A magnetic hotplate stirrer does two jobs at once: it spins a stir bar through a magnetic drive under the plate, and it heats the plate the vessel sits on. Choosing one is mostly a matter of matching five things to your work: whether you need heat at all, how many vessels you run at once, how large they are, how hot they must get, and how closely you need to control and record the temperature. This guide takes those decisions in the order that narrows the field fastest, then sets out 42 ALab™ products side by side in two static tables, using only their specifications.
Quick answer: Decide in this order. (1) Heat: if you only mix at room temperature, an unheated stirrer is simpler. (2) Positions: several samples under the same conditions point to a multi-position unit. (3) Size: the plate must carry the base of your largest vessel, and the model's maximum stirring quantity, a water rating, should sit well above your working volume. (4) Temperature: compare the specified temperature range with what your liquid must reach, remembering the plate runs hotter than the liquid. (5) Control: if the liquid temperature matters, look for an external temperature sensor; add a timer or data port if your method needs them. Before anything else, check for any use restriction. Where a value is not specified, ask us before you order.
1. Start With Five Questions
Most selection mistakes come from starting with a headline number, usually the top temperature, before settling the basics. The five questions below are a static flowchart: each answer sends you to a group of products, not to a single model. Work through them before you open the tables in Section 8.
- Do you need to heat the sample? No → unheated magnetic stirrers (single or multi-position). Yes → continue.
- Is the vessel a round-bottom flask? Yes → a heating mantle or stirred bath holds the flask (a heating block on a hotplate is another route, compared in our guide to heating round-bottom flasks); a flat plate does not conform to the flask's curved base, so contact is limited. No → continue.
- Do you need stirring while you heat? No → hotplates without a stir drive. Yes → continue.
- Do you run several samples at once under the same conditions? Yes → multi-position hotplate stirrers. No → single-position hotplate stirrers.
- Within the group: narrow by plate size (Section 3), temperature range (Section 4), volume and stir bar (Section 5), then control features (Section 6), and check for use restrictions (Section 7).
If your liquid is too viscous for a magnetic bar to turn reliably, a magnetic stirrer of any kind may not be the right tool, and an overhead stirrer is the usual alternative.
2. Five Equipment Groups on the ALab™ Pages
The 42 products in Section 8 fall into five editorial groups. The groups are a reading aid, not a ranking, and the counts come from the product specifications as of October 2026.
| Group | Pages | What the models offer |
|---|---|---|
| Hotplate stirrers, single position | 18 | One heated plate with a magnetic drive underneath |
| Magnetic stirrers, no heating | 10 | Magnetic drive only; no temperature range is specified |
| Multi-position stirrers | 6 | 4 to 15 stirring positions; three of the six model families have a heating range |
| Hotplates, no stirring | 5 | Heated plate only; the product type reads "(no stirring)" |
| Heating mantles and stirred bath | 3 | A mantle or heated bath around the vessel, with magnetic stirring |
In total, 29 of the 42 products have a heating range and 13 do not. Stirring without heating is the simpler choice when your method runs at room temperature, and an unheated stirrer keeps a hot surface off the bench. If you need several identical stirred samples, the multi-position magnetic stirrers article covers shared versus independent positions.
3. Plate Size: Match the Vessel Footprint
Plate size sets the largest vessel base you can stand on the plate with full contact. A beaker or flat-bottom flask whose base overhangs the plate heats unevenly and sits less securely, so size the plate to your largest vessel, not your typical one. Plate size is given either as a diameter for round plates or as width × depth for square ones:
- 4 inch (100 × 100 mm): DMS4-550 (heated), DMS4 (unheated), DHP4-550 (hotplate).
- 5 inch (Ø135 mm round): the largest set, including the DMS5 and MS-H-Pro families, the MS-H-S, MS-H280-Pro, MS-PA / MS-PB and MS-S.
- 140 × 140 mm square: MS-H380-Pro, MS6-Pro and HP380-Pro.
- 7 inch (184 × 184 mm; 180 × 180 mm on the MS7-H280-G): DMS7-550M, MS7-H380-E, MS7-H550-Pro, MS7-H550-S, DMS7, MS7-S and HP550-S; the DHP7-550 is specified as 7 inch.
- 10 inch (254 × 254 mm): MS10-H500-Pro and HP500-Pro.
- Compact: FlatSpin (Ø90 mm) and EcoStir / EcoStir-E (120 × 115 mm), all with PET plates and no heating.
