Refurbished lab equipment market seen reaching $36.96 billion by 2030

The refurbished laboratory equipment market is projected to grow from $26.25 billion in 2025 to $36.96 billion by 2030, driven by budget pressure, sustainability goals and rising research demand. North America led the market in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow fastest.

Why it matters: - Refurbished laboratory equipment gives labs a lower-cost way to access advanced instruments without buying new systems. - The market is also tied to sustainability goals because refurbished products extend equipment life and support circular procurement. - Academic research spending is rising, which adds demand for affordable tools in universities and research centers.

What happened: - The refurbished laboratory equipment market is forecast to rise from $26.25 billion in 2025 to $28.17 billion in 2026. - The market is expected to reach $36.96 billion by 2030. - The 2026-to-2030 forecast implies a 7.0% compound annual growth rate. - The market grew at a 7.3% CAGR in the historic period cited in the report. - North America held the largest market share in 2025. - Asia-Pacific is projected to post the fastest growth over the forecast period.

The details: - Refurbished laboratory equipment includes previously used instruments that undergo inspection, testing and restoration to return them to full operational performance. - The report links historic growth to high prices for new equipment, laboratory budget limits, growth in academic research, stronger demand for analytical instruments and lab expansion in emerging economies. - Looking ahead, growth will be supported by sustainable procurement policies, higher leasing of refurbished equipment, more startup biotech companies, stronger government research funding and circular economy practices. - The report identifies cost-effective laboratory upgrades, longer equipment lifecycles, certified refurbishment programs, demand from newly established labs and warranties on used instruments as key trends. - Academic institutions, including universities, colleges and specialized research organizations, are a major demand driver because they need advanced tools for experiments and training. - In November 2024, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics reported that US academic R&D spending rose 11.2% in fiscal 2023 to $108.8 billion, up $11.0 billion from the prior year. - The report covers Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa. - Download a free sample of the report. - View the full market report.

Between the lines: - The market outlook shows how labs are balancing cost control with sustainability, especially as institutions look for ways to expand research capacity without full-price capital purchases. - Demand from new biotech startups and newly established labs suggests refurbished equipment is moving beyond a fallback option and into routine procurement. - The regional split points to a mature replacement market in North America and a faster-buildout opportunity in Asia-Pacific.

What's next: - Market growth is expected to continue through 2030 as more labs adopt leasing, certified refurbishment and sustainability-led purchasing. - The report's focus on forecasts, TAM analysis and market scoring suggests vendors will use the data to target specific regions and lab segments. - Faster academic and biotech spending could keep pressure on suppliers that can certify quality and back used equipment with warranties.

The bottom line: - Refurbished laboratory equipment is becoming a bigger part of lab procurement as research spending rises and buyers seek cheaper, greener alternatives to new instruments.