A lab coat protects your clothing and keeps you safe. A good lab coat is especially important for chemical lab technicians when working with acids, bases or other chemicals. Most lab coats are made from a blend of polyester and cotton, but 100% cotton coats are also available. Your lab coat should be loose-fitting for comfort and freedom of movement, but not so loose as to be a safety hazard.

Make sure you have a lab coat with long sleeves and cuffs to protect your arms. A good lab coat can be taken off quickly in the usual way, i.e. not over your head. The advantage of a lab coat with press studs is that you can take it off quickly in an emergency. Sometimes there is a press stud strip that allows all the buttons to be opened at the same time with a single movement. The sleeves of the lab coat should have well-fitting cuffs to prevent liquids from getting into the sleeves. Elasticated cuffs also make it easier to keep your hands free. Lab coats with a stand-up collar are useful to protect the neck. Small items can often be stored in front pockets and/or an inside pocket. Some lab coats have a split at the back for extra freedom of movement.

The standard lab coat is white. This has the advantage that any contamination is clearly visible. But there are other options. There are now all sorts of colours on the market: pink, yellow, orange or (pistachio) green. There are also less flashy colours, such as grey or dark blue. As well as a greater variety of colours, there are now several different fits. There are more tailored models or ones with a princess line that are more suited to women. Whichever you choose, safety is paramount, so make sure you have enough freedom of movement.