Multi-position units have either one large plate (180 × 450 mm on the 10-position models, 460 × 304 mm on the 15-position model) or one plate per channel (Ø134 mm or Ø135 mm). Mantles and the stirred bath are sized by the vessel they hold, not by a plate.
A bigger plate also brings a larger footprint on the bench and, on heated models, a larger heated surface. Plate material matters too: the options are glass ceramic, aluminum (including ceramic-coated aluminum and plain aluminum), stainless steel with a ceramic coating, microcrystalline glass, and plastics (PET and nylon with glass fiber) on unheated stirrers. How these differ in heat transfer and chemical resistance is covered in hotplate top-plate materials compared.
4. Maximum Temperature: Read the Range and What It Refers To
Each heated model has a specified temperature range, usually from room temperature (RT) to a maximum. Grouping the 29 heated products by that maximum:
| Maximum temperature | Pages |
|---|---|
| 120 °C | DMS5-120; MS-H-S10 (10-position) |
| 220 °C | MS-H220-V3 / V5 (stirred bath) |
| 280 °C | DMS5-280; MS-H280-Pro*; MS7-H280-G; MS-H280-S4 / S6; MS-H280-B / F (mantle) |
| 340 °C | DMS5-340; DMS5-340M; MS-H-Pro+; MS-H-ProA; MS-H-ProM; MS-H-ProT; MS-H-S; MS-H340-S4 |
| 380 °C | MS-H380-Pro*; MS7-H380-E; HP380-Pro*; MS-H380-F (mantle) |
| 500 °C | MS10-H500-Pro; HP500-Pro |
| 550 °C | DMS4-550; DMS7-550M; MS7-H550-Pro; MS7-H550-S; DHP4-550; DHP7-550; HP550-S |
* Not available for chemical fields (Section 7).
Three points keep this number in proportion:
- The maximum is a setting range, not the temperature your liquid will reach. On a plate, heat has to cross the plate surface, the vessel wall and the liquid, so the liquid lags behind and sits below the plate. A 340 °C plate is not a 340 °C solution. For liquid work, choose a range with headroom above your target liquid temperature and control the liquid directly if it matters (Section 6).
- Check the setting step. Most heated models have a 1 °C increment; the MS7-H550-S and HP550-S have 5 °C, and for several models no increment is specified.
- Over-temperature protection is a separate number. Most heated models have an over-temperature protection value above the working range (for example 420 °C on several 340 °C models, 580 °C on several 550 °C models). It is the specified value at which that protection acts, not a certification and not a safe working limit for any sample; the HP500-Pro and HP550-S specify theirs as a safety temperature (540 °C and 580 °C), which describes the same kind of instrument protection and is likewise not a certification or a solvent limit. What cut-offs do and do not protect against is covered under hot plate safety.
If your work needs plate temperatures above the 550 °C of these models, for example calcination, see 600 °C hot plates for calcination.
5. Volume and Stir Bar Size
Stirring models have a maximum stirring quantity, given for water (H₂O). That label matters: the figure is for water. A more viscous liquid may be harder to stir at the same volume; treat the figure as a water-specific rating, not a guarantee for other liquids, and leave a margin below it for your actual conditions. Across the single-position models the figures run from 0.8 L (FlatSpin) and 1.5–2 L (EcoStir, EcoStir-E) through 3 L, 5 L, 10 L and 20 L, to 30 L on the MS10-H500-Pro. Multi-position models give the figure per position: 0.4 L × 10 or × 15 on the 10- and 15-position models, 3 L per channel on the 4- and 6-channel models; none is specified for the MS-H340-S4.
Stir bar size is the other half. Most stirring models have a specified largest stir bar: 40 mm, 50 mm or 80 mm, under slightly different names (maximum stirrer size, by length, on the DMS4-550, DMS5-340M and DMS7-550M; a maximum stirrer bar size of 80 × 10 mm on the MS7-H380-E). A longer bar moves more liquid, but only if the drive can hold it. Why bars lose coupling and spin out, and how to size a bar to a vessel, is covered in stir bar size and decoupling.
Speed ranges differ less than the other figures: most models top out at 1500 rpm, the EcoStir pair at 2000 rpm and the 10-position models at 1100 rpm. The lower end and the step size vary more, from 15 to 1500 rpm on the FlatSpin to 300 to 2000 rpm on the EcoStir models, and from 1 rpm to 10 rpm steps where a step is given. If you need very gentle mixing, check the bottom of the range, not the top.
