The Hidden Costs of Owning Lab Coats: Why Renting Might Be the Smarter Choice

For healthcare and lab professionals, lab coats are essential, providing a layer of protection, hygiene, and professionalism. While buying lab coats might seem like a simple solution, many facilities find that it introduces surprising costs and challenges. From cleaning and repairs to managing inventory, lab coat ownership often ends up requiring more time and money than expected. A rental program can offer a more sustainable, cost-effective way to ensure staff are equipped with clean, compliant, and ready-to-wear garments every day.

The Cost of Purchasing Uniforms

The Upfront Costs of Buying Lab Coats

The initial investment in lab coats is significant, especially for facilities aiming to outfit a team with quality garments that meet industry standards. The upfront costs for lab coats can vary depending on the material and specific requirements, such as flame resistance, chemical resistance, or specific hygiene certifications. High-quality ones can typically cost between $25-$100 per coat. For a medium-sized facility needing lab coats for 50 employees, that’s an initial expense of $2,500 to $5,000 or more.

This initial cost adds up quickly, and with ownership comes the added responsibility for upkeep and replacement.

The Ongoing Costs of Purchasing Lab Coats

Purchasing lab coats is only the beginning; there are ongoing expenses that come with maintaining them over time.

Laundering and Cleaning

Properly laundering lab coats is essential in healthcare, where hygiene standards are critical. In-house laundering, however, adds significant costs. Commercial-grade laundry machines are costly to buy, run, and maintain, and they need skilled staff to handle the process correctly. Many facilities find that keeping up with these standards requires not only extra time and energy but also puts a noticeable dent in their budgets. Over time, the expenses of equipment upkeep, staff training, and energy usage can add up quickly, making rental options increasingly attractive.

Repairs and Replacements

Lab coats go through a lot each day, often picking up stains, rips, and general wear. To keep them looking fresh and meeting safety standards, repairs, and replacements are essential. For instance, replacing lab coats every 12-18 months can become a significant expense, especially when employees need more than one coat to keep up with laundering cycles.

Inventory Management

Keeping track of lab coats is an ongoing task that takes time and resources. Making sure each staff member has enough coats for regular use, and handling replacements when coats get damaged or when employees join or leave, can quickly add to the workload. Managing this requires either inventory tracking systems or dedicated staff, both of which come at a cost. Any slip-ups in tracking can lead to unexpected purchases, further driving up expenses.

The Hidden Costs

In addition to direct expenses, lab coat ownership includes hidden costs that can affect overall operations.

Time and Resource Drain

Managing lab coat laundering, repairs, and inventory is time-intensive. This takes administrators away from other essential tasks, creating an opportunity cost that impacts your bottom line. For healthcare managers or lab directors, these additional responsibilities can detract from patient care or operational oversight.

Compliance and Quality Control

Maintaining hygienic and compliant lab coats in-house requires strict quality control measures. Studies show that professionally laundered uniforms can reduce contamination risk by 50-75% compared to unregulated home washing, as laundering facilities often include protocols and testing to ensure uniforms are hygienically clean and free from contaminants.

Professional Image

Stains, shrinking, and missing buttons on lab coats can negatively impact a facility’s image. Patients and clients are more likely to trust professionals who present a clean, unified look, and visibly damaged or discolored lab coats can detract from that professionalism.

Why Renting Lab Coats is the Smarter Choice

When considering both the direct and hidden costs of owning lab coats, a rental program emerges as a cost-effective, convenient, and compliant alternative. Renting lab coats offers several benefits such as:

Predictable, Managed Costs

With lab coat rental, the unpredictable expenses of purchasing, laundering, repairs, and replacements are consolidated into one fixed cost. This makes budgeting easier and eliminates the need for substantial upfront investments.

Inclusive Services

A rental program covers all aspects of lab coat management, from professional laundering to repairs and replacements. Gallagher Uniform, for example, guarantees hygienically cleaned lab coats with each rotation, ensuring your staff always has a fresh and safe coat ready. This all-inclusive service can save facilities up to 50% on uniform costs over time.

Compliance and Hygiene

Partnering with a rental service that meets OSHA and CDC guidelines provides peace of mind that every coat meets the highest hygiene standards. Our laundering facilities are equipped with the latest technology to ensure coats are free from contaminants, meeting industry standards for cleanliness and safety.

Administrative Relief

Renting lab coats transfers inventory management, quality control, and compliance oversight to a dedicated team, freeing your staff to focus on core responsibilities. Gallagher’s rental program includes our G-Trak system for seamless inventory management, reducing the administrative burden on your facility.

Consistent, Professional Appearance

Gallagher’s lab coat rental program also offers customization options, including logo embroidery and color-coding by department, to maintain a professional image. A consistent look across your team builds patient trust and reinforces your facility’s brand.