Orbital Shakers

Orbital Shakers for Cell Culture, Microplates, and Everyday Lab Mixing

Orbital shakers are foundational benchtop instruments for repeatable mixing, resuspension, and aeration across life science, clinical, and general research labs. In this category, you’ll find benchtop orbital shakers that support common workflows such as shaking culture flasks and Erlenmeyer flasks, mixing media and buffers, agitating Petri dishes and staining trays, and running plate-based protocols where consistent orbital motion improves uniformity and reproducibility.

ARES Scientific’s orbital shaker lineup spans compact, light-duty options for routine mixing and space-limited benches through heavy-duty platform shakers built for higher load capacity and accessory-driven flexibility. You can also source application-specific solutions—such as a CO2-incubator-compatible orbital shaker designed to minimize door-open events and maintain chamber stability during in-incubator shaking. If you’re still comparing broader formats, start at the parent Shakers category or consider temperature-controlled solutions in Shaking Incubators.

Whether you’re searching “orbital shaker,” “orbital platform shaker,” “benchtop orbital shaker,” “microplate orbital shaker,” “heavy duty orbital shaker,” or “CO2 incubator shaker,” the goal is the same: stable, repeatable RPM and orbit-driven agitation that matches your vessel type, volume, and throughput. Use the selection criteria below to quickly narrow the right platform size, orbit, and accessory ecosystem for your workflow.

Key Selection Factors for Orbital Shakers

• Orbit diameter (mixing intensity): Smaller orbits are often preferred for microplates and small volumes, while larger orbits are commonly selected for flasks and applications where stronger swirling and aeration are desired.
• Speed range and speed stability: Confirm the usable RPM range for your vessel type and verify the shaker maintains stable motion under load for reproducible runs.
• Platform size and load capacity: Match the tray/platform footprint and maximum load to your largest vessel set-up (flask count, plate count, or tray dimensions) to avoid under-sizing.
• Accessories and vessel retention: Prioritize models with robust clamp/rack options (and fast-change accessory systems when available) to secure flasks, tubes, plates, or specialty holders.
• Environmental compatibility: If you plan to run in a cold room or incubator, confirm temperature/humidity suitability and cable routing needs; for CO2 incubators, consider remote control to reduce door openings.
• Controls, timing, and safety features: Look for intuitive digital controls, timer/continuous operation, audible/visual alarms as needed, and design elements that support spill control and easy cleaning.

Recommended Use Cases for Orbital Shakers

• Cell culture agitation for tissue culture flasks (gentle mixing and uniform exposure)
• Erlenmeyer flask shaking for routine mixing, buffer preparation, and aeration-dependent workflows
• Microplate mixing for ELISA prep, assay agitation, and plate-based sample handling (model-dependent)
• Petri dish agitation for staining, washing, and general dish-based protocols
• Staining trays and wash steps for consistent reagent contact and improved uniformity
• General lab mixing of media bottles, reagent containers, and routine solution preparation

Frequently Asked Questions About Orbital Shakers

What is an orbital shaker?

An orbital shaker is a benchtop mixer that moves samples in a circular (“orbital”) path to provide consistent agitation for mixing, resuspension, and (in many cases) improved aeration.

How do I choose the right orbit size?

Orbit size influences mixing intensity and vessel behavior. Smaller orbits are often preferred for microplates and small-volume vessels, while larger orbits are commonly chosen for flasks and applications where stronger swirling and oxygen transfer are beneficial.

What RPM range do I need for my application?

RPM needs depend on vessel type, fill volume, and desired shear. Microplates and smaller vessels may run effectively at higher RPM ranges (model-dependent), while flasks and larger loads often require stable low-to-mid RPM operation with consistent performance under load.

Can an orbital shaker be used in a CO2 incubator?

Yes—if the shaker is specifically designed for CO2 incubator conditions (heat, humidity, corrosion resistance, and cable routing). For these applications, remote control is often preferred to reduce incubator door openings and maintain chamber stability. See our CO2 incubator orbital shaker option.

Do I need clamps, racks, or a non-slip mat?

For flasks and higher-speed operation, clamps/racks improve safety and repeatability by securing vessels. Non-slip mats can be helpful for trays, dishes, and containers, but verify the retention method fits your intended load and motion settings.

What’s the difference between an orbital shaker and a shaking incubator?

An orbital shaker provides agitation only, while a shaking incubator combines controlled temperature (and sometimes other environmental controls) with shaking. If you need both heat and shaking in one unit, browse Shaking Incubators.

What else should I verify before ordering?

Confirm available bench/incubator space, platform dimensions, load capacity, required accessory types (flask clamps, tube racks, plate holders), and any environment constraints (cold room, incubator, CO2 incubator compatibility).