Microscope slides and prepared sets

Microscope slides, cover slips and prepared slide sets for compound microscopes. Prepared slides are professionally cut, stained and sealed specimens, ready to look at the moment they arrive, and they're the fastest way to get value from a new microscope. Blank glass slides and cover slips are what you need to prepare your own. Our starter set is the Levenhuk N20 NG, which has 20 prepared slides covering plant cells, animal tissue, insects and blood, plus 24 blank slides and 40 cover slips, for around £25. The N80 NG has 80 slides and an illustrated guide, and the G50 blank slides and G100 cover slips come in packs of 50 and 100 for making your own.

Free UK delivery on orders over £100, delivery charge shown at checkout

8 products

Prepared slides or make your own

Start with prepared slides. They show you what a well-made specimen looks like at each magnification, which makes your own first attempts far easier to judge. Once you're comfortable, blank slides, cover slips and a dropper let you look at pond water, onion skin, cheek cells and anything else thin enough for light to pass through. The two go together, and every prepared set we sell includes blanks.

Which slides fit which microscope

Standard slides are about 76 by 26 mm and fit any compound microscope with a stage and clips, which is every one we sell. They don't suit a stereo microscope or a digital microscope with a screen, both of which light from above and are built for solid objects.

Microscope slide FAQs

Are prepared slides suitable for children?

Yes, and they're the best starting point. The specimens are sealed under glass, so there's nothing to spill, and a set of 20 keeps a child busy for weeks. Pair them with any microscope in our kids' collection.

Do I need cover slips?

For anything wet, yes. The cover slip flattens the drop so the lens can focus through it and keeps the objective lens clean.

Can I reuse blank slides?

Yes. Wash them in warm soapy water, rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Cover slips are thin enough that they're usually treated as single-use.