Custom Lab Tables for Princeton University

Adjustable, mobile, chemical-resistant lab tables built to your dimensions — with the epoxy, phenolic or stainless work surface that matches your chemistry, and the casework, shelving and fume hoods to finish the room.

Custom lab table with a large black chemical-resistant work surface on white base cabinets in a university research laboratory

24″ × 48″

Standard table footprint

30″ deep

Optional for larger equipment

3 work surfaces

Epoxy, phenolic & stainless

~6 days

Epoxy/phenolic tops after approval

Lab Tables Built Around the Way You Work

Work SurfacesTable FeaturesCasework OptionsWho We Build ForPast ProjectsOrdering & Lead TimesFAQs
Custom laboratory island bench with a black work surface and analytical instruments in a working research lab
A custom laboratory island bench with a black work surface in a working research lab

Setting up or refitting a laboratory means getting the work surface right, then building a table around it that fits the room, the equipment and the people using it. Material Handling USA designs and supplies custom laboratory tables and casework for university, research, medical and industrial labs — adjustable, mobile, and made to your dimensions rather than pulled off a fixed size chart.

Whether you are outfitting a new teaching lab, adding benches to a research group, or replacing tired furniture in an existing space, the questions are the same: what does the surface have to survive, how much can you move things around, and how do power, storage and shelving reach the point of use. This page walks through each of those decisions, shows real labs we have built, and points you to the tools to lay out your own.

Custom does not mean slow or complicated. Standard tables start at 24″ × 48″ and scale from there; work tops are chosen from three proven materials; and epoxy or phenolic tops are typically fabricated within about six days of approved drawings.

Planning a lab table or a full lab fit-out?

Send us the room, the equipment and the work you do, and our Furniture Specialists will come back with a surface recommendation, a layout and a real lead time.

Request a Quote Design Your Bench Call (800) 326-4403

Choosing the Work Surface: Epoxy vs. Phenolic vs. Stainless Steel

The single most important decision in a lab table is the top. Most modern labs converge on three proven materials, and the right one depends on what the surface has to handle in a normal week — and what it has to survive when something goes wrong. The industry benchmark for evaluating work surfaces is SEFA 3, the Scientific Equipment and Furniture Association standard for laboratory work surfaces, which screens for chemical, heat and impact resistance.

Work surface What it is Chemical resistance Heat resistance Best fit
Epoxy resin Monolithic, non-porous slab (resin + silica, oven-cured). The performance benchmark for aggressive wet chemistry. Excellent — concentrated acids, bases, most solvents and repeated disinfection High; supports hot glassware and hotplate-adjacent work within spec Heavy-use wet chemistry, fume-hood and sink runs, teaching chemistry benches
Phenolic resin High-pressure laminate of kraft paper saturated with phenolic resin, cured under heat and pressure. Thinner and lighter than epoxy. Broad resistance for routine acids, bases, alcohols and buffers Moderate; not for sustained high heat (will ignite under prolonged flame) Teaching, biology and general-purpose benches; mobile tables where weight matters
Stainless steel (304 / 316) Non-porous metal work surface, often with an integral welded sink. Autoclave- and heat-compatible. Good, but can pit with chlorides and harsh oxidizing acids Very high; tolerates sterilization and hot equipment Cleanrooms, pharmaceutical, sterile prep and wash-down rooms
Close view of a black epoxy resin laboratory work surface with an integral molded sink and gooseneck fixture
Close view of a black epoxy resin work surface with an integral molded sink

Epoxy resin — the performance benchmark

Epoxy resin is cast as a dense, monolithic slab and cured hard, so it is non-porous all the way through: a deep scratch does not expose a weaker layer underneath. It handles many concentrated acids — including sulfuric, hydrochloric and nitric — strong bases, common solvents and repeated disinfection, with good impact and scratch resistance and short-term heat tolerance for hot glassware. Because it is heavy, the table framing has to be built to carry it, which is part of why a custom table matters.

University chemistry laboratory with perimeter casework, black phenolic work surfaces and mobile tables
University chemistry laboratory with black phenolic work surfaces and mobile tables

Phenolic resin — the versatile all-rounder

Phenolic resin is a high-pressure laminate: layers of kraft paper saturated with phenolic resin and cured under heat and pressure. It is thinner and lighter than epoxy, which makes it a natural fit for mobile tables and long bench runs, and it costs less. It resists moisture and a broad range of routine acids, bases and alcohols, and it is non-conductive and flame-resistant. It withstands constant heat up to roughly 350°F, but it is not flame-retardant — sustained high heat will eventually ignite it — so it is not the surface for a dedicated high-heat station.

