Lab

2026-03-01T11:29:06Z

Bu58: The formula to calculate the number of labs is correct.

{{Languages}}
{{:Infobox:Lab}}
[[File:Simplescience.png|thumb|right|Science packs put into the front lab will be passed to labs behind it.]]
'''Labs''' are buildings that perform [[research]] for [[technologies]] by consuming [[science pack]]s. Use of a lab is required to progress in Factorio.

When [[productivity module]]s are used in labs, the productivity bonus is directly calculated and applied each [[Time#Ticks|tick]] so the productivity bar is simply cosmetic. This means that it does not matter that the productivity bar resets when the research is changed, no productivity bonus is lost. [https://forums.factorio.com/26860]

The player can only research one technology at a time, but can use multiple labs for faster results. The speed bonus of labs when [[lab research speed (research)|lab research speed]] is researched and modules are present can be calculated using this formula: <code>research_bonus × module_bonus = speed_bonus</code>; the percentage bonuses have to be converted to decimals (e.g. +140% = 2.4) before the formula is used.

[[Inserters]] can insert and remove science packs from labs. This allows chaining multiple labs together with inserters, each inserter taking science packs, as needed, from one lab and placing it into the next.

==Production requirements==
Calculating the number of science packs needed per second is straightforward:
* <math>ERS = \left( 1 + \frac{B \left[ r \right] }{100} \right) \times \left( 1 + \frac{M \left[ r \right] }{100} \right) \times BLS </math>
* <math>ACT = \frac{T \left[ r \right] }{ERS}</math>
* <math>PPS = \frac{N}{ACT}</math>

Where:
*'''''ERS''''' is "effective lab research speed"
*'''''B[r]''''' is the speed bonus from the [[Lab research speed (research)]], in percent
*'''''M[r]''''' is the sum of all [[module]] speed effects ([[speed module]]s - positive; [[productivity module]]s - negative), in percent
*'''''BLS''''' is the base lab speed, which is adjusted by the [[quality]]{{SA}} of the lab
*'''''ACT''''' is "adjusted cycle time"
*'''''T[r]''''' is the research cycle time as displayed in the research screen
*'''''PPS''''' is "packs per second"
*'''''N''''' is the number of labs available.

Note: while the [[biolab]]{{SA}} has twice the speed of a regular lab, it also consumes packs half as fast. As such, the consumption rate of a biolab is the same as the consumption rate of an equal quality regular lab.

Thus, with 10 base quality standard labs, researching Nuclear Power (30 second cycle time) with Lab Research Speed 4 (140% bonus) and no module effects, the calculation is:
*<math>ERS = 1 + \frac{140}{100} = 2.4</math>
*<math>ACT = \frac{30}{2.4} = 12.5 s</math>
*<math>PPS = \frac{10}{12.5} = 0.8</math>

This means 0.8 science packs per second, of each type, would need to be produced to continuously supply the labs.

=== Equation simplification ===
Assuming all labs have the same ''B[r]'' and ''BLS''), the above calculations can be combined into one equation:

* <math>PPS = \frac{N}{T \left[ r \right] } \times \left( 1 + \frac{B \left[ r \right] }{100} \right) \times \left( 1 + \frac{M \left[ r \right] }{100} \right) \times BLS</math>

Thus for the numerical example:
* <math>PPS = 10 \times \left( 1 + \frac{140}{100} \right) \times \frac{1}{30} = \frac{10}{30} \times \left( 1 + 1.4 \right) = \frac{1}{3} \times 2.4 = \frac{2.4}{3} = 0.8</math> packs per second

If trying to find the amount of labs needed to consume a given amount of packs per second, use the following rearrangement:
* <math>N = \frac{PPS * T[r]}{\left(1 + \frac{B[r]}{100}\right)\times\left(1 + \frac{M[r]}{100}\right)\times BLS}</math>

== History ==
{{history|0.15.12|
* Lab speed info in the description contains the researched speed bonus as well.}}

{{history|0.12.6|
* The research speed of a lab is now not dependent on its electricity consumption, and can be scripted.}}

{{history|0.12.0|
* Lab research is now continuous; Science packs now have progress bars.}}

{{history|0.9.2|
* Labs are now named after early access backers when built from [[blueprint]]s.}}

{{history|0.7.2|
* Changed the recipe of Lab to require 4 transport belts, down from 5.}}

{{history|0.7.0|
* Added support for modules to labs.}}

{{history|0.6.0|
* New graphics.
* Labs are dedicated to backers (displayed in entity info).}}

{{history|0.2.7|
* Contents of the Lab is now shown in the entity info. }}

{{history|0.1.0|
* Introduced }}

==See also==
* [[Electric system]]
* [[Crafting]]

{{ProductionNav}}
{{C|Producers}}

Official Factorio Wiki - User contributions [en]

Lab