Rainin vs. Eppendorf vs. Gilson: Which Pipette Brand Is Right for Your Lab?
By Pipettes Guru
Rainin, Eppendorf and Gilson are three of the most trusted names in manual pipetting, and all three make instruments capable of meeting ISO 8655 accuracy. The right choice usually comes down to three things: the tip system you want to standardize on, ergonomics for your team, and total cost over the instrument's life. Here is an honest, side-by-side comparison.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Tip system | Best known for | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainin (Mettler-Toledo) | LTS (LiteTouch) and universal | Low tip-ejection force, ergonomics, high-throughput | Labs pipetting all day; RSI-conscious teams |
| Eppendorf | epT.I.P.S. and universal | All-round robustness, molecular biology workhorse | General research, PCR, broad compatibility |
| Gilson | Universal (PIPETMAN) | Durability and field serviceability | Labs that want long life and easy in-house service |
Rainin
Rainin's signature is its LTS (LiteTouch System), which uses a straight, cylindrical tip seal that requires far less force to load and eject tips than a traditional conical fit. For teams pipetting for hours, that lower force meaningfully reduces hand fatigue and repetitive-strain risk. Rainin also offers universal-fit models. The trade-off: LTS uses Rainin-style tips, so you standardize on that ecosystem (we stock LTS-compatible tips as well as genuine Rainin).
Eppendorf
Eppendorf Research plus and Reference 2 pipettes are the all-round workhorses found in most molecular biology and PCR labs. They are robust, comfortable, and pair with the epT.I.P.S. system while also accepting many universal tips. If you want one brand that does almost everything well and is easy to source consumables for, Eppendorf is a safe default.
Gilson
The Gilson PIPETMAN is one of the original air-displacement pipettes and is prized for durability and serviceability — many labs keep PIPETMANs running for 15+ years because parts are accessible and the instruments tolerate heavy use. They use universal tips, which keeps consumable sourcing flexible and competitive.
So which should you buy?
- Choose Rainin if ergonomics and high daily throughput matter most.
- Choose Eppendorf if you want a versatile, widely-supported all-rounder for general research and PCR.
- Choose Gilson if longevity, easy service, and universal-tip flexibility are your priorities.
All three hold their accuracy when properly maintained and calibrated — which is exactly why buying them certified refurbished is so attractive: you get the same brand and the same ISO 8655 performance at 40–60% less than new, with a calibration certificate and a 90-day warranty.
Browse our Rainin, Eppendorf and Gilson refurbished pipettes, or use our tip compatibility finder to match tips to any of them.