If your lab relies on nitrogen cylinders for daily operations, you’re likely spending more than you need to - month after month, year after year. Between rental fees, deliveries, and fluctuating gas costs, using nitrogen cylinders can quietly become a major drain on your budget. But there’s good news: switching to a nitrogen generator can significantly cut those ongoing expenses while giving your lab more independence and consistency.

The Hidden Costs of Nitrogen Cylinders

On the surface, cylinders might seem like a straightforward, pay-as-you-go solution. But when you take a closer look at all the associated costs, the numbers quickly add up:

- Cylinder rental fees – Monthly charges just to hold tanks

- Delivery and handling fees – Regular costs for transportation, fuel, and labor

- Wasted gas – Cylinders are often returned before they're fully empty for safety or logistical reasons

- Downtime and labor – Time spent replacing, transporting, and managing cylinders cuts into your productivity

- Price volatility – Gas costs can fluctuate with supply chain issues and fuel prices

Why Nitrogen Generators Make Financial (and Operational) Sense

A nitrogen generator is a one-time investment that pays for itself quickly. These systems use your facility’s compressed air to produce high-purity nitrogen on demand, eliminating the need for deliveries or external suppliers.

Here's how nitrogen generators stack up:

- No rental or delivery fees
- Consistent gas supply – no interruptions or reorders
- Minimal maintenance
- Payback period as short as 12-18 months (try our generator payback calculator next!)
- Long-term ROI that keeps increasing year after year

Not only do generators save money, but they also free up space in your lab, reduce safety risks from heavy cylinders, and give you full control over your gas supply.

Take the Quiz and See What You Could Save

Not sure how your current nitrogen use compares? Use our Nitrogen Savings Estimator Quiz to find out exactly how many cylinders you’re going through each year, what that’s costing you, and how much you could save by switching to an on-site nitrogen generator.

Stop paying for gas you don’t use—and start investing in a smarter, more sustainable solution. See the actual benefits of a lab that switched from using cylinders to a nitrogen generator.

Learn More: Nitrogen Generators for Sample Preparation: Everything you need to know

Watch Our Webinar: Improving Laboratory Workflows with Nitrogen Generation