flame; lower load ratings | Acid storage, corrosive-duty bases, trace-metal work |
| Plastic laminate | High-pressure laminate over an engineered wood core | Low first cost, many colors, easy to clean | Core swells if water gets past edges; limited chemical resistance | Dry labs, instrument rooms, offices and clinics |
Relative cost, lowest to highest, usually runs plastic laminate, painted steel, wood or phenolic, then stainless steel, with polypropylene quoted as a specialty item. Exact pricing depends on the manufacturer, construction and quantity.
Painted steel casework
Painted steel is the default in most North American labs because it balances strength, chemical resistance and cost. The powder-coat finish handles everyday reagents and disinfectants, the cabinets carry heavy instruments, and standard sizes ship faster than any other lab-grade material. It is not the right call for continuous strong acid and base work, autoclave-level decontamination or ISO 5 cleanrooms. Details: steel lab casework.
Wood casework
Laboratory wood casework uses hardwood veneers, solid wood top frames and a catalyzed conversion varnish that resists alcohols, mild acids and common cleaners. It suits teaching and research rooms where the space should feel finished, and it pairs with steel in utility zones to control budget. Keep it away from heavy wet chemistry and cleanrooms. Details: wood lab casework.
Phenolic resin casework
Solid phenolic casework is made from layers of kraft paper saturated with phenolic resin and cured under heat and pressure, so every face, edge and interior surface has the same resistance. It will not swell, rust or delaminate, which makes it a strong choice for wet chemistry, microbiology, histology and water labs. Long contact with some concentrated oxidizing acids can still damage it. Details: phenolic lab casework.
Stainless steel casework
Stainless casework is welded from 304 or 316 stainless and finished with a #4 satin or electropolished surface. It stands up to disinfectants, heat, moisture and repeated decontamination, which is why it dominates cleanrooms, pharmaceutical, clinical and food testing labs. Specify 316 where chlorides or salt solutions are present. It costs more than painted steel but rarely needs replacing. Details: stainless steel lab casework.
Polypropylene and plastic laminate
Polypropylene casework is welded from solid polypropylene sheet with no exposed metal. It is the material of choice for acid and corrosive storage and for corrosive-duty base cabinets, and it is useful where metal contamination matters. It softens with heat, so keep it away from hot plates and open flame. See our polypropylene base cabinet project for an aerospace lab.
Plastic laminate casework puts a decorative laminate over an engineered wood core. It is economical and looks clean in dry labs, instrument rooms, nurse stations and offices. Water that gets past an edge swells the core, and the surface is not built for real chemical exposure, so it is a poor fit for wet benches. If your spec calls for laminate, tell us the room use and we will confirm whether it fits.
Choosing the Work Surface
The countertop takes the direct chemical, heat and impact exposure, so choose it separately from the cabinets.
- Epoxy resin: heavy chemistry, strong acids and bases, high heat, integral sinks.
- Phenolic resin: lighter and more economical; strong for biology and moderate chemistry.
- Stainless steel: clean processes, heat, wash-down and sterile work.
- Chemical-resistant laminate: light chemistry and dry work at a lower cost.
Compare them on our laboratory work surfaces page.
A good rule: match the top to the harshest thing that will be done at that station, and match the cabinets to the room. A biology lab might run phenolic tops on painted steel bases, with one epoxy-topped sink run for the harsher work.
What Drives Laboratory Casework Cost
There is no honest single price for “lab casework.” Two labs with the same square footage can land far apart because of what is inside the scope. These are the factors that move the number, roughly in order of impact. For current published ranges by material, see our lab casework cost and pricing guide.
Schedule matters as well. Standard sizes in common finishes cost less and ship faster than custom widths and colors, and production does not start until shop drawings are approved. Compliance items such as seismic anchorage, named-brand or “or equal” specifications (how we handle brand requirements) and submittal packages also belong in the budget.
Ways to control casework cost
- Use painted steel for general areas and save stainless, phenolic or polypropylene for the zones that need it.
- Standardize cabinet widths and finishes to avoid custom fabrication.
- Compare quotes line by line: cabinets, tops, freight and installation should each be visible.
- Settle the layout before ordering; changes after shop drawings are approved cost time and money.
- Phase large projects across budget cycles when the building schedule allows.
