The International Student's Guide to Buying a Lab Coat in Australia

Starting a science degree in Australia and your subject outline says you need a lab coat? Welcome — here's everything you need to know about buying one in a new country, including the things Australian websites assume you already understand.

Australian Sizing Doesn't Work Like Back Home

Lab coats here aren't sized like S/M/L — and they're not your body measurements either. Australian lab coats are sized by garment measurements: the width of the coat laid flat, and its length.

The reliable method that works for every brand here:

Take a jacket or button-up shirt you already wear (one you'd wear over other clothes)
Lay it flat, button it up, measure across the chest from armpit to armpit
Match that measurement to our Sizing Chart, which also lists coat length

No guessing, no conversion charts, no ordering "large" and receiving a tent. We stock XXS to 3XL, so there is a proper fit for every body — including sizes that many campus stores don't carry.

What "ex GST" Means (You'll See It Everywhere)

Australian product prices are often quoted "ex GST" — meaning before Australia's 10% Goods and Services Tax. So a coat listed at $24 ex GST costs a little more at checkout once GST is added. It's not a hidden fee; it's how Australian business pricing works, and your receipt will show the GST amount separately, which is exactly what your insurance or reimbursement paperwork (if any) will want.

Shipping Across Australia — Including Perth

We ship to every Australian state and territory — yes, including Western Australia, where plenty of our student orders come from:

Standard: 5–7 business days
Express: 2–3 business days
Free shipping on orders over $100 — which is why lab groups and flatmates order together (more on that in our group ordering guide)

The practical advice is the same for everyone: order at least a week before your first prac, not the night before.

Paying Without an Australian Bank History

You don't need an Australian credit history or a local bank loan to order — checkout takes a normal card payment (international cards work fine). If you're buying through a university club, society or department instead, those can order via Purchase Order — but as an individual student, card checkout is all you need.

One Thing Worth Knowing About Where Your Coat Comes From

Many international students come from countries with strong manufacturing reputations and rightly ask where garments are made. Our supply chain is governed by a written Supplier Code of Conduct built on the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) Base Code — covering living wages, no child or forced labour, safe working conditions and environmental standards. If your university has procurement or modern-slavery requirements for suppliers you buy through, you're covered. Read more in our ethical sourcing guide.

The Quick Checklist

Check your subject outline actually requires a lab coat (and whether it must be white)
Measure a garment you own, match it to the Sizing Chart
Order at least a week before your first lab class
Add the $5 safety spectacles if your outline lists them (Breeze for most students, Traditional if you wear prescription glasses)
If it doesn't fit — free size exchange within 7 days

Get Started

Browse the Shop — white lab coats from $24 ex GST, XXS to 3XL. Any question at all, Contact us — we answer every message.