The equipment comprises an electric heater with thermoregulator, glass still, support stand, condenser, receiving trap, clamp.
Two types of Dean-Stark exist one for use with solvents with a density less than that of water and another for use with solvents with a density greater than that of water.
The Dean-Stark apparatus typically consists of a vertical cylindrical glass tube, often with volumetric graduation along its full length and a precision stopcock at its lower end, very much like a burette. The lower end of a reflux condenser fits into the top of the cylinder. Immediately below the joint between the condenser and the cylinder is a sloping side-arm that joins the cylinder to a reaction flask. The lower end the side-arm turns sharply downward so that the side-arm is connected to the reaction flask by a vertical tube.