How heavy is glass in relation to its thickness?
Glass is a relatively heavy material. Glazing large openings often requires thicker & heavier glass to minimize deflection and withstand the imposed wind loads. A notable exception is channel glass, which can achieve greater spans in relatively lightweight 1/4″ (6 – 7 mm) thickness thanks to its unique U-shape.
Thicker glass may also provide additional aesthetic advantages, including lending a greater sense of depth and body to the wall. Naturally, the thicker the glass, the greater its weight:
| Glass Thickness | Approx. Weight |
|---