What glass thickness means in practice — where each is used, how it changes hardware and cost, and why thicker is not automatically better.
Quick reference
| Thickness | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6mm | Framed shower screens, small fixed panels, mirrors | Needs a frame; flexes over any real span |
| 8mm | Framed and semi-frameless screens, light partitions | The everyday workhorse |
| 10mm | Frameless screens, office partitions, doors | Rigid enough to be self-supporting over normal heights |
| 12mm | Large frameless panels, glass doors, balustrade infill | Heavy — hardware and handling both step up |
| 13.52 / 17.52mm laminated | Balustrades, barriers | Laminated build-ups, not single panes |
What thickness actually buys you
Rigidity, mostly. A tall 8mm frameless panel will flex when the door next to it closes; the same panel in 10mm will not. That flex is what people describe as a screen feeling “cheap” even when the glass is perfectly safe.
It buys a little acoustic performance too, though laminating buys far more per millimetre than simply going thicker.
Why thicker is not automatically better
Weight scales directly with thickness. A 12mm panel is half again as heavy as the same panel in 8mm, and that weight lands on the hinges, the fixings and the substrate behind them. Specify 12mm into hardware and a wall built for 8mm and you have moved the problem rather than solved it.
Handling matters too — beyond a certain size, a thick panel needs more people or lifting equipment on site, which changes the installation and occasionally the access route.
How we choose on site
Panel height and width first, then whether it is free-standing or supported on more than one edge, then what the fixings are landing in, then the hardware. The thickness falls out of those four. It is not a preference — it is an outcome.
Comparing quotes properly
“10mm glass” is incomplete. Ask for thickness and type — 10mm toughened is a different product from 10.38mm laminated, and they are not interchangeable in a barrier. Any quote worth comparing will state both.
FAQ
What thickness should a frameless shower screen be?
10mm or 12mm toughened. 8mm frameless will flex noticeably at full height, which is the most common reason a frameless screen feels flimsy.
Is thicker glass always safer?
No. Safety comes from the glass type — toughened or laminated — and from correct fixing. Over-specifying thickness without upgrading hardware and fixings moves the weak point rather than removing it.
What thickness is used for glass balustrades?
Balustrades use laminated build-ups, typically 13.52mm or 17.52mm, rather than a single toughened pane.
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