Overall, the commonly used thickness range of glass for furniture is between 3mm and 19mm, with the most common being 5mm to 12mm.
Common thicknesses classified by Furniture types
Coffee table glass
Coffee tables need to have a certain load-bearing capacity and impact resistance.
Countertop glass (flat plate) : The most commonly used ones are 8mm to 12mm. This thickness looks stable, has good load-bearing capacity and high safety.
For small-sized apartments or lightweight coffee tables, 6mm might be used.
Large or luxurious coffee tables may be 15mm or 19mm in size, giving them a very heavy and textured appearance.
Laminated glass: Usually thinner than the countertop, commonly 5mm to 8mm.
2. Table glass
The dining table has the highest requirements for the strength and stability of glass.
Common thicknesses: 10mm to 12mm are the absolute mainstream choices.
The reason is that this thickness can withstand the weight of tableware and food, as well as minor impacts during daily use, preventing breakage due to uneven force distribution. If the dining table is large in size (such as over 1.8 meters), it is recommended to use 12mm or thicker ones.
3. Cabinet furniture (bookcases, sideboards, display cabinets)
Cabinet doors (especially glass doors) : Commonly used glass is 4mm to 5mm.
Shelf: This is the part that varies the most, depending on the span (length) and load-bearing capacity of the shelf.
For short spans (< 60cm) and light objects: 4mm - 5mm is sufficient.
For medium spans (60cm - 90cm), books or heavier items: 6mm - 8mm is recommended.
For long spans (> 90cm) and heavy load-bearing: 10mm or more glass must be used, or tempered glass can be selected.
4. Dressing table, writing desk
The thickness of the countertop glass can be referred to that of a coffee table, commonly 8mm to 10mm.
Classified by glass material and process
Apart from thickness, the type of glass is equally crucial as it determines safety performance.
1. Tempered glass
This is the preferred and safety standard for furniture glass.
Features: Its strength is 3 to 5 times that of ordinary glass, and it is resistant to bending and impact. The most crucial point is that when it breaks, it forms small particles without sharp edges or corners, greatly reducing the risk of harm to the human body.
Application: All countertops (coffee tables, dining tables, desks), easily accessible door panels, and glass near children's furniture must use tempered glass. There is usually a "CCC" certification mark.
2. Ordinary flat glass (float glass)
Characteristics: Low strength, with sharp large fragments when broken, extremely dangerous.
Application: Not recommended for furniture countertops. It is now generally only used for some backboards that are not subject to force or purely decorative parts (and to ensure that they are not easily touched).
3. Laminated glass
Feature: It is made by sandwiling PVB film between two or more pieces of glass under high temperature and high pressure. Even if it breaks, the fragments will be stuck by the film and will not fall off. It is explosion-proof, theft-proof and has extremely high safety.
Application: It is often used in furniture with extreme safety requirements or in occasions with design needs (fabrics, dried flowers, etc. can be inserted in the interlayer).
Important Safety Tips
Tempered glass is the preferred choice: For all furniture glass components that may come into contact with the human body (especially countertops and doors), it is strongly recommended or even mandatory to use tempered glass. When purchasing, make sure to look for the CCC mark in the corner of the glass.
Consider edge treatment: It is best to ground the edges of the glass (smooth or round) to avoid scratches caused by sharp edges
