Burette vs Pipette: Key Differences and Which to Use

Burettes and pipettes both dispense precise volumes of liquid, and in a busy lab it's easy to reach for whichever one is closest on the shelf. But they're built to do different jobs, and using one where the other is actually called for is a common source of avoidable measurement error. A burette is designed to deliver a variable, controlled volume drop by drop, while a pipette is built to transfer one fixed or pre-set volume as accurately as possible in a single action.

This guide breaks down how each instrument works, where their accuracy actually comes from, and which one belongs in which step of a procedure.

What Is a Burette?

A burette is a long, graduated glass tube fitted with a stopcock valve at the bottom, allowing the operator to release liquid in a controlled, continuous or drop-by-drop stream while watching the volume dispensed in real time. That combination, fine control plus a running volume readout, is what makes a burette the standard tool for titration, where the exact point a reaction reaches equivalence isn't known in advance and the operator needs to be able to stop adding titrant the instant the endpoint is reached.

Key Features of a Burette:

• Stopcock valve – Glass or PTFE, controlling flow rate down to individual drops.
• Graduated scale – Runs the length of the tube, letting the operator read exactly how much has been dispensed at any point.
• Variable delivery – Unlike a fixed-volume instrument, a burette can deliver anywhere from a fraction of a millilitre up to its full capacity in one continuous action.

Burettes are supplied in Class A and Class B accuracy tolerances, much like volumetric glassware, and the choice between glass and PTFE stopcocks affects both chemical compatibility and maintenance. A common option is the BRAND Burette with Side Valve Stopcock and Safety Device, 10 mL, Class B, which pairs Boro 3.3 glass with a side-valve stopcock for controlled, drip-free dispensing during titration.

What Is a Pipette?

A pipette transfers a single, known volume of liquid from one container to another, either a fixed volume set by the pipette's design or a volume set by the operator before the transfer. Unlike a burette, a pipette isn't meant to dispense a variable, unknown amount while watching a reaction unfold. It's built to move one specific volume as accurately and repeatably as possible, which is why pipettes are the standard for sample preparation, serial dilutions and any step where the target volume is already known.

Key Features of a Pipette:

• Fixed or adjustable volume – Volumetric pipettes deliver one calibrated volume; graduated and micropipettes allow a range to be set.
• Single delivery action – Designed to transfer the set volume once, rather than dispense continuously while monitoring a reaction.
• Higher precision at small volumes – Particularly for microlitre-range transfers, where a burette isn't practical.

Volumetric pipettes are the most accurate type for delivering one exact volume, such as the Volumetric Pipette 1 mL with Piston, Amber Graduation, while graduated glass pipettes such as the LLG Labware Volumetric Pipette, 3 mL, Class AS offer a similar level of certified accuracy at small volumes, supplied batch-certified for traceability.

Burette vs Pipette: The Key Differences

• Purpose – A burette dispenses a variable, watched volume during a reaction. A pipette transfers one known volume in a single step.
• Control during use – A burette lets the operator stop dispensing at any point based on what's happening in the reaction (such as a colour change at a titration endpoint). A pipette delivers its set volume and stops.
• Typical volume range – Burettes commonly run from 10 mL to 100 mL, suited to titration-scale reactions. Pipettes cover a much wider span, from microlitre volumes in micropipettes up to tens of millilitres in volumetric and graduated pipettes.
• Reading the result – A burette's graduated scale is read continuously as liquid is dispensed. A pipette's calibration is set before use and doesn't need to be read mid-transfer.

Which One Should You Use?

If you're running a titration and need to add reagent gradually while watching for a reaction endpoint, a burette is the only sensible choice. Its stopcock and graduated scale exist specifically to let you dispense down to a fraction of a millilitre and stop the instant the endpoint appears.

If you already know the exact volume you need, whether that's preparing a standard solution, transferring a fixed sample volume, or setting up a serial dilution, a pipette is the right tool. Choose a volumetric pipette when one exact, non-adjustable volume is needed repeatedly, a graduated pipette when some flexibility in the delivered volume helps, or a micropipette for anything in the microlitre range.

Both instruments sit within LabFriend's broader Laboratory Burettes and Laboratory Pipettes ranges. For a deeper look at either instrument on its own, see our Burette Laboratory Guide and Pipette Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a pipette be used instead of a burette for titration?
Not effectively. A pipette delivers a fixed or pre-set volume in one action and can't be stopped mid-delivery based on a colour change or endpoint, which is the entire purpose of using a burette for titration.

Can a burette be used to transfer a precise, known volume like a pipette?
Technically yes, since a burette can be stopped at any graduation mark, but a volumetric pipette will generally be more accurate and faster for transferring one already-known volume repeatedly.

What's the difference between a graduated pipette and a volumetric pipette?
A volumetric pipette delivers one single, fixed calibrated volume with high accuracy. A graduated pipette has a full length of graduation marks, allowing any volume within its range to be measured out, at a small trade-off in accuracy compared to a dedicated volumetric pipette.

Do burettes and pipettes use the same accuracy classes?
Yes. Both instruments are commonly available in Class A (or AS) for the tightest tolerances and batch certification, and Class B for routine or educational use with a wider tolerance.

Explore the Range at LabFriend

Whether you need a burette for titration work or a pipette for precise liquid transfer, LabFriend Australia stocks a full range of both from trusted brands including BRAND, LLG Labware, DWK Life Sciences and ISOLAB. Browse the Laboratory Burettes and Laboratory Pipettes ranges to find the right instrument for your next procedure.