Stainless steel laboratory casework with an integral sink, counters and mobile carts
Stainless steel laboratory casework with an integral sink and counters

Stainless steel — for sterility and wash-down

Stainless steel (typically Type 304, or 316 for tougher exposures) is non-porous, autoclave- and heat-compatible, and the easiest surface to decontaminate quickly, which is why it dominates cleanrooms, pharmaceutical prep and sterile procedure rooms. Its one caution is chemistry: repeated exposure to chlorides and harsh oxidizing acids can pit the surface, so it is chosen where hygiene and rapid wipe-down — not aggressive acid work — drive the room.

Which one for your lab?

A quick rule that holds up in real projects: epoxy for the toughest chemical and heat work, phenolic for balanced, cost-conscious general and teaching benches, and stainless where sanitation and sterility come first. The prior version of this page called stainless the default; in practice the best result comes from matching the surface to the application first, then the budget. We also offer chemically resistant plastic laminate and hardwood tops, with custom depths, edge details, backsplashes and cutouts — samples and full specifications on request.

What Makes These Lab Tables “Custom”

Once the surface is set, the table is built around your workflow. These are the options that turn a flat top into a workstation that fits the room and adapts as the research changes.

Two custom lab tables in different sizes with black work tops and painted steel frames on locking castersBuilt to Your DimensionsThe standard table is 24″ × 48″, with an option to increase the depth to 30″ so larger instruments, incubators and analyzers sit fully on the surface. Lengths, leg heights and overhangs are made to your floor plan rather than a fixed catalog size.
Mobile laboratory work tables on locking casters arranged under a row of ceiling lightsMobile on Locking CastersHeavy-duty casters let a table be repositioned for a new experiment or rolled out of the way for cleaning, then locked so it stays put in use. It is the difference between a fixed bench and a lab you can reconfigure as the work changes.
Laboratory bench with a black work surface, computer and integrated power at the wallIntegrated Power & DataTables can be pre-wired with outlets and data so equipment plugs in at the point of use instead of trailing cords across the floor. Fewer cords is both a safety improvement and a cleaner bench.
Laboratory bench with a black work surface and an adjustable overhead reagent shelfAdjustable & Removable ShelvesUpper reagent shelves and lower storage adjust or come off entirely, so a single table can hold glassware today and clear to an open surface for a large instrument tomorrow.
Row of full-height laboratory storage cabinets, one open to show reagent bottlesSuspended & Mobile CabinetsAdd drawer and cabinet units suspended under the top or as standalone mobile pedestals for tools, consumables and PPE — storage that follows the workflow instead of a fixed cabinet run.
Black-topped laboratory island tables with task chairs and overhead cabinetsIslands & Shared WorkstationsThe same table system builds two-sided islands and shared workstations for group teaching and multi-user research, with power and shelving down the spine.
  • Standard 24″ × 48″ footprint, with an option to go 30″ deep for larger equipment
  • Adjustable height for seated or standing work
  • Heavy-duty locking casters for mobility, or leveling feet for a fixed bench
  • Pre-wired power and data at the point of use
  • Adjustable and fully removable reagent shelves
  • Suspended or standalone mobile cabinets and drawer pedestals
  • Scratch-resistant, easy-to-sanitize work surfaces that withstand 70% ethanol and bleach

Configure a bench in minutes

Set the size, surface, shelving and storage in our free Lab Bench Designer, or plan the whole room in the Lab Layout Designer, then send it to our team for a quote.

Open the Lab Bench Designer Plan the Whole Room Call (800) 326-4403

Casework to Finish the Room

Tables rarely stand alone. We supply full laboratory casework in four families, all built to SEFA 8, the association standard for laboratory casework, so the base and wall cabinets around your tables match the same durability and chemical-resistance expectations as the work surfaces.