6. Control: Display, External Probe, Timer and Data Port
Scale or digital. Six of the 42 products have a scale (dial) display: MS-H-S, the MS-PA / MS-PB pair (scale display for MS-PB; LED display for MS-PA), MS-S, MS7-S, MS-H-S10 and MS-M-S10. A scale display gives a visual dial reading; a digital display presents a numeric value. If your method specifies a speed or temperature, a digital readout can make the setting easier to reproduce.
External temperature sensor. 27 of the 42 products offer an external temperature sensor, PT1000 in every case; among heated models, only the MS-H-S and MS-H-S10 have none listed. Without a probe, the unit controls the plate temperature; with the probe immersed in the liquid, the controller uses the liquid temperature as its reference instead. Two accuracy specifications and a separate performance property must not be conflated: sensor accuracy (for example ±0.2°C for a PT1000 sensor), liquid-temperature control accuracy where it is specified (for example ±1°C below 100°C and ±1% above 100°C), and temperature uniformity, which is not specified for any of these models. Why the liquid lags and overshoots, and what changes with the probe, is explained in plate vs liquid temperature and the external probe.
Timer. 16 of the 42 products have a timer, each from 1 min to 99 h 59 min. If unattended runs of fixed length are part of your method, compare the values in this column.
Data port. 16 products have an RS232 port and two (MS10-H500-Pro, HP500-Pro) an SD card. If your setup requires a particular data connection, compare the listed port; compatible software and exportable values are not specified. Twenty-four products have no data port listed.
7. Use Restrictions
Read the full specifications before you choose. Three of the 42 products carry the same use restriction:
- HP380-Pro: not available for chemical fields
- MS-H380-Pro: not available for chemical fields
- MS-H280-Pro: not available for chemical fields
Do not choose these three for chemistry, synthesis or work with flammable solvents. The restriction appears next to each of these models in Section 8, Table B, so it cannot be missed. Some other product listings mention these models as related products; that does not make those other products restricted, and a product without such a restriction is not thereby rated for any particular chemical or solvent. Suitability for flammable solvents depends on the setup, the solvent and your laboratory's procedures; see hot plate safety and ask us for written confirmation for your use.
8. Selection Table: 42 ALab™ Products
Source: ACS Material product specifications (October 2026). A dash means the specification is not listed; it does not mean zero or absent. Groups are editorial and the order is not a ranking. For readability the comparison is split into two static tables: Table A covers plate, temperature, volume and speed; Table B covers control, over-temperature protection and use restriction. Both repeat the Group and Model columns and list the 42 products in the same order.
Table A — Plate, temperature, volume and speed
| Group | Model | Plate | Plate material | Temperature range | Max. volume [H₂O] | Max. stir bar | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS4-550 | 100 × 100 mm (4 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 1°C | 10 L | 40 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-120 | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Aluminum with ceramic coating | RT to 120°C | 5 L | 40 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm, increment 10 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-280 | Ø135 mm | Aluminum with ceramic coating | RT to 280°C | 5 L | 40 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 10 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-340 | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Aluminum with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-340M | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Aluminum with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS7-550M | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-Pro+ | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Stainless steel cover with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm, resolution ±1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-ProA | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Aluminum cover with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm, resolution ±1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-ProM | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Aluminum cover with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-ProT | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Stainless steel cover with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm, resolution ±1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-S | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Stainless steel cover with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 0 to 1500 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H280-Pro | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | — | RT to 280°C | 3 L | 50 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H380-Pro | 140 × 140 mm | Aluminum cover with ceramic coating | RT to 380°C | 5 L | 50 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS10-H500-Pro | 254 × 254 mm (10 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 500°C, increment 1°C | 30 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm, resolution ±1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H280-G | 180 × 180 mm | Microcrystalline glass | RT to 280°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm, ±10 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H380-E | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Aluminum cover with ceramic coating | RT to 380°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 × 10 mm | 80 to 1500 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H550-Pro | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 1°C | 20 L | 80 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm, resolution ±1 rpm |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H550-S | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 5°C | 10 L | 80 mm | 0 to 1500 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | DMS4 | 100 × 100 mm (4 inch) | Glass ceramic | — (no heating) | 10 L | 40 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | DMS5 | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Aluminum with ceramic coating | — (no heating) | 10 L | 80 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | DMS7 | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Glass ceramic | — (no heating) | 20 L | 80 mm | 50 to 1500 rpm, increment 1 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | EcoStir-E | 120 × 115 mm | PET | — (no heating) | 2 L | 40 mm | 300 to 2000 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | EcoStir | 120 × 115 mm | PET | — (no heating) | 1.5 L | 40 mm | 300 to 2000 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | FlatSpin | Ø90 mm | PET | — (no heating) | 0.8 L | 40 mm | 15 to 1500 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS-PA / MS-PB | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Nylon+GF | — (no heating) | 3 L | 50 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm / 0 to 1500 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS-S | Ø135 mm (5 inch) | Stainless steel cover with ceramic | — (no heating) | 20 L | 80 mm | 0 to 1500 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS6-Pro | 140 × 140 mm | Aluminum cover with ceramic coating | — (no heating) | 5 L | 40 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS7-S | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Glass ceramic | — (no heating) | 10 L | 80 mm | 0 to 1500 rpm |
