04/28/2026
Lab casework can start from roughly $150 per linear foot at the low end (plastic laminate) to $1,200 or more at the high end (stainless steel 316) — a spread of nearly 5x on one of the largest line items in any lab build. Yet most specifiers default to whatever material the last project used.
Our new guide breaks down the four major casework classes — painted steel, stainless, phenolic resin, and HPL — with SEFA 8 performance data, typical cost ranges, failure modes, and the lab types each material actually fits. Includes a side-by-side decision matrix and a chemical-profile spec framework.
Read the full guide:
Lab casework installed cost ranges from $150 to $1,200+ per linear foot — a 4.5x spread on 15-25% of total lab construction cost. Compare painted steel, stainless 304/316, phenolic resin, and HPL laminate with SEFA 8 specs, failure modes, and a lab-type decision matrix.