Laboratory Carboys for Bulk Liquid Storage and Dispensing

Laboratory carboys are large-volume HDPE or PP containers—10 L, 20 L, and 50 L—used for bulk storage, transport, and dispensing of DI water, buffers, culture media, and liquid waste. Globe Scientific EZgrip carboys are molded from USP Class VI, FDA-grade resin: PP for autoclave sterilization at 121°C, HDPE (rated to −100°C) for chemical and cold-temperature storage. Features include integrated handles, molded graduations, PP integral-seal closures, and optional spigots. MBP ships to labs in the US, Canada, and internationally and is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Contact our team at customerservice@mbpinc.net for product recommendations, bulk pricing, and purchasing assistance.

Carboys

Per Page:

Sort By:

What Are Laboratory Carboys?

Laboratory carboys are large-volume plastic containers—10 L, 20 L, and 50 L being the standard sizes—used for bulk storage, transport, and dispensing of DI water, buffers, culture media, reagents, and liquid waste. They are manufactured from polypropylene (PP, autoclavable at 121°C) or HDPE (broad chemical resistance, rated to −100°C) with integrated handles, molded liter/gallon graduations, and screw caps with PP integral-seal closures. Optional spigots enable gravity-controlled dispensing without lifting. The rectangular profile of modern carboys maximizes shelf density compared to round containers of the same volume. Globe Scientific EZgrip carboys are molded from USP Class VI, FDA-grade resins—PP for autoclavable applications and HDPE for chemical and cold storage. PP carboys are the correct choice for autoclave sterilization; cap must be loosened before every autoclave cycle to prevent collapse during cooling.

What you will find:

Small carboys (4–8 L) for bench-top use and daily workflows
Medium carboys (10–20 L) for routine liquid storage
Large carboys (20–50 L+) for bulk storage applications
Polypropylene (PP) carboys for autoclavable use
HDPE carboys for chemical-resistant storage
Carboys with spigots for easy dispensing

How to Choose Laboratory Carboys

Material: PP vs HDPE

Polypropylene is used when autoclave sterilization is required, as it tolerates 121°C steam cycles with the cap loosened. PP also provides resistance to most acids, bases, and alcohols and offers partial translucency for content visibility. HDPE is not autoclavable at 121°C but provides broad chemical resistance, low leachables, and performance down to −100°C, making it suitable for non-sterile chemical storage, waste collection, and cold buffer holding.

Volume

The 10 L carboy is used for media preparation batches, chromatography buffer reservoirs, and bench-scale waste collection. The 20 L carboy is standard for daily buffer preparation, fermentation media supply, and larger waste workflows. The 50 L carboy is reserved for high-throughput bioprocessing, large fermentation systems, and bulk waste accumulation where frequent emptying of smaller units is impractical.

Spigot vs No Spigot

Spigot-equipped carboys allow controlled gravity dispensing without lifting, reducing spill risk and handling strain. Non-spigot carboys are emptied by manual pouring and typically require a dedicated pouring cap for control. Spigots are recommended for 20 L and larger volumes due to handling safety and workflow efficiency.

Amber vs Natural

Natural (translucent) carboys are used for most standard buffers and reagents where visual level monitoring is sufficient. Amber HDPE carboys are used for light-sensitive reagents, biological media, and pharmaceutical intermediates where UV and visible light protection is required during storage.

Compare Laboratory Carboy Formats

PP carboys are available in 10–20 L sizes and are autoclavable at 121°C (with cap loosened), making them suitable for sterile media preparation and buffer storage. HDPE carboys in 10–20 L sizes are used for chemical storage, waste collection, and cold-temperature applications down to −100°C. Amber HDPE carboys are used when photoprotection is required. Larger 50 L PP carboys are used in high-throughput bioprocessing and fermentation workflows, while HDPE carboys with spigots (20–50 L) are preferred for controlled dispensing applications in large-volume liquid handling systems.

Specifications Context

Globe Scientific EZgrip PP carboys are molded from USP Class VI, FDA-grade autoclavable polypropylene with integrated handles for safe lifting and transport. EZgrip HDPE carboys are produced from USP Class VI, FDA-grade HDPE with optional amber variants meeting USP <671> light transmission requirements. As of 2026, 20 L PP carboys with spigots are widely used in pharmaceutical pilot labs and academic biochemistry departments for sterile buffer preparation and chromatography feed supply systems. Explore jerricans for 5–20 L active transport containers and sample storage containers for smaller-volume applications.