| Multi-position | MS-H-S10 | 180 × 450 mm | — | RT to 120°C | 0.4 L × 10 | 40 mm | 0 to 1100 rpm |
| Multi-position | MS-H280-S4 / S6 | Ø134 mm | Aluminum with ceramic coating | RT to 280°C | 3 L × 4 / 3 L × 6 | 40 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Multi-position | MS-H340-S4 | Ø135 mm (5 inch) × 4 | Stainless steel with ceramic coating | RT to 340°C | — | 40 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Multi-position | MS-M-S10 | 180 × 450 mm | — | — (no heating) | 0.4 L × 10 | 40 mm | 0 to 1100 rpm |
| Multi-position | MS-M-S4 / S6 | Ø134 mm | Aluminum with ceramic coating | — (no heating) | 3 L × 4 / 3 L × 6 | 40 mm | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Multi-position | MS-T-S15 | 460 × 304 mm | Aluminum | — (no heating) | 0.4 L × 15 | 40 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | DHP4-550 | 100 × 100 mm (4 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 1°C | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | DHP7-550 | 7 inch | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 1°C | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | HP380-Pro | 140 × 140 mm | Aluminum cover with ceramic coating | RT to 380°C, increment 1°C | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | HP500-Pro | 254 × 254 mm (10 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 500°C, increment 1°C | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | HP550-S | 184 × 184 mm (7 inch) | Glass ceramic | RT to 550°C, increment 5°C | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) | — (no stirring) |
| Mantle / stirred bath | MS-H220-V3 / V5 | Bath size Ø220 × 105 mm / Ø240 × 135 mm | High borosilicate glass + stainless steel base (heating pan) | RT to 220°C | 3 L / 5 L | 40 mm | 100 to 1500 rpm |
| Mantle / stirred bath | MS-H280-B / F | — | Aluminum silicate fiber cotton (heating mantle) | RT to 280°C | — | — | 200 to 1500 rpm |
| Mantle / stirred bath | MS-H380-F | — | — | RT to 380°C | — | — | 100 to 1500 rpm |
Table B — Control, over-temperature protection and use restriction
| Group | Model | Display · timer · data | External sensor | Over-temperature protection | Use restriction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS4-550 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-120 | Digital · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 | 320°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-280 | LED · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 | 320°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-340 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS5-340M | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | DMS7-550M | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-Pro+ | LCD · timer not specified · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-ProA | LCD · timer not specified · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-ProM | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-ProT | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H-S | Scale · timer not specified · data port not specified | — | 420°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H280-Pro | LED · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 | 320°C | Not available for chemical fields |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS-H380-Pro | LCD · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | Not available for chemical fields |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS10-H500-Pro | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · SD card | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 540°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H280-G | LCD · timer not specified · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 340°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H380-E | LCD · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 410°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H550-Pro | LCD · timer not specified · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Hotplate stirrer | MS7-H550-S | LED · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | DMS4 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | DMS5 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | DMS7 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | EcoStir-E | — · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | EcoStir | — · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | FlatSpin | — · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS-PA / MS-PB | LED / Scale · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS-S | Scale · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS6-Pro | LCD · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Stirrer (no heating) | MS7-S | Scale · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Multi-position | MS-H-S10 | Scale · timer not specified · data port not specified | — | 140°C | None listed |
| Multi-position | MS-H280-S4 / S6 | LCD · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Multi-position | MS-H340-S4 | Each position displays the real-time temperature and speed. · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Multi-position | MS-M-S10 | Scale · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Multi-position | MS-M-S4 / S6 | LCD · timer not specified · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Multi-position | MS-T-S15 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · data port not specified | — (no heating) | — (no heating) | None listed |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | DHP4-550 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | DHP7-550 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | HP380-Pro | LCD · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | Not available for chemical fields |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | HP500-Pro | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · SD card | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 540°C | None listed |
| Hotplate (no stirring) | HP550-S | LED · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 580°C | None listed |
| Mantle / stirred bath | MS-H220-V3 / V5 | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · data port not specified | PT1000 | 350°C | None listed |
| Mantle / stirred bath | MS-H280-B / F | Display screen; heating indicator and stirring indicator · timer not specified · data port not specified | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 420°C | None listed |
| Mantle / stirred bath | MS-H380-F | LCD · timer 1 min to 99 h 59 min · RS232 | PT1000 (accuracy ±0.2°C) | 500°C | None listed |
Reading notes
- Plate is the working-plate size; for the stirred bath it is the bath size. The two mantles are sized by vessel instead: the MS-H280-B takes 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mL flat-bottom beakers and the MS-H280-F 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mL round-bottom flasks, and the MS-H380-F takes round-bottom flasks of 100, 250, 500, 1000 or 2000 mL, with one model per size.