Installation is quoted as its own line. See casework installation for what is included.
How to Choose and Quote Laboratory Casework
List the work at each station
Chemicals, heat, water, instruments, seated or standing, and how often it changes.
Pick a type per zone
Fixed for plumbed walls, adaptable or mobile where the layout will change.
Choose materials and tops
Match the cabinet to the room and the top to the harshest task at that bench.
Lay out the room
Aisles, sink and hood locations, utilities, ADA heights and knee spaces.
Approve shop drawings
Production starts after approval, so a quick review protects the date.
Deliver and install
Confirm access, sequencing with trades and who handles final connections.
What to send for a casework quote
- A floor plan, sketch or room dimensions, including ceiling height and door and elevator sizes.
- Cabinet counts by type, or linear feet of base and wall cabinets.
- Material and finish preference by area, and the work surface you want.
- Sinks, faucets, gas, vacuum and electrical needs at each run.
- Any fume hoods, safety cabinets or equipment the casework must fit around.
- Specifications, named brands or approved equals, and any seismic requirements.
- Delivery address, install window, and whether you need installation.
Not sure where to start? Upload a drawing to our free lab floor plan review, size a run with the base cabinet designer, or request casework Revit and CAD files for your architect. Specification details are on laboratory casework specifications.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing one material for the whole lab instead of by zone.
- Comparing a bundled quote with an unbundled one.
- Forgetting completion items such as filler panels and knee space enclosures.
- Ordering before utilities, hood locations and ADA stations are settled.
- Leaving the shop drawing review to the last week.
Laboratory Casework Systems at Labs USA
Labs USA designs and supplies laboratory casework in every material on this page, coordinates shop drawings and submittals, and can manage installation. Start on the Laboratory Casework hub, or jump to a system:
Shop Lab Acid and Flammable Safety Cabinets
Related products, not the casework described above. Casework, countertops and sinks are quoted per project. These acid and flammable safety cabinets from our online store sit beside or within casework runs. Call (801) 855-8560 for casework.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is laboratory casework?
Laboratory casework is the system of base cabinets, wall cabinets, tall storage and fume hood base cabinets that a lab is built around, finished with a chemical-resistant work surface and fitted for sinks and services. It is engineered and tested for lab loads, chemicals and cleaning, usually to SEFA 8 recommended practices.
What is the difference between lab casework and lab furniture?
Lab furniture is the whole category, including tables, workstations, seating, shelving and fume hoods. Casework is the cabinet system within it: the runs of base and wall cabinets that carry countertops, sinks and services and usually stay in place for years.
What are the main types of laboratory casework?
The five main types are fixed casework anchored in continuous runs, mobile cabinets on casters, adaptable or modular systems built on frames and service spines, suspended cabinets hung from a frame or wall rail, and wall-mounted cabinets and shelving above the work surface.
What is the most common laboratory casework material?
Painted steel is the most widely specified because it balances strength, chemical resistance, cost and lead time. Stainless steel, phenolic resin, wood, polypropylene and plastic laminate are chosen when a room’s chemicals, moisture, cleaning or appearance call for them.
What is SEFA 8?
SEFA 8 is the set of recommended practices for laboratory casework published by the Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association. It has separate documents by material, such as metal, wood, phenolic and polypropylene, covering load testing, construction, hardware and finish chemical resistance.
How much does laboratory casework cost?
Cost depends on material, linear footage, the mix of drawers and doors, work surfaces and sinks, services, completion items, freight and installation. Labs USA publishes current ranges in its lab casework cost and pricing guide and provides a free project-specific quote.
How long does it take to get lab casework?
Standard painted steel configurations usually ship fastest, while wood, phenolic and stainless take longer, and custom sizes add time. Production starts after shop drawings are approved, so a fast review protects the schedule. Your quote confirms the lead time for your project.
Does Labs USA install laboratory casework?
Yes. Labs USA manages delivery coordination, installation, leveling and anchoring with factory-trained installers, and quotes installation as a separate line so it can be included or excluded. Call (801) 855-8560 to discuss your project.
Plan Your Laboratory Casework With Labs USA
Send a floor plan or a sketch and we will recommend types, materials and work surfaces for each zone, with a line-item quote. Call (801) 855-8560.
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