Glass thickness 6, 8, 10, 12 mm: how to choose the right one

What determines glass thickness

Glass thickness is not an aesthetic choice — it is dictated by dimensions, support and use. The larger the pane and the fewer the support points, the thicker the glass needs to be. Engineering calculations follow EN 16612 (design of glazed walls) and EN 16613 (laminated).

6 mm tempered

Thin, light, cheap. Suits cases where the pane is small and well supported:

• Shower panels up to 90 cm wide (with a frame or bottom profile)
• Table tops (protective), furniture glass
• Back walls of cribs and display cases

Price: ~€25–35/m² (excluding installation). Not suitable for doors or frameless partitions — too soft, deflects too much.

8 mm tempered

The most popular thickness. The most universal balance between strength, price and weight.

• Frameless hinged glass doors up to 1 × 2.2 m
• Frameless single-layer partitions up to 1.2 m × 3 m
• Standard shower enclosures with U profile

Price: ~€35–50/m². This thickness fits most ordinary projects.

10 mm tempered

Chosen when the pane is larger or requires extra acoustics / safety:

• Tall doors (>2.2 m) or wide ones (>1 m)
• Walk-in shower panels when the height exceeds 2 m
• Partitions with a wide opening (1.2–1.5 m in a single pane)
• Glass ceilings / glass floors (with lamination)

Price: ~€50–70/m². Hardware type is often the same as 8 mm, but the weight limit becomes important (10 mm × 1 m × 2.2 m ≈ 55 kg).

12 mm tempered

Premium thickness — used for structural glass work:

• Frameless glass railings without a top profile (point fixed)
• Glass canopies above entrances
• Tall partitions (>3 m)
• Display cases with large open spaces

Price: ~€75–100/m². An engineering decision is needed for the support points — incorrect mounting can cause spontaneous failure due to stress.

Quick selection table

• Shower wall with profile: 6 mm
• Standard doors / shower enclosure: 8 mm
• Walk-in shower, large doors: 10 mm
• Frameless railings, canopies: 12 mm (laminated)

FAQ

Is thicker glass always safer?

Not necessarily. Safety depends not only on thickness but on type (tempered vs laminated), edge finish and mounting. 8 mm laminated (VSG) is safer than 12 mm single-layer tempered if the pane could shatter from above (railing, canopy).

How do you calculate the weight?

Glass density is ~2.5 kg/m² per mm of thickness. Example: 10 mm glass at 1 × 2 m → 10 × 2.5 × 2 = 50 kg. This matters when choosing hardware (hinges, tracks) — they need to support the weight with a margin.