Laboratory furnaces can be built to perform a wide range of applications, and their range of features can be broad.

Thermal insulation within laboratory furnaces improves efficiency as it reduces the rate of thermal transfer. These furnaces are typically made of steel, which helps to prevent any radiant heat from the oven exterior.

The size of the laboratory furnace is an important consideration. The volume of the furnace must be sufficient to suit the spatial needs of the samples being heated, and ideally, multiple samples should be accommodated. There are three main types of laboratory furnaces; benchtop, cabinet, and walk-in. Benchtop is the smallest furnace and walk-in are the largest.

There are three different technologies that can be used to regulate the temperature within the furnace, including a thermostat, which has a simple on/off switch that engages the heating element to maintain a set temperature.