Ultracentrifuge vs microcentrifuge

The right centrifuge class depends on the speed and sample volume your separation needs.

• Microcentrifuge: small tubes (0.2–2 mL), up to ~21,000 × g. Everyday molecular biology — spin-downs, minipreps.
• Benchtop / floor general-purpose: larger volumes, up to ~30,000 × g, refrigerated options for cell and protein work.
• Ultracentrifuge: 100,000–1,000,000 × g, vacuum and refrigeration. Required for membrane fractionation, virus/exosome isolation and density-gradient work.

Ultracentrifuges carry the highest purchase, service and rotor-management cost; do not over-specify if a general-purpose unit meets the g-force requirement.