Glass Cut to Size: Table Tops, Shelves and Panels
Glass cut to size is glass ordered to your exact measurements for a specific job: a table top, a shelf, a cabinet pane, a desk protector, or a replacement panel. It is priced per square metre by glass type and thickness, so a thick toughened table top costs more per square metre than a thin float shelf. Exposed edges are polished smooth for safety and looks, and toughening is required wherever the glass is a safety position or a large unsupported surface people use, such as a table top. Most cut-to-size jobs are made to order from an exact measure.
Key takeaways
- Cut-to-size glass is made to your exact measurements for table tops, shelves, and panels.
- Priced per square metre by glass type and thickness.
- Exposed edges are polished (flat or bevelled) for safety and appearance.
- Toughened glass is used for table tops and any safety position; float suits protected shelves.
- Made to order from a precise measure, so it cannot be trimmed once cut or toughened.
Common cut-to-size jobs
The everyday jobs are table tops, shelving, and protective panels. A glass table top turns a timber or outdoor table into a wipe-clean surface and protects it from heat and marks. Glass shelves suit cabinets, bathrooms, and display niches where a light, easy-clean surface is wanted. A desk or bench protector is simply a flat pane cut to the surface it sits on.
Replacement panels are the other big category: a single pane for a cabinet door, a bookshelf, a picture frame, or a piece of furniture where the original glass has broken. Because these are one-off sizes, they are cut to order rather than bought off a shelf.
Shape matters as well as size. A rectangular top with square corners is straightforward, while radius corners, cutouts, and circular or oval tops add to the work and the price.
Type, thickness, and when toughening is needed
The glass type is chosen by how the panel is used. A protected shelf carrying light items can be plain float glass, which keeps the cost down. A table top, a low table, or any panel people lean on, sit at, or could knock into should be toughened, because it is both a safety position and a surface that takes real load. Toughened is the default for anything freestanding and used daily.
Thickness follows span and load. A small shelf might be 6mm, while a dining table top spanning a wide frame steps up to 10mm or 12mm so it does not flex. Thicker glass costs more per square metre, so oversizing the thickness adds cost without benefit, and undersizing risks flex or breakage.
Because toughened glass cannot be cut or drilled after treatment, the final size, corners, and any holes are locked in at the measure. This is why an accurate measurement up front matters so much on cut-to-size work.
Edges, pricing, and ordering
Any exposed edge on cut-to-size glass is worked so it is safe to touch and looks finished. A flat polished edge is the standard, a pencil-round softens the arris, and a bevelled edge adds a decorative chamfer on table tops. Edgework is part of the price, so a top with 4 polished edges costs more than a shelf with edges hidden in a cabinet.
Pricing is per square metre and driven by type, thickness, edge finish, and shape. A thin float shelf with 1 exposed edge is inexpensive; a thick toughened oval table top with a full bevel is at the other end. Cutouts, radius corners, and holes each add to the total.
Give the supplier exact dimensions, corner style, and the intended use so they can advise on type and thickness. We connect you with vetted local glass suppliers who cut, toughen, and polish to order, so you can compare 3 free quotes on a matched specification.
Ready to get real numbers? Compare 3 free quotes from vetted Adelaide specialists for glass splashbacks.
Frequently asked questions
Per square metre, with the rate set by glass type, thickness, edge finish, and shape. A thin float shelf is inexpensive; a thick toughened table top with polished or bevelled edges and radius corners sits much higher.
Yes, in practice. A table top is a freestanding surface people lean on and sit at, so toughened glass is used for both safety and strength. Thickness is typically 10mm or 12mm for a dining-size top so it does not flex.
No. Any exposed edge is polished so it is smooth and safe to handle, with a flat polish as standard and a bevelled edge available on table tops. Edges hidden inside a cabinet can be left seamed to save cost.