A laboratory incubator maintains a stable, controlled environment — primarily temperature — so cultures and samples develop consistently. An incubator shaker combines that controlled environment with orbital agitation, keeping cells suspended and improving aeration for faster, more uniform growth. Both are staples in microbiology, cell culture, and molecular labs, and the right choice depends on your organisms, protocols, and throughput.
Incubator vs. incubator shaker
A static incubator is ideal for plates, agar, and applications that don't require mixing. An incubator shaker is the tool of choice for liquid cultures in flasks, where continuous motion increases oxygen transfer and prevents cells from settling. Many labs keep both, or choose a stackable shaker to conserve bench space.
Key factors to consider
- Temperature range and uniformity: Most work sits between ambient +5°C and 60–80°C. Just as important as range is uniformity — stable, even temperature across every shelf so results don't depend on shelf position.
- Capacity: Match chamber volume, shelf count, and (for shakers) platform size to your flask and plate load, with room to grow.
- Shaking speed and orbit (for shakers): Adjustable speed and an orbit diameter suited to your flask sizes drive good aeration without splashing.
- Refrigerated or CO2 options: Refrigerated incubators handle sub-ambient work; CO2 incubators maintain the humidity and gas levels mammalian cell culture requires.
- Controls and safety: Digital setpoints, timers, over-temperature protection, and alarms make runs repeatable and protect valuable samples.
Practical considerations
Think about door design (solid vs. viewing window), interior finish for easy cleaning and contamination control, and whether a stackable footprint helps your bench layout. For shakers, secure clamps or a non-slip mat keep flasks stable at higher speeds. Consistent temperature and gentle, even motion are what ultimately deliver reproducible cultures.
Browse our Laboratory Incubators and Incubator Shakers to find a model sized for your workflow.