{"id":57,"date":"2024-06-21T12:42:57","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T12:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bionicsscientific.com\/blog\/?p=57"},"modified":"2026-09-05T11:00:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T11:00:58","slug":"hot-air-oven-temperature-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bionicsscientific.com\/blogs\/hot-air-oven-temperature-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot Air Oven Temperature and Time: Sterilization Chart & Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hot air oven temperature time is an important factor in dry heat sterilization. The correct temperature and holding time help ensure effective sterilization of glassware, metal instruments, and other heat-resistant materials.<\/p>\n

That last part is what people get wrong when they’re shopping for one. A hot air oven and an autoclave<\/a> both sterilize things, but they don’t do it the same way, and mixing them up leads to melted trays or corroded metal\u2014more on that below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick summary:<\/strong> Hot air ovens use dry heat for heat-resistant materials such as glassware, metal instruments, powders, and oils. Common dry-heat sterilization time-temperature<\/a> combinations include 160\u00b0C for 2 hours and 170\u00b0C for 1 hour, but the required cycle should be selected according to the material, validated procedure, and equipment instructions.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Specification<\/span><\/td>\nDetails<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Temperature Range<\/span><\/td>\nUp to 200\u00b0C<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Controller<\/span><\/td>\nPID Digital<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Air Circulation<\/span><\/td>\nForced Air<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Safety<\/span><\/td>\nDIN 12880<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Capacity<\/span><\/td>\n22L\u2013600L<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Hot Air Oven Temperature Time \u2013 Sterilization Chart<\/h2>\n

Get this part wrong and you either under-sterilize the batch or waste hours running a cycle longer than it needed to be. Here’s what’s standard:
\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Material<\/strong><\/td>\nTemperature<\/strong><\/td>\nTime<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Glassware<\/span><\/td>\n160\u00b0C<\/span><\/td>\n2 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Metal instruments<\/span><\/td>\n170\u00b0C<\/span><\/td>\n1 hour<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Powders<\/span><\/td>\n150\u00b0C<\/span><\/td>\n2.5 hours<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Higher temperatures may allow shorter holding times, but the correct sterilization cycle depends on the material, load, oven performance, and validated laboratory procedure. Always follow the equipment manufacturer\u2019s instructions and your laboratory SOP when selecting temperature and exposure time.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a Hot Air Oven?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Strip away the branding and it’s just heat and moving air. No steam, no pressure, no liquid disinfectant. Because there’s zero moisture inside the chamber, it’s the obvious pick for anything that rusts, warps, or reacts badly to water\u2014glassware, scalpels, forceps, and dry powders being the usual suspects.<\/span><\/p>\n

An autoclave, for comparison, sterilizes with pressurized steam. Faster, yes, but not something you’d want touching a tray of surgical steel that needs to come out rust-free.<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does It Actually Work?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Four things are doing the real work inside the chamber:<\/span><\/p>\n