This category covers conical centrifuge tubes, mostly in the standard 15 mL and 50 mL sizes, plus 10, 25 and 30 mL options. Nearly all are polypropylene with flat screw caps and come sterile or non-sterile, packed in racks, re-sealable bags or bulk bags. You will also find self-standing (skirted) 50 mL tubes, tubes with printed graduations and writing areas, metal-free tubes for trace analysis, amber tubes for light-sensitive samples, centrifuge tube filters, and caps or tubes sold separately. Products come from CELLTREAT, MTC Bio, Globe Scientific, Biologix, Labcon and others.
Start with volume and outside dimensions, which must fit your rotor or adapter; listings give sizes such as 17 x 118 mm for 15 mL and 29 x 115 mm for 50 mL. Choose sterile tubes for cell culture and sample work, and non-sterile bulk packs for general use. Decide between conical and self-standing bottoms, check the maximum RCF rating against your run speed, and compare the pack format, since racks are easier to handle and bags take less space.
15 and 50 ML Centrifuge Tubes: common questions
What are the dimensions of a 15 mL centrifuge tube?
Most 15 mL conical tubes are about 17 mm in outside diameter and roughly 118 to 120 mm long with the cap, and several listings in this category give 17 x 118 mm or 17 x 120 mm. A 50 mL conical tube is typically about 29 to 30 mm wide and 114 to 115 mm long. Dimensions vary slightly by manufacturer, so check the listing against your rotor buckets or adapters before ordering.
Are polypropylene centrifuge tubes better than polystyrene?
For most centrifuge work, yes. Polypropylene withstands higher centrifugal force and resists many organic solvents better than polystyrene, which is why it is the usual material for conical tubes. Polystyrene is clearer, which helps when you need to see small pellets or color changes, but it cracks more easily and is attacked by solvents such as acetone and chloroform. Always check the manufacturer's maximum RCF rating for the specific tube.
Should I buy sterile or non-sterile centrifuge tubes?
Use sterile tubes for cell culture, microbiology and any work where contamination would affect results, such as cell pellets or clinical samples. Non-sterile tubes are fine for buffer preparation, chemical samples and general storage, and they usually cost less per tube. Sterile tubes are often certified free of DNase, RNase and pyrogens, but confirm this on the individual product listing if your application needs it.
Can I return centrifuge tubes ordered from LPS?
Returns are accepted within 30 days by mail, with the customer paying return shipping. Sterile items are an exception and cannot be returned, which covers many of the tubes in this category, so confirm size, cap style and sterility before ordering. For large or repeat orders you can request volume pricing through the Contact Us page.
KIMAX Centrifuge Tube For determining the solubility index of dry milk solids or whey products. KIMAX tube with standard taper. Calibrated to contain. Black ceramic enamel graduations. Beaded top. Length: 133mm. Diameter: 29mm. Maximum RCF: 3500g. Top is beaded for strength. (12 per CS )
Manufactured from FDA approved resin – premium polypropylene for clarity and centrifugal strength. Packaged and certified RNase-, DNase-, Human DNA-, Endotoxin-, PCR Inhibitor, Lubricant and Pyrogen-, heavy metals- and additive-free. Manufactured in a fully automatic, human touch-free plant with class 100K clean room facility grading. Can be centrifuged at up to 17,000 x g. Capable of withstanding temperatures from – 80 to +121 degrees Celsius. Fits all standard and high capacity centrifuge rotors. Supplied in double safety self-standing bulk bags and eco-friendly racks – 15 mL and 50 mL tubes are available individually wrapped, racked or bagged. (500 per CS )
Assorted color cap tubes allow easily color coding of samples for quick identification, customization, and increased productivity Users report coding each color to a day of the week, a member of the lab, or a specific procedure Each case of assorted color tubes (230411A and 230421A) comes with a free plastic rack, and 4 bags of each individual color (red, yellow, green, blue, purple) Graduations are printed in bold, easy-to-read black ink and are accurate to +/-2% Large white marking area provides excellent contrast for identification Easy to write on flat surface polyethylene (HDPE) caps feature integrated leak-proof seal Tubes include graduations molded into the conical bottom, ideal for pellet viewing and small volume quantification Convenient zip-closure bag is a practical alternative to folding and taping opened bags Plastic rack is manufactured from polypropylene and is autoclavable, reusable, and recyclable Chemically resistant to drips Design of bottom prevents racks from sticking/freezing to surfaces Widely spaced design catches drips and allows tubes to be retrieved more easily (500 per CS)
Tubes Centrifuge Heavy Duty with Screw Cap Capacity (mL) 35. O.D. and Length (mm) 29 x 100. GPI Thread Finish 24-410 KIMAX tube with a heavy wall to withstand higher speeds in centrifuging. Especially useful in separating neutralized sediment for culturing from specimens of sputum. (12 per CS )
Tubes Centrifuge Graduated Heavy-Duty Cap. (mL) 12. Subdiv. (mL) 0.1. Tolerance (mL) 0 to 0.2 - 0.05Above 0.2 to 1 - 0.10Above 1 to 3 - 0.15Above 3 - 0.20. O.D. and Length (mm) 17 x 118 Standard taper KIMAX tube is a heavy-duty version of 45165. (12 per CS )
Centrifuge Tube and Rack sets are a convenient solution for organizing and storing Conical Bottom tubes. Racks are made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and include holes arranged in a zigzag format for easy dispensing. Racks contain 50 of the 15ml tubes or (500 per PK )
KIMAX Conical Centrifuge Tube 15ml borosilicate glass conical-bottom tube. Beaded rim for extra strength. White ceramic enamel scale legend and marking spot. Graduated in 0.1ml increments. Length: 118mm. Diameter: 17mm. Maximum RCF: 2980g. (12 per CS )
Tubes Centrifuge Graduated Capacity (mL) 50. Subdivision (mL) 0-10 in 0.5 Above 2 to 10- 0.3. Tolerance (mL) 0 to 2 - 0.2Above 2 to 10 - 0.3 Above 10 - 0.5. O.D. and Length (mm) 29 x 118 KIMAX tube with a short tapered bottom. Graduated and calibrated to contain. Top end has a pour spout. (12 per CS )
Tubes Centrifuge Graduated Hopkins Vaccine Capacity (mL) 10. Tolerance Stem 0.0025. Tolerance Body 0.20. O.D. and Length (mm) 17 x 119 KIMAX tube used to standardize vaccines. The stem is graduated at 0.01 mL to 0.05 mL in 0.01 mL subdivisions and the body has graduations at 1 5 and 10 mL.
ProSeries™ High Performance Centrifuge Tubes, 50mL, 20,000xg max RCF, sterile, w/ Hi-Viz Graduations and FreezeTech Temperature Indicator Patch, 20 eco-plastic racks of 25 tubes, 500/cs (500 per CS )