Elastic vs Traditional Cuffs: Which Lab Coat Cuff Is Right for You?

When you're ordering a lab coat — for a student or for work — you'll see a choice between "elastic cuffs" and "traditional cuffs." They're more different than most people expect, and the choice actually matters. Here's the plain-English version.

What the Two Cuff Styles Actually Are

Elastic cuffs are the snug, wrist-hugging ones. An elastic band gathers the sleeve in around the wrist, so the fabric sits close to the arm instead of hanging loose.

Traditional cuffs are open. The sleeve simply ends in a plain opening, like a shirt sleeve — the classic, traditional lab coat look.

Why Elastic Cuffs Are the Safer Choice for Science

If the coat is going anywhere near a Bunsen burner, elastic cuffs are the clear winner:

• No loose fabric near the flame. An open sleeve can hang or swing over a bench — near a Bunsen burner, a snug wrist-hugging cuff removes that risk completely
• Easier to write and work in. A snug cuff stays put and out of the way when students are writing up practicals — no sleeve sliding down over the hand mid-experiment
• Easy to keep sleeves clear. If you've sized the coat up so your child can grow into it, elastic sleeves are much easier to push up and keep rolled up — the elastic holds the roll in place instead of it falling back down over the hands

That last point matters more than people realise: many parents deliberately size up in Year 7 so one coat lasts through school. On a roomy coat, elastic cuffs are what keeps the sleeves workable for the first year or two.

Why People Still Choose Traditional Cuffs

The open sleeve is the classic, traditional lab coat look — it's the style most people picture. It's also perfectly fine for science classes where heat sources aren't in play (junior general science, food tech, classroom-only subjects) and for general workwear. If your school specifies "traditional" on the booklist, that's the one to order.

Both styles cost the same — it's purely a choice of fit and function, not price.

So, Which Should You Order?

1. Check your school's booklist or your school's page on our site — if a style is specified, that's your answer
2. No specification, and the coat will be used in a science lab with Bunsen burners? Elastic cuffs are the safer, more practical choice
3. Customising a coat with a logo? Either cuff works — cuffs don't affect logo printing. See our Customise page to add your school or company logo (free on 10+ coats)

Still unsure? Contact us — we talk to schools every day about exactly this question.

Ready to order? Browse the Shop — every coat shows its cuff style clearly, and if you need measurements first, the Sizing Chart has you covered.