diff --git a/pylabrobot/resources/plate.py b/pylabrobot/resources/plate.py
index a05f47f95f0..bb62a598e13 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/resources/plate.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/resources/plate.py
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ def __init__(
     lid: Optional[Lid] = None,
     model: Optional[str] = None,
     plate_type: Literal["skirted", "semi-skirted", "non-skirted"] = "skirted",
+    stacking_z_height: Optional[float] = None,
   ):
     """Initialize a Plate resource.
 
@@ -89,6 +90,10 @@ def __init__(
       lid: Immediately assign a lid to the plate.
       plate_type: Type of the plate. One of "skirted", "semi-skirted", or "non-skirted". A
         more complete description is still pending.
+      stacking_z_height: The vertical pitch in mm between two identical plates stacked directly on
+        top of each other (i.e. the height a plate adds to a stack, equal to ``size_z`` minus the
+        overlap with the plate below). Required by some stacker devices (e.g. the Agilent BenchCel)
+        and left as ``None`` when unknown.
     """
 
     super().__init__(
@@ -103,6 +108,7 @@ def __init__(
     )
     self._lid: Optional[Lid] = None
     self.plate_type = plate_type
+    self.stacking_z_height = stacking_z_height
 
     if lid is not None:
       self.assign_child_resource(lid)
@@ -144,10 +150,31 @@ def unassign_child_resource(self, resource):
       self._lid = None
     return super().unassign_child_resource(resource)
 
+  def serialize(self) -> dict:
+    return {
+      **super().serialize(),
+      "plate_type": self.plate_type,
+      "stacking_z_height": self.stacking_z_height,
+    }
+
+  def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
+    # `stacking_z_height` is a physical dimension (the pitch a plate adds to a stack), so plates
+    # that differ in it are different labware and must not compare equal.
+    return (
+      super().__eq__(other)
+      and isinstance(other, Plate)
+      and self.stacking_z_height == other.stacking_z_height
+    )
+
+  # Defining `__eq__` sets `__hash__` to None; restore the `Resource` (repr-based) hash. Equal
+  # plates share the same repr, so the hash/eq invariant holds.
+  __hash__ = Resource.__hash__
+
   def __repr__(self) -> str:
     return (
       f"{self.__class__.__name__}(name={self.name!r}, size_x={self._size_x}, "
-      f"size_y={self._size_y}, size_z={self._size_z}, location={self.location})"
+      f"size_y={self._size_y}, size_z={self._size_z}, "
+      f"stacking_z_height={self.stacking_z_height}, location={self.location})"
     )
 
   def get_well(self, identifier: Union[str, int, Tuple[int, int]]) -> "Well":
diff --git a/pylabrobot/resources/plate_tests.py b/pylabrobot/resources/plate_tests.py
index 2139152d37e..fdfd43506b4 100644
--- a/pylabrobot/resources/plate_tests.py
+++ b/pylabrobot/resources/plate_tests.py
@@ -63,6 +63,57 @@ def test_add_lid_with_existing_lid(self):
     self.assertIsNone(plate.lid)
 
 
+class TestStackingZHeight(unittest.TestCase):
+  def test_default_is_none(self):
+    plate = Plate("plate", size_x=1, size_y=1, size_z=15, ordered_items={})
+    self.assertIsNone(plate.stacking_z_height)
+
+  def test_stored(self):
+    plate = Plate("plate", size_x=1, size_y=1, size_z=15, ordered_items={}, stacking_z_height=12.5)
+    self.assertEqual(plate.stacking_z_height, 12.5)
+
+  def test_serialize_round_trip(self):
+    plate = Plate(
+      "plate",
+      size_x=1,
+      size_y=1,
+      size_z=15,
+      ordered_items={},
+      stacking_z_height=12.5,
+      plate_type="non-skirted",
+    )
+    serialized = plate.serialize()
+    self.assertEqual(serialized["stacking_z_height"], 12.5)
+    self.assertEqual(serialized["plate_type"], "non-skirted")
+
+    restored = Plate.deserialize(serialized)
+    self.assertEqual(restored.stacking_z_height, 12.5)
+    self.assertEqual(restored.plate_type, "non-skirted")
+
+  def test_differs_in_equality(self):
+    # `stacking_z_height` is a physical dimension, so plates that differ in it are not equal.
+    def make(stacking_z_height):
+      return Plate(
+        "plate",
+        size_x=1,
+        size_y=1,
+        size_z=15,
+        ordered_items={},
+        stacking_z_height=stacking_z_height,
+      )
+
+    self.assertEqual(make(12.5), make(12.5))
+    self.assertNotEqual(make(12.5), make(13.0))
+    self.assertNotEqual(make(12.5), make(None))
+
+  def test_remains_hashable(self):
+    plate = Plate("plate", size_x=1, size_y=1, size_z=15, ordered_items={}, stacking_z_height=12.5)
+    # equal plates hash equally; the object stays usable in sets/dicts.
+    other = Plate("plate", size_x=1, size_y=1, size_z=15, ordered_items={}, stacking_z_height=12.5)
+    self.assertEqual(hash(plate), hash(other))
+    self.assertIn(plate, {plate})
+
+
 class TestQuadrants(unittest.TestCase):
   def setUp(self):
     self.example_6_wellplate = Cor_Cos_6_wellplate_16800ul_Fb(name="example_6_wellplate")