Laboratory wood veneer casework with black epoxy resin work surfaces and integral sinksWood Veneer CaseworkHand-selected premium-grade veneers with chemically resistant finishes and FSC-certified wood, in a modular design. Warm, durable and a common choice for university and research labs. Applications: university labs, research facilities, pharmaceutical labs.
University laboratory with painted steel casework, gray base cabinets and black work surfacesPainted Steel CaseworkRecycled-steel cabinets with a urethane powder-coat finish for superior chemical and abrasion resistance, built to SEFA 8 and offered in an inset, modular design. Applications: research labs, medical facilities, universities.
Laboratory with stainless steel and black work surfaces, casework and a fume hoodStainless Steel CaseworkType-304 stainless with a #4 finish and full-extension drawer suspension, SEFA 8 compliant — the choice where sanitation and sterilization drive the room. Applications: operating rooms, clinical labs, healthcare facilities.
Research laboratory with wood casework, black phenolic work surfaces and reagent shelvingPhenolic CaseworkAcid- and moisture-resistant, impact-resistant, virtually maintenance-free with a black core — built for wet areas where corrosion or rust is a concern. Applications: chemical labs, healthcare facilities, research labs.

Who We Build Lab Tables For

The same table and casework system covers a wide range of laboratories. What changes between them is the work surface, the cleaning regime and how much the room needs to reconfigure — not the underlying system.

Bright university teaching laboratory with glassware shelving, casework and student benchesUniversity & Teaching LabsStudent benches, two-sided islands and instructor stations that take daily abuse and reconfigure between courses. See how we approach a university build on our lab for a university page.
Research laboratory bench run with black work surfaces, wall casework and a workstationResearch & Analytical LabsInstrument-ready benches with the power, data and vibration-stable surfaces that analytical and R&D groups need, sized to the equipment rather than to a catalog table.
Medical and clinical laboratory with black L-shaped counter and wall storage cabinetsMedical & Clinical LabsNon-porous, easy-to-sanitize work surfaces and casework for clinical, diagnostic and healthcare laboratories where cleaning regime drives the material choice.
Quality-control and analytical laboratory with black-topped tables and perimeter caseworkQC, Forensic & Industrial LabsDurable benches and tables for quality-control, forensic and industrial testing labs, including chemically resistant tops and heavy-duty frames for bench-top equipment.
Classroom laboratory at Weber State University with student benches and casework
Classroom laboratory at Weber State University with student benches and casework

Especially for universities

University labs are a demanding case: they take daily student use, reconfigure between courses, and have to satisfy both the science and the facilities team. That is exactly the environment these custom tables are built for — durable surfaces, mobile tables and islands, and casework that holds up. If you are standing up a new space from scratch, our guides on setting up a laboratory and building a lab for a university are a good place to start, and mobile shelving from our lab mobile shelving line can reclaim floor space for more bench.

Laboratory Projects We’ve Delivered

These are real laboratories Material Handling USA has furnished — casework, tables, shelving and fume hoods delivered and installed. They are the proof behind the specifications above.

Completed university laboratory casework and black-topped benches at Weber State UniversityWeber State UniversityA full science-teaching lab fit-out with painted steel casework, black work surfaces and student benches — the kind of university build this page is written for.
Laboratory benches with wood-grain casework and black work surfaces installed by MH-USA at a Brown-Forman facilityBrown-Forman Lab RenovationA comprehensive laboratory renovation with wood-grain casework, black epoxy work tops and overhead reagent shelving along the bench runs.
White laboratory casework with a black work top and glass-door wall cabinet installed for BalchemBalchemCasework, fume hoods and lab furniture supporting Balchem’s research across human health, animal nutrition and oil & gas.
Laboratory casework and mobile work tables with black tops and overhead shelving for Sensapure FlavorsSensapure FlavorsCasework and lab furniture that gave the Sensapure Flavors team the bench space and storage to run flavor research and development.
Working laboratory bench with black work surface, overhead shelving and instruments at Dyad LabsDyad Labs, Salt Lake CityNew lab casework and furniture for a material-testing laboratory — a complete, working solution delivered and installed.
Perimeter laboratory casework with black work tops and overhead reagent shelving in a Brown-Forman labPerimeter Casework RunsPerimeter casework with black work tops, base cabinets and glassware shelving — a recurring layout across our university and research projects.

Ordering, Lead Times & How We Work

Molded epoxy resin countertop with an integral sink installed on laboratory casework
A molded epoxy resin work top with an integral sink — one of the surface options we fabricate to your drawings

The fastest path to a real quote is a short list of facts: the room dimensions and layout, the equipment that has to sit on the tables, the chemistry and cleaning regime that drive the surface, and any power, data or fume requirements. If the space already exists, photographs of the benches, walls and utilities are worth more than any description.

From there we recommend a work surface and casework family, lay out the tables, and confirm lead times. Black epoxy and phenolic tops are typically fabricated within about six days of approved drawings; stainless steel, plastic laminate and hardwood tops usually run 7–8 weeks. Samples and full specifications are available on request, and our Furniture Specialists help you choose the material and style.