- Plate material is the plate material; for the MS-H220-V3 / V5 it is the heating pan material and for the MS-H280-B / F the heating mantle material.
- Max. volume [H₂O] is the maximum stirring quantity for water; on multi-position models it is per position.
- Max. stir bar is the largest stir bar specified for the model.
- External sensor shows the external sensor offered for each model; where an accuracy is given it is the sensor's accuracy, not the accuracy of the liquid temperature and not uniformity (Section 6).
- Over-temperature protection is the specified value, not a certification or a working limit.
- Multi-model entries (MS-PA / MS-PB, MS-H280-S4 / S6, MS-M-S4 / S6, MS-H220-V3 / V5, MS-H280-B / F) give values per model in the order of the model names; check the model you need.
- The 43rd product in this family, a constant-temperature bath without an integrated stir drive, is not in these tables; it is covered in our guide to heating round-bottom flasks.
9. Before You Request a Quotation
Bring a short list to the conversation:
- Your largest vessel (type, base diameter, working volume) and the liquid, including whether it is more viscous than water.
- The liquid temperature you need, and whether it must be controlled or recorded.
- How many samples run together and whether they need different settings.
- Whether the work involves chemicals or flammable solvents, so we can confirm the model is not restricted and is suitable for your setup.
- Any value your method depends on that the tables show as a dash.
Ask us to confirm, for the model you choose: the stir bar size and volume it is rated for with your liquid; the temperature sensor supplied and how it mounts; what the over-temperature protection does when it acts; and which laboratory heating-equipment safety standard the unit is tested to [2].
10. Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a magnetic stirrer?
Decide first whether you need heating, then how many positions, then size the plate to your largest vessel and the rated volume to your working volume. For heated work, compare the specified temperature range with the liquid temperature you need, and look for an external temperature sensor if that temperature matters. Check for any use restriction before you decide.
Do I need a hotplate stirrer or just a magnetic stirrer?
If your method runs at room temperature, an unheated magnetic stirrer does the job with fewer controls and no hot surface. Choose a hotplate stirrer when the sample must be heated while it is stirred.
Is a 7-inch plate better than a 5-inch plate?
Not in general. A 7-inch plate takes larger vessel bases and several small vessels; a 5-inch plate takes less bench space. Size the plate to your largest vessel.
Will my liquid reach the maximum temperature in the specifications?
No. The specified range is the setting range of the plate or heater. The liquid stays below the plate temperature, by an amount that depends on the vessel, volume and liquid. Use an external probe in the liquid if you need to control the liquid temperature itself.
What does "Max. stirring quantity [H₂O]" mean?
It is the largest volume of water the unit is rated to stir. A more viscous liquid may require a lower working volume; treat the figure as a water rating and leave a margin for your actual conditions.
11. Keep Exploring the Stirring & Heating Hub
- Magnetic stirrer hot plate guide: how the drive, plate and controller work, and what each specification means.
- Plate vs liquid temperature and the external probe: why the liquid lags and what an external PT1000 probe changes.
- Stir bar size and decoupling: bar shapes, sizes and why bars spin out.
- Multi-position magnetic stirrers: parallel stirring for screening and repeat runs.
Larger plates: MS10-H500-Pro (10-inch, heated and stirred) and HP500-Pro (10-inch hotplate).
Browse all ALab™ magnetic stirrers and ALab™ hotplates.