Science Lab Tables for Schools
Student lab tables for chemistry, biology, physics and general science rooms: fixed, mobile and adjustable, with epoxy, phenolic or laminate tops. Labs USA plans, supplies and installs them nationwide.
Lab Tables Built for School Science Rooms
Science lab tables take more abuse than any other furniture in a school. They hold hot plates, spilled acids, dissection trays and a new group of students every period. A table that is right for a biology room may be wrong for chemistry, and a middle school general science room needs something different again.
This page covers the tables themselves: types, sizes, top materials, accessible stations and care. For the cabinets, sinks and teacher demo desk that line the walls, see our science lab casework for schools. Both are part of our laboratory tables and workstations range, and Labs USA quotes, supplies and installs school lab tables nationwide.
Types of Science Lab Tables
Most school science rooms combine two or three of these table types.
Fixed or mobile? Fixed tables suit rooms where each station needs water or gas, because services cannot follow a moving table. Mobile tables suit rooms where services run along the perimeter casework and students carry work back to the middle of the room. Many new rooms use both: perimeter sinks and gas, with mobile lab tables in the center. Our guide to mobile lab tables for teaching labs shows common cluster layouts.
Adjustable tables help shared rooms used by different grades. See adjustable lab tables for crank and motorized options.
Sizes, Heights and Students per Table
Size the tables from the class, not from the room. NSTA, the national science teachers association, says science classes of more than 24 students cannot be safely supervised by one teacher (NSTA position statement). Building codes also figure lab occupancy at one person per 50 net square feet, compared with 20 for a regular classroom (NSTA on lab occupancy). Plan tables, aisles and safety equipment for that load.
- Two-student tables give each student a defined work area and make supervision easier
- Four-student tables or islands suit group labs and save floor space, but need more depth
- Seated height (about 30 inches) works with chairs; stool height (about 36 inches) lets students stand or sit on lab stools
- Leave clear aisles to exits, eyewash and the teacher’s view of every station
- Book compartments or a lower shelf keep backpacks and binders off the floor and off the work surface
Send us the class size and room plan, and we will lay out the tables before you order. Our lab table and bench configurator is a quick way to rough out sizes first.
Science Lab Table Tops: Epoxy, Phenolic or Laminate
The top decides how long a science table lasts. Match it to the chemistry taught in the room.
| Top | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Epoxy resin | High school chemistry, AP chemistry | Heaviest top with the best heat resistance; the classic black lab table |
| Phenolic resin | Chemistry, biology, physics | Strong chemical resistance, lighter than epoxy, good on mobile tables |
| Chemical-resistant laminate | Middle school and general science | Lower cost; fine for mild chemicals, less tolerant of heat and strong acids |
Epoxy resin tops are cast as one solid, non-porous slab. Teclab, an epoxy top maker, describes them as relatively unaffected by most chemicals, heat, flame and moisture (Teclab epoxy care guide). See our epoxy resin lab tables.
Phenolic resin tops are layered paper and resin pressed into a dense panel. They resist most chemicals, weigh less than epoxy and do well on tables that move.
Laminate tops keep middle school budgets in check where students use dilute solutions. Compare every option on our countertop options page.
Accessible Science Lab Tables
Every science room needs at least one accessible station. For work surfaces used by students and other non-employees, the 2010 ADA Standards require at least 5 percent to be accessible (ADA section 226.1).
- Work surface height 28 to 34 inches above the floor (ADA 902.3)
- Knee clearance at least 27 inches high and 30 inches wide (ADA 306.3)
- Knee and toe space deep enough for a forward approach (ADA 306)
- Controls, faucets and gas valves within reach from a seated position
The ADA lists student laboratory stations as an example of a work surface (ADA section 902), with clearance rules in ADA chapter 3. An adjustable-height table or a fixed table at the lower height, placed close to a sink and the exit, meets most school needs.
Cleaning and Refinishing Science Lab Tables
Care depends on the top. Both epoxy and phenolic makers recommend regular cleaning plus periodic inspections, with extra attention around sinks, where wet glassware and residue sit longest (Teclab).
- Wipe up spills promptly, especially chemicals and hard water
- Clean daily with mild soap and water, rinse with clear water and dry
- Use isopropyl alcohol or acetone on stubborn marks where school rules allow
- Never use abrasive pads, powders or wax on resin tops; they dull the surface
- Restore the sheen on black tops with a thin coat of mineral oil, then buff off the excess
The care steps for phenolic come from a published Trespa care guide (phenolic top care). Our guide to cleaning epoxy lab countertops has more detail. If a top is burned, gouged or cracked, replacing the top on the existing frame usually costs less than a new table.
Planning and Ordering School Lab Tables
Schools usually buy lab tables during a renovation, a new wing or a summer refresh. Bring these to the first call:
- Rooms, subjects and grade levels, with class sizes
- Floor plans or photos showing doors, windows, sinks and floor outlets
- Which tables need sinks, gas or power, and which can be mobile
- Accessibility needs and preferred seating (chairs or stools)
- Bid, purchasing and install window, such as summer break
How Labs USA Supplies School Lab Tables
Share the Rooms
Tell us the grade levels, subjects, class sizes and which rooms need water or gas at the tables.
Plan the Layout
We lay out student tables, accessible stations and aisles with your casework and safety gear.
Choose Tops and Frames
We match each room to epoxy, phenolic or laminate and fixed, mobile or adjustable frames.
Deliver and Install
We schedule delivery around the school calendar and set and level every table.
See the tables and casework we supplied for a university teaching lab at Weber State, and our university lab furniture page for college projects. For background reading, our science lab tables guide explains materials in more depth. Call (801) 855-8560 for a layout and quote.
Shop Science Room Workbenches and Chemical Storage
Related products, not science lab tables. A steel workbench for prep and maker rooms, plus acid and flammable storage for chemistry classrooms. Student lab tables are quoted per project. Call (801) 855-8560.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your lab, the equipment you need and your timeline. A Labs USA specialist will follow up with options and pricing. Prefer to talk? Call (801) 855-8560.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are science lab tables made of?
Most have a steel or hardwood frame and a chemical-resistant top. Tops are usually epoxy resin, phenolic resin or chemical-resistant laminate, chosen by the chemicals used in the room.
How do you clean black science lab tables?
Wipe spills right away, then wash with mild soap and water, rinse and dry. Avoid abrasive pads and wax. A thin coat of mineral oil, buffed off, restores the dark finish.
Can science lab tables be refinished?
Light marks on resin tops can often be cleaned or oiled out. Burned, gouged or cracked tops are usually replaced, and the new top can go on the existing frame.
How many students should sit at a science lab table?
Two-student tables are the most common in high schools. Four-student tables suit group work. NSTA advises no more than 24 students per teacher in a science class.
What height should a science lab table be?
About 30 inches for seated work with chairs or about 36 inches for stools. Accessible stations must have a work surface 28 to 34 inches high.
Does Labs USA supply science lab tables for schools nationwide?
Yes. Labs USA is based in Salt Lake City and quotes, supplies and installs science lab tables for K-12 schools and colleges across the United States.
Planning new science lab tables?
Send your rooms, subjects and class sizes. We will lay out the tables, recommend tops and frames, and quote supply and installation anywhere in the US.
Get a Free Quote Call (801) 855-8560