Pick the Temperature Your Protocol Names, Then the Format Your Floor Can Carry
175 ultra-low and cryogenic units: -86C upright and chest ULT freezers from Thermo Scientific, PHCbi, So-Low, Arctiko, Eppendorf, Follett and ABS in 0.9 to 26.1 cu ft, compressor-free Stirling engine freezers, -150C mechanical cryogenic chests, explosion-proof ULT chests from 3.1 to 21 cu ft, and Farrar controlled-rate and bulk chambers from 190 to 328 cu ft.
Two dedicated branches: -86°C ULT Freezers and Cryogenic Storage Equipment. Part of Refrigeration & Cold Storage.
| Model | Format | Range / capacity | Stands out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHCbi VIP ECO -86C Upright 729L | Upright | -86C, 25.7 cu ft | Natural refrigerant, low energy draw |
| Thermo TSX50086FA | Upright | -86C, 24.1 cu ft | Variable-speed TSX platform, quiet |
| So-Low U85-25 | Upright | -85C, 25 cu ft | Workhorse value, widest US line |
| Eppendorf CryoCube F740hi | Upright | -50 to -86C, 26.1 cu ft | High-insulation premium cabinet |
| Follett TwinGuard FZRDR19 | Upright, dual system | -86C, 18.6 cu ft | Two circuits: one fails, samples hold |
| So-Low C85-12 | Chest | -85C, 12 cu ft | Chest stability for archives |
| Stirling SU105UE | Undercounter | -20 to -86C, 3.7 cu ft | Stirling engine, no compressor |
| Stirling ULT25NEU | Portable | -20 to -86C, 0.9 cu ft | ULT that travels, AC or DC power |
| PHCbi MDF-C2156 Cryogenic Chest | Cryogenic chest | -150C, 8.2 cu ft | Mechanical -150C, no liquid nitrogen |
| Scientemp 85-6.8EX | Chest, rated | -45 to -85C, 6.8 cu ft | Explosion-proof for classified rooms |
-86C or -150C? Buy the Written Spec, Not the Coldest Cabinet
-86C covers the vast majority of protocols: cell lines, plasmids, proteins, most biobank material. Go to -150C mechanical cryogenic storage, like the Follett FZRC8, only when the protocol says so, typically for material otherwise held in liquid nitrogen vapor. And if the written spec says -20C or -40C, a laboratory freezer does the job: a ULT bought for a -20C protocol burns thousands of dollars of electricity over its life protecting samples that never needed it.
Upright or Chest?
Uprights like the Thermo TSX40086FA win on floor space and rack access: inner doors keep most of the chamber closed while you pull one shelf. Chests like the Follett FZRC25 hold temperature better through door openings and power cuts, because the cold air stays in the box. Daily-access biobanks run uprights; deep archives opened a few times a month belong in chests, and putting an archive in an upright pays for the convenience in excursions.
What About Running Cost and Backup?
A ULT runs for a decade, so energy draw matters as much as sticker price. Natural-refrigerant cabinets like the PHCbi VIP ECO 18.6 cu ft and compressor-free Stirling units cut consumption sharply; the cheapest cabinet on day one is often the most expensive by year five. Dual-system cabinets like the TwinGuard FZRDR26 keep samples safe if one circuit fails. Whatever you buy, add an independent data logger and a power-out alarm: the freezer's own display is not a monitoring plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which ULT freezer for a small lab or clinic?
Undercounter and compact units carry the full -86C range in a few cubic feet: the Stirling SU105UE fits under a bench at 3.7 cu ft and adjusts anywhere from -20 to -86C, so one cabinet covers protocols at different temperatures.
Do you have explosion-proof ULT freezers?
Yes: Scientemp's EX chest line from 3.1 cu ft to 21 cu ft, and So-Low's X-series uprights like the U85-25X, built for classified hazardous locations.
What about bulk or controlled-rate ULT?
Farrar covers both: 4000 LC controlled-rate chambers for freeze and thaw cycles, and ULC chambers from 190 to 328 cu ft for bulk pharma storage.
How do I move ULT samples between sites?
The Stirling ULT25NEU portable holds -86C in transit on AC or DC power, replacing dry-ice shipments for short runs.
Can I get volume pricing on a multi-freezer biobank build-out?
Yes. Submit a quote request with your sample counts and temperatures; our equipment specialists come back with capacity planning, an energy comparison and configured pricing.
Read the full guide: Features, Benefits and Buying Tips for Long-Lasting ULT Freezers
MediDepot Purchasing Advantages
- Price Match Guarantee: found the same model for less elsewhere, we will match the verified price.
- Equipment Financing: ULT freezers are capital purchases; financing spreads the cost.
- Extended Warranty Options: cover compressors and cascade systems past the manufacturer term.
- Military Discount: available for qualifying military and VA facilities.
- Request a Quote: capacity planning, energy comparison and biobank fit-outs.
ULT Freezer Buying Guides
- ULT vs Lab Freezer: Cost of Ownership and Backup Plan
- Arctiko Chest vs Upright ULT Freezers
- PHCbi ULT Freezer Buying Guide
- So-Low Ultra-Low and Specialty Freezers