  • Room dimensions and layout, plus access for delivery and install
  • Equipment list — what sits on each table, and how heavy
  • Chemistry and cleaning regime, so the work surface is matched correctly
  • Power, data, gas and fume-hood requirements at the point of use
  • Whether tables need to be mobile, adjustable-height, or fixed
  • Timeline and any phasing around an occupied lab or a semester schedule

Get a custom lab table quote

One bench or a full lab, a single surface or a mixed-material room — we quote the tables, casework and installation together, and we tell you a lead time we can hold.

Request a Quote Design Your Bench Call (800) 326-4403

Why Phenolic Resin Is Such a Common Lab Choice

Laboratory with black phenolic resin work surfaces on wood casework beneath large windows
Laboratory with black phenolic resin work surfaces on wood casework beneath large windows

Phenolic resin work surfaces are the preferred choice across a long list of industries — electronics, ballistics, aerospace, chemistry, medicine, pharmacology, mining and oil & gas — because they are non-reactive, durable and impervious, and they resist chemicals and high temperatures well for the price. Because they are non-conductive and flame-resistant, they are a sensible option for labs that have to address toxicity, combustion and fire-safety considerations, provided the surface is not used as a sustained high-heat station.

Phenolic tops suit clinical, analytical, biological and chemical testing labs — the kind of work whose results depend on a clean environment and a work surface that is chemical-resistant, sanitary and impervious. When productivity depends on a lab running efficiently and every bench has to earn its footprint, phenolic often wins on the combination of performance, appearance and a lower cost than epoxy. As always, weigh price, look and function against the actual chemistry and heat the surface will see.

Custom Lab Tables: FAQs

What sizes do the custom lab tables come in?
The standard footprint is 24″ × 48″, and depth can be increased to 30″ when you need to seat larger equipment fully on the surface. Beyond that, length, height and overhangs are made to your layout — the table is built to your dimensions rather than pulled from a fixed size list.
Which work surface should I choose — epoxy, phenolic or stainless steel?
Match the top to the work, then the budget. Choose epoxy resin for aggressive wet chemistry and high heat — it is a monolithic, non-porous surface that shrugs off concentrated acids, solvents and repeated disinfection. Choose phenolic resin for teaching, biology and general-purpose benches where you want a durable, moisture-resistant, cost-conscious all-rounder. Choose stainless steel where sterility, wash-down and rapid decontamination drive the room, such as cleanrooms and pharmaceutical prep — noting it can pit with chlorides and harsh acids. We help you match the surface to your chemistry, cleaning regime and code requirements.
Are the tables adjustable and mobile?
Yes. Tables can be specified with adjustable height for sit or stand work, heavy-duty locking casters for mobility, and shelves that adjust or remove entirely. Cabinets can be suspended under the top or run as standalone mobile pedestals, so the whole workstation adapts as the research changes.
What is the difference between phenolic and epoxy resin, and why is phenolic often less expensive?
Epoxy is cast as a solid, non-porous slab, which is why it handles the harshest chemistry and heat — and why it is heavier and needs proper support framing. Phenolic is a high-pressure laminate of resin-saturated kraft paper; it is thinner, lighter and generally less expensive, with broad chemical and moisture resistance that suits most routine lab work. Phenolic resists constant heat up to roughly 350°F but is not flame-retardant, so it is not the right choice for sustained high-heat stations.
Do you also supply the casework, fume hoods and shelving around the tables?
Yes. Beyond the tables we supply full laboratory casework and furniture in wood veneer, painted steel, stainless and phenolic, plus fume hoods and laboratory shelving and storage — so the whole room is specified and installed together.
What are the lead times?
Black epoxy and phenolic tops are typically fabricated within about six days of approved drawings. Stainless steel, plastic laminate and hardwood tops usually run 7–8 weeks. We confirm a real lead time once the drawings and material are settled — we do not promise a date we cannot hold.
Can you design the layout for us?
Yes. Tell us the room and the work, and we will lay it out. You can also start it yourself in our free Lab Bench Designer or plan the whole room in the Lab Layout Designer, then send it to our Furniture Specialists to quote.

Let’s Build Your Lab Tables

Tell us the room, the equipment and the work you do. We will recommend the right work surface, lay out the tables and casework, quote the furniture and installation together, and give you a lead time we can hold. Free design consultation.

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