Connect with the MBP team today to discuss your specific volume requirements and chemical compatibility, and find the perfect carboy for your laboratory’s bulk storage needs.

FAQ

Laboratory carboys are large-volume plastic containers—typically 10 L, 20 L, and 50 L—used for bulk storage, transport, and dispensing of water, buffers, culture media, reagents, and liquid waste. They are made from polypropylene (PP, autoclavable at 121°C) or HDPE (broad chemical resistance, rated to −100°C), feature integrated handles, molded graduations, and screw caps with optional spigots for controlled dispensing. Rectangular carboys maximize shelf space versus round formats of the same volume.

Polypropylene (PP) carboys are steam-autoclavable at 121°C, translucent for content visibility, and resistant to most acids, bases, and alcohols—the correct choice when sterile processing is required. HDPE carboys are not autoclavable at sustained 121°C temperatures, but offer broader chemical resistance (including some organic solvents), very low leachables, and a rated range of −100°C, making them the default for non-sterile chemical storage, DI water holding, and cold-temperature reagent storage. Globe Scientific EZgrip HDPE carboys are molded from USP Class VI, FDA-grade resin.

Polypropylene carboys are autoclavable at 121°C in a standard gravity cycle. The cap must be loosened or completely disengaged before autoclaving—sealing the cap traps steam pressure inside and prevents cooling shrinkage from occurring uniformly, which can collapse or deform the carboy walls. After the autoclave cycle, allow the carboy to cool to below 60°C before retightening the cap to avoid creating an internal vacuum as the carboy contracts. HDPE carboys should not be autoclaved at 121°C.

Standard laboratory carboy sizes are 10 L (2.5 gallon), 20 L (5 gallon), and 50 L (13 gallon). Globe Scientific provides carboys in 10 L, 20 L, and larger formats in both PP and HDPE. The 10 L carboy suits daily buffer preparation and chromatography system reservoirs. The 20 L carboy is standard for media preparation, waste collection, and bulk reagent storage. The 50 L format is used in high-throughput bioprocessing and large-volume fermentation supply.

Polypropylene laboratory carboys are rated for steam autoclave sterilization at 121°C (with cap loosened) and for cold storage down to approximately −20°C. Some PP carboys are rated to lower temperatures; confirm the specific product's cold-temperature rating before freezer use. HDPE carboys from Globe Scientific are rated to −100°C, covering dry-ice transport conditions and −80°C ultra-low temperature freezer storage of aqueous buffers.

Many laboratory carboys are available with an optional spigot (stopcock or dispensing valve) mounted in the lower side wall for controlled gravity-driven dispensing without lifting or tilting the full carboy. Spigots are particularly useful for 20–50 L formats where lifting a full container introduces spill and ergonomic injury risk. Globe Scientific Diamond RealSeal carboys offer spigot-equipped variants for both PP and HDPE. Confirm whether the spigot is included or an add-on accessory when ordering.

MBP carries Globe Scientific carboys in PP (autoclavable) and HDPE formats, available in 10 L, 20 L, and larger sizes for bulk liquid storage, media preparation, and waste collection. Globe Scientific is ISO 9001:2015 certified. MBP ships to research, pharmaceutical, and clinical labs across the US, Canada, and internationally, and is a registered vendor for Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Vanderbilt University, and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Carboys are large-format (10–50 L) containers designed for stationary bulk liquid storage, often with a spigot for controlled gravity dispensing and handles positioned for carrying rather than pouring. Jerricans are smaller (5–20 L), rectangular containers with an angled spout and ergonomic grip handle optimized for frequent active pouring and transport between locations. Use carboys when high volume and spigot dispensing reduce the need to move the container; use jerricans when frequent carry-and-pour transfers are required.

We provide the highest quality of products and anytime customer service.

Featured Categories

Useful Links

Returns & Exchanges

Terms & Conditions of sale

+1 416-549-8100

customerservice@mbpinc.net

online payment

fast delivery

technical support

24/7 support