The best oil-free vacuum pump for a laboratory depends on the task. In short: diaphragm pumps for chemistry, filtration and rotary evaporation; dry scroll pumps where you need a deeper vacuum or a clean backing pump for a turbo; and turbomolecular pumps (on an oil-free backing pump) for high-vacuum analytical work. Oil-free matters in the lab because it removes any risk of oil back-migration contaminating results.
Diaphragm pumps — chemistry, filtration, rotary evaporation
Chemical-resistant diaphragm pumps give completely oil-free rough vacuum (down to about 1 mbar) and, with a controller, precise vacuum for rotary evaporation. They’re the lab workhorse. Girovac services and sources spares for KNF and VacuuBrand diaphragm pumps.
Dry scroll pumps — deeper oil-free vacuum & turbo backing
Scroll pumps reach around 10-2 mbar oil-free and make an excellent clean backing pump for a turbomolecular pump. See our comparison of scroll vs rotary vane.
Turbomolecular pumps — high vacuum
For analytical instruments and high vacuum, a turbomolecular pump backed by a scroll pump keeps the whole system oil-free. Girovac supplies Edwards nEXT and Leybold TURBOVAC turbos.
Matching the pump to the job
Choose by vacuum level and duty, and size the pumping speed to your chamber or rotary evaporator — our laboratory vacuum pump guide covers this in full.
Specifying an oil-free lab pump?
Tell us the application, solvents and target vacuum and we’ll recommend the right oil-free pump. Email [email protected] or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best oil-free vacuum pump for a lab?
It depends on the task: a chemical-resistant diaphragm pump for chemistry, filtration and rotary evaporation; a dry scroll pump for deeper vacuum or backing a turbo; and a turbomolecular pump on a scroll backing pump for high vacuum.
Why use an oil-free vacuum pump in a laboratory?
Oil-free pumps (diaphragm, scroll, turbo) have no oil in the pumping chamber, so there is no risk of oil back-migration contaminating samples or instruments – essential for clean, analytical and chemistry work.
What is the best pump for a rotary evaporator?
A chemical-resistant, oil-free diaphragm pump with an integrated vacuum controller, so you can match the vacuum to each solvent.
Written by the Girovac technical team. Girovac Ltd has supplied and serviced industrial and laboratory vacuum equipment from its North Walsham workshop since 1983. Last updated: July 2026.