How to Choose and Where to Buy the Best Scrubs

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Buying Guide: How to Choose and Where to Buy the Best Scrubs

Carolyn Cumper

Published in MedShop Blog

0 min read

December 23, 2025

If you’re looking for where to buy scrubs but don’t want to end up purchasing poor-quality material or uniforms that are hard to clean, there are a few things you’ll need to prioritise. Whenever you buy scrubs online, I recommend looking for different styles, sizing charts, materials, colours, and even outfits for specific roles.

In this guide, I’ll take you through some key factors to consider, how to choose the right material and fit, and where to shop with confidence.

TL;DR

When buying scrubs, prioritise durability, comfort, sustainability, style, and functionality. Consider your role’s specific needs, and materials such as cotton, polyester, and blends. Look for features such as moisture-wicking, wrinkle resistance, and storage. Size up carefully, remember you can customise your outfits, and choose a colour that suits your role. Buy from uniform websites, bulk suppliers, and medical supply experts.

Key Factors to Consider When Buying Scrubs

The most important things to consider when you buy scrubs online are durability and quality, comfort and fit, sustainability, style and functionality, and cost vs. longevity.

Durability and Quality

Look for scrubs that are made with high-quality fabrics, ideally from a recognisable, well-trusted manufacturer. Personally, I recommend Cherokee and Dickies, both of which have collections here at Medshop.

The more durable and higher-quality your uniform, the better value they will be (and the more resistant to everyday wear and bodily fluids).

Comfort and Fit

Never choose too small a fit. Healthcare workers need comfortable, well-fitting scrubs so they can easily move around and endure long shifts. Otherwise, you’ll find it hard to focus.

Sustainability Certifications

If sustainability is important to you, there are plenty of options out there to consider. Sustainable scrubs reduce our reliance on harmful chemicals and carbon-emitting processes, and choosing them is a key way of giving back to our planet.

Style and Functionality

You don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. I personally choose fitted scrubs because I feel more confident and professional when wearing them! What’s more, highly functional scrubs, such as those with accessible pockets and drawstrings, make your life much easier on the job.

Cost vs. Longevity

Don’t fall into the trap of buying cheaply to save upfront. Cheap scrubs are often cheaply made, and won’t endure the months or years you’ll need them for.

How to Choose the Right Scrubs for Your Role

Different roles demand different scrubs, which is why it’s worth narrowing down options for nurses, doctors, surgeons, dental staff, vets, and students.

Nurses

Nurses are on their feet all day and typically move quickly from area to area. That means you’ll need nursing scrubs that are comfortable over long periods, made from materials that endure years of use (and that are easy to clean).

Doctors

Doctors are just as busy as nurses. As a doctor, you’ll benefit from scrubs that are professional but breathable, with plenty of pockets and functionality to balance comfort.

Surgeons

Surgeons demand scrubs that are either disposable or highly sterile with clean, simple designs (to avoid bacterial capture and growth). Choose scrubs you can layer or wash thoroughly.

Dental staff

Dentists and hygienists come into contact with lots of fluids, and therefore need stain-resistant and antimicrobial scrubs. Choose comfort, too, for long surgery hours.

Vets and allied health

Vets demand extremely durable scrubs that can withstand heavy soiling and potential damage. Look for a pocket-heavy design where you can easily carry tools.

Students and trainees

Ideally, choose all-purpose scrubs colour-coded to your area or profession. Easy-clean, extra-comfortable uniforms are a must as you learn how to care for them.

Best Materials and Features to Look for in Scrubs

Some scrubs are made from different materials with beneficial properties, such as cotton and organic blends, polyester, and bamboo. Others have special features, like moisture-wicking, functional storage, wrinkle resistance, antimicrobial manufacturing, and ID loops.

Material & Fabric of Scrubs

When it comes to the best fabrics for scrubs, I recommend comparing cotton, polyester, bamboo, and blends - however, the material you choose will depend entirely on your comfort and usage preferences.

Cotton and Organic Blends

Cotton and organic blend scrubs are some of the most breathable, meaning they’re very comfortable to wear on long shifts and in high temperatures. However, they’re not always the most durable.

Polyester and Stretch Fabrics

Blends including polyester are some of the stretchiest and least resistant to wrinkling and wear. But, you wear these scrubs often at the loss of some comfort, meaning it’s worth looking for a cotton blend with polyester where possible.

Bamboo and Eco-Friendly Materials

Bamboo fibre is popular with workers looking to lower environmental impact. They’re good for wicking sweat and are very comfortable, but they can be more expensive and sometimes need chemicals during production. In fact, research suggests chemical vs. enzyme-manufactured bamboo may fit differently:

“(...) there are fundamental differences between the type and function of bamboo textiles that are manufactured chemically versus those that are manufactured mechanically with the aid of enzymes.”

Waite, M.

Key Features of Scrubs

You should ideally prioritise the following features when you buy scrubs online:

Moisture-wicking: Material that’s highly breathable and comfy to wear when active
Functional storage: Pockets front and back, ideally with zip closures for security
Wrinkle resistance and easy-care fabric: Material that won’t crease easily from wash to dry to use
Antimicrobial properties: Material designed to prevent bacterial/viral growth, ideal in healthcare settings
ID loops: Great for easily storing and managing your card(s) when needed

How to Choose the Right Scrub Size and Fit

When looking where to buy scrubs, choose an outlet offering size charts and customisation options, and measure yourself carefully.

Sizing Tips and Measurements

Here are a few personal scrubs sizing tips I’ve put to use over the years:

Measure everything - your waist, your chest/bust, your height, your hips, and your inside leg
Size up a little, where possible, to avoid choosing too small a fit
Be more liberal on sizing up if you prefer flowing comfort vs. fitted, tailored looks
Consider your daily duties - be careful to choose an outfit that will move easily with you during long shifts

Using Online Size Charts

Online size charts are a great place to start if you’re buying scrubs for the first time. However, remember that different brands, such as Dickies and Cherokee, have different measurement standards. Be sure to compare their set sizes.

Customizing Fit for Comfort

Regardless of what you choose, you can style customise the fit of your scrubs after buying. For example, consider turning up trouser legs if they are too long, or to tailor in the chest or stomach of your top if you want a closer fit.

Colour Options and How to Choose the Right Scrub Colour

Scrub colours vary depending on hospital departments, but consider your own style, stain resistance, and what’s trending.

Department colour codes vary on the hospital. For example, you may need wine-coloured tops and pants if you are a porter, and green or blue if you are on the wards.
Consider darker shades to hide and resist against stains. Or, even better, choose scrubs that are stain-resistant and easy to clean.
If style is important to you, consider popular colours for 2026, such as greys, teals, greens, and plums.

Colour choices can also affect how patients view you, according to studies:

“(...) male and female clinicians in blue scrubs were most commonly identified as the most caring (...) across all age groups.”

Hribar, C.A. et al.

Where to Buy Scrubs Online (Best Places to Shop)

The best places to buy scrubs online include specialist medical uniform websites, e-commerce marketplaces, bulk suppliers, direct-to-consumer brand websites, and medical supply experts.

Medical uniform websites that specialise in scrubs offer a good variety in brands and uniforms for different purposes.
Major e-commerce marketplaces such as Amazon generally offer variety at low prices, but quality can vary.
Bulk suppliers are typically connected to facilities and workplaces, but are usually best if you want to buy loose-fitting scrubs in multiple quantities.
Direct brands guarantee quality and reliable customer care, but usually at a higher price.
Medical supply experts, like Medshop, strive to give you a balance of great choice, reliable value, and long-lasting scrubs for various purposes.

Final Buying Tips: Choosing the Right Scrubs for Your Needs

Ultimately, the best scrubs for you may not be ideal for the next person. You need to consider your own comfort levels, your job, activity levels, body type, style and aesthetics, and available budget.

Which Features Matter Most

Above all, I recommend prioritising comfort, fit, quality manufacture, and functionality over all other aspects when you come to buy scrubs online. After all, you’ll need an outfit that will keep you focused on your job over long hours, and which won’t wear and tear easily.

Comfort vs. Budget Balance

Prioritise your daily needs over upfront costs. Buying cheap scrubs might save you money initially, but in the short run, you could end up repairing and replacing them and spending more money.

A great place to start is Medshop’s fabulous range of affordable, durable, comfortable scrubs. Take a look at what our team (and buyers) recommend!

Sources

Discover The Best Fabric for Scrubs. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved November 23, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/blogs/news/best-fabrics-for-scrubs

Hribar, C. A., Avinash Chandran, Piazza, M., & Quinsey, C. S. (2023). Association Between Patient Perception of Surgeons and Color of Scrub Attire. In JAMA Surgery (Vol. 158, Issue 4). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2800340

Nursing Scrubs Australia - Professional Scrubs. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved November 23, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/collections/nursing-scrubs-uniforms

(PDF) Sustainable Textiles: the Role of Bamboo and a Comparison of Bamboo Textile properties (Part II). (n.d.). In ResearchGate. Retrieved November 23, 2025, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231608434_Sustainable_Textiles_the_Role_of_Bamboo_and_a_Comparison_of_Bamboo_Textile_properties_Part_II

What Are Scrubs? A Comprehensive Guide. (n.d.). In Medshop Australia. Retrieved November 23, 2025, from https://www.medshop.com.au/blogs/news/what-are-scrubs