How Much Does a Centrifuge Cost? (2026 Price Guide)

A centrifuge can cost less than $300 or more than $200,000. The price depends almost entirely on how fast it spins, whether it's refrigerated, what rotors it takes, and who it's built and certified for. Below are real published prices for each type (checked November 4, 2026), what pushes the price up, and how to avoid paying for capability you won't use.

Centrifuge prices by type

Prices are the listed prices on each seller's page on November 4, 2026. They change often, and institutional buyers frequently get quoted discounts, so treat them as reference points, not quotes.

What drives the price

• Speed and g-force. A clinical centrifuge spinning a few thousand RPM is simple; tens of thousands of RPM needs stronger rotors, tighter balancing and vacuum chambers (ultracentrifuges).
• Refrigeration. Spinning generates heat. Keeping samples at 4 °C needs a compressor, and that alone moves a microcentrifuge from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
• Rotors and capacity. Swing-out (horizontal) rotors, larger tube sizes and more places cost more. Extra rotors and adapters are often sold separately.
• Medical and regulatory use. Devices sold for clinical diagnostics or patient treatment carry certification, validation and support costs.
• Safety and control features. Imbalance detection, lid locks, programmable runs, RCF display and quiet brushless motors add cost, and they're worth having.
• Brand, service and warranty. Big-name instruments include service networks and longer support lifecycles.

How to avoid overpaying

1. Start from the g-force your protocol needs, not RPM. RCF depends on the rotor radius; convert with our RPM to RCF calculator.
2. Match tube size and count to your real batches. Buying 24 places for a 6-tube workflow wastes money and bench space.
3. Only pay for refrigeration if your samples need it. Blood separation and most routine spins run fine at room temperature.
4. Check what's included: rotor, tube adapters, warranty length and who services it.

Where Fristaden Lab centrifuges fit

Our two benchtop centrifuges sit at the entry level of the clinical/benchtop category:

• The LC-6 Clinical Centrifuge ($280) spins 500–5000 RPM in 100 RPM steps, up to 3074 × g, with six 15 mL tubes.
• The PRP Benchtop Centrifuge ($299) holds up to 8 tubes at 300–5000 RPM, with a quiet brushless motor, timer and LCD.

Both ship free in the continental US with a 1-year warranty. They're a good fit for teaching labs, small clinics' routine separations and sample prep. If you need refrigeration, high-speed microtube work or a device certified for a specific clinical procedure, you need a different class of instrument. If you're preparing PRP for patient treatment, check which devices and kits are approved for that use where you practice. Compare our models on the centrifuges page.

FAQ

Is a used centrifuge worth it?
For simple clinical models, often yes, if it spins smoothly, the lid lock works and the rotor isn't corroded. For high-speed and ultracentrifuges, rotor age and service history matter a lot: rotors have rated lifetimes, so ask for records.

What's the difference between RPM and RCF?
RPM is how fast the rotor turns; RCF (× g) is the force on the sample, which also depends on the rotor radius. Protocols should specify RCF. See the lab equipment glossary.

Do I need a separate centrifuge for PRP?
Many PRP protocols run on general benchtop centrifuges with the right tubes and settings, but follow the protocol and kit maker's instructions for g-force and time.

Sources

Prices checked November 4, 2026: Benchmark myFuge (pipette.com); VWR mini centrifuge (Fisher Scientific); LW Scientific PRP & clinical centrifuges; Drucker Diagnostics centrifuges; Eppendorf 5425 R (USA Scientific); Beckman Optima XPN-80 (Genesee Scientific).