---
title: "Bulk update containers"
method: POST
path: "/containers:bulk-update"
tags: ["containers"]
---

# Bulk update containers

`POST /containers:bulk-update`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://{tenant_name}.benchling.com/api/v2`
- URL: `https://{tenant_name}.benchling.com/api/v2/containers:bulk-update`
- Auth: HTTP bearer

Bulk update containers

## Request body

- ContainersBulkUpdateRequest
  - `containers` ContainerBulkUpdateItem[], required
    - `fields` Fields
    - `name` string
    - `parentStorageId` string: ID of containing parent inventory, can also specify a coordinate for plates and boxes (e.g. plt_2bAks9dx:a2).
    - `restrictedSamplePartyIds` string[]: IDs of users or teams who have access to use a restricted container. Well plate wells and unrestricted containers do not have restricted sample parties.
    - `restrictionStatus` 'RESTRICTED' | 'UNRESTRICTED' | 'NOT_APPLICABLE'
    - `sampleOwnerIds` string[]: IDs of users or teams who are sample owners for the container. Well plate wells do not have sample owners.
    - `concentration` Measurement
      - `units` string, nullable, required: Can only be null if value is also null
      - `value` number, double, nullable, required: Can only be null if units is also null
    - `containerId` string, required
    - `quantity` ContainerQuantity: Quantity of a container, well, or transfer. Supports mass, volume, and other quantities.
      - `units` 'L' | 'mL' | 'uL' | 'nL' | 'pL' | 'gal (US)' | 'qt (US)' | 'pt (US)' | 'kg' | 'g' | 'mg' | 'ug' | 'ng' | 'pg' | 'lb' | 'oz' | 'mol' | 'mmol' | 'umol' | 'nmol' | 'pmol' | 'cells' | '(x10^3) cells' | '(x10^4) cells' | '(x10^5) cells' | '(x10^6) cells' | '(x10^7) cells' | '(x10^8) cells' | '(x10^9) cells' | 'items' | 'units'
      - `value` number, double, nullable
    - `role` ExperimentalWellRole
      - `group` integer
      - `primaryRole` 'SAMPLE' | 'CONTROL' | 'STANDARD' | 'BLANK'
      - `subrole` string, nullable
    - `volume` DeprecatedContainerVolumeForInput: Desired volume for a container, well, or transfer. "volume" type keys are deprecated in API requests; use the more permissive "quantity" type key instead.
      - `units` 'pL' | 'nL' | 'uL' | 'mL' | 'L'
      - `value` number, double, nullable

## Response `202`

This endpoint launches a [long-running task](https://docs.benchling.com/docs/api/v2/benchling-api/tasks/get-task) and returns the Task ID of the launched task.
The task response contains the full list of Containers that were updated.

- AsyncTaskLink
  - `taskId` string

## Other responses

- `400`: Bad Request

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api-2.md) - [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api-2/llms.txt) - [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/benchling/apis/benchling-api-2/revisions/01d2fa8523cd?raw)