Centrifuge types explained

Four broad categories based on max RPM and capacity:

Microcentrifuges

1.5-2.0 mL tubes, up to 21,000 × g. The workhorse for molecular biology.

Benchtop / Multipurpose

15-50 mL tubes, swing-out or fixed-angle, up to 30,000 × g.

Superspeed

Up to 100,000 × g. Used for organelle isolation, viral particles.

Ultracentrifuge

Up to 1,000,000 × g. Used for ribosomes, sub-cellular fractionation, density gradient separations.