Petri Dishes

The Laboratory Petri Dishes category supports laboratories that need to culture, isolate, observe and store microorganisms, cells and small samples under controlled, contamination-managed conditions. The range spans routine plating and colony work through to more specialised cell culture and quality-control applications where material choice, sterility and repeatability become especially important. A practical point for this category is that petri dishes are supplied in reusable glass and single-use sterile plastic, in a range of diameters and in vented or non-vented formats, so the right choice depends on how the dish will be used and whether it must arrive sterile.

Contamination, condensation and inconsistent handling can compromise plating results, colony counts and culture integrity. A well-matched setup balances material, sterility, diameter and depth, and vented or non-vented design, helping the laboratory avoid wasted media, unreliable results or unnecessary rework.

Consumables work best when material, sterility, size and disposal or reuse requirements are selected as part of the complete method. The same principle applies across microbiology, clinical, education, food and quality-control laboratories: control the inputs, use compatible consumables and document the conditions that can influence the result. As part of the Laboratory Consumables and Glassware range, these products can be selected alongside the media, loops and incubation equipment used before and after this stage.

Our Laboratory Petri Dishes Range

Our collection covers glass and plastic petri dishes, sterile and non-sterile options, vented petri dishes for cell culture, and dish sizes and formats, giving laboratories practical choices for routine plating and more specialised applications.

Glass and plastic petri dishes

Glass petri dishes are reusable, autoclavable and chemically resistant, which suits laboratories that plate frequently and prefer to sterilise and reuse dishes in-house. Single-use polystyrene dishes are optically clear and supplied ready to use, removing the cleaning and sterilisation step for higher-throughput or clinical work. When comparing options, consider material, sterility and diameter and depth so the dish fits the sample, the media volume and the way the plate will be handled and stored.

Sterile and non-sterile petri dishes

Pre-sterilised plastic dishes are supplied irradiated and individually or sleeve packed, ready for immediate aseptic use. Non-sterile glass and plastic dishes are intended to be sterilised before use or used where sterility is not critical. Confirm the stated sterility, packaging and shelf life against your protocol, and check vented or non-vented design and diameter and depth so the dish matches the culture or assay.

Vented petri dishes for cell culture

Vented dishes use moulded rings or ridges that lift the lid slightly to allow gas exchange while limiting evaporation and condensation, which supports consistent growth in cell culture and longer incubations. Non-vented dishes give a tighter seal that helps retain moisture for shorter microbiology work. Match the vented or non-vented design to material, sterility and diameter and depth so the plate performs reliably across repeat runs.

Dish sizes and formats

Petri dishes are available in a range of diameters to suit different media volumes and colony spreads, alongside deeper formats and multi-compartment dishes for separating samples on a single plate. Select the size and format around your media volume, sample number and incubator or fridge space, and confirm material, sterility and vented or non-vented design so the format fits the complete workflow.

Featured Brands

DWK Life Sciences is known for borosilicate glassware and reusable laboratory glass, ISOLAB is known for glass and plastic labware and general laboratory consumables, VITLAB is known for plastic labware and chemical-resistant handling solutions, and LLG Labware is known for practical laboratory consumables, accessories and routine bench supplies. Compare each brand by material, sterility, diameter and depth, and vented or non-vented design, and check what is included with the product so the complete setup is clear before ordering.

Why Choose LabFriend for Laboratory Petri Dishes

At LabFriend, we are committed to helping UK laboratories select petri dishes around the actual method, not simply the lowest unit price. Our knowledgeable team can assist with material, sterility, diameter and depth, and vented or non-vented design, and can help identify the media, loops and incubation equipment needed to make the setup workable from the first plate. As a 100% online laboratory supplier, we provide competitive pricing, transparent lead times and a convenient way to compare connected products in one place.

Whether the requirement is a new workflow, a change of format or routine replenishment, the petri dishes range can be combined with supporting products for a more complete setup. Useful related areas include Microbiology and Cell Culture, which help complete the surrounding workflow. Sourcing these connected items together helps protect continuity and reduces the chance that a small missing consumable will delay the work. Add the selected products to your cart and select Instant Quote.