Disposable Polystyrene Weighing Dishes for Laboratory Use
Laboratory weighing dishes are flat-bottomed, flexible antistatic polystyrene containers used to hold solid and liquid samples on a balance pan during mass measurement, then bent to form a pour spout for sample transfer. Available in square, hexagonal, and pour-boat shapes at capacities from 10 mL to 350 mL, rated from −10°C to +80°C. Globe Scientific antistatic PS weighing dishes are ISO 9001:2015 certified, biologically inert, and available in white and black for visual contrast during sample recovery. MBP ships to research, analytical, 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.
Need help selecting the right laboratory weighing dishes for your workflow? — Contact our team at customerservice@mbpinc.net for product recommendations, bulk pricing, and purchasing assistance.
Weighing Dishes
What Are Laboratory Weighing Dishes?
Laboratory weighing dishes (also called weigh boats or pour boats) are shallow, flat-bottomed, flexible disposable containers molded from a special grade of antistatic polystyrene (PS), rated from −10°C to +80°C, used to hold solid or liquid samples on an analytical or top-loading balance pan during mass measurement. After weighing, the flexible PS walls are bent to form a pour spout for transferring the sample into a flask, beaker, or tube with minimal loss. Globe Scientific antistatic PS weighing dishes are ISO 9001:2015 certified, contaminant-free, biologically inert, and resistant to dilute acids, aqueous solutions, alcohols, and bases, available in square, hexagonal, and pour-boat styles at capacities from 10 mL to 350 mL. Weighing dishes are single-use disposables: washing removes the antistatic treatment. Choose black dishes for light-colored samples and white dishes for dark or colored samples.
What you will find:
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Plastic weighing dishes (20 mL to 100 mL+) for routine lab use
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Antistatic weighing boats for handling fine powders
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Aluminum weighing dishes for heating and moisture analysis
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Square and hexagonal dishes for easy pouring
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Pour-spout weighing boats for controlled transfer
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Micro weighing dishes for low-volume samples
How to Choose Laboratory Weighing Dishes
Shape
Square dishes with smooth sloping sides and recessed rounded corners provide clean pour-outs with minimal retained sample—the standard choice for most powder and liquid weighing. Hexagonal dishes have a six-sided profile that resists sliding on balance pans and provides a positive grip point during transfer; the molded perimeter adds stability for larger sample masses. Pour-boat dishes have a molded spout for precise dispensing of liquid or gel-like samples into vessels after weighing.
Capacity
Use 10–20 mL square dishes for micro-scale weighing under 2 g (reagents, standards, APIs) on analytical balances with 0.1 mg readability. Use 50–100 mL for preparative weighing of 2–20 g on top-loading analytical balances. Use 200–350 mL for large-sample or bulk-powder weighing requiring a wide base to fit the balance pan.
Color
White dishes are the default for most applications. Black dishes in 10 mL square format improve visibility of white, cream, or fluorescent powders—confirming that all sample material has been transferred before recording the net weight. Both colors resist the same chemical exposure and have identical material specifications.
Temperature Range
Antistatic PS is rated to +80°C, covering all ambient and moderate-warm sample conditions. For moisture determination at 105°C (oven drying) or incineration applications, aluminum weighing dishes are the correct format—polystyrene will deform above 80°C.
Compare Weighing Dish Formats
Square weighing dishes (10–350 mL) are the standard option for routine powder and liquid weighing due to their stable flat base and easy pour-out design. Hexagonal weighing dishes (20–350 mL) are preferred when extra stability on the balance pan is needed, especially for larger or heavier samples. Pour boat dishes (20–100 mL) are designed for controlled dispensing of liquids or viscous materials with reduced spillage. Aluminum weighing dishes (20–100 mL) are used for high-temperature applications such as moisture analysis and can withstand up to 300°C, unlike polystyrene variants which are limited to 80°C.
Specifications Context
Globe Scientific antistatic polystyrene weighing dishes are manufactured from a specialized PS formulation that provides controlled antistatic behavior, distinguishing them from standard polystyrene labware. Larger formats typically use a wall thickness of approximately 12 mil (≈0.3 mm) to maintain structural rigidity on balance pans during weighing. As of 2026, 20 mL and 100 mL square weighing dishes are the most commonly stocked formats in pharmaceutical QC and academic analytical chemistry laboratories due to their versatility across micro and preparative weighing workflows. In addition to weighing applications, these dishes are also commonly used as temporary trays for snap-freezing small samples on dry ice during preparation steps. Explore funnels and the weighing dishes & funnels category for complementary consumables.
Connect with the MBP team today to explore our full range of dimensions and material specifications, and find the perfect weighing dish for your laboratory’s daily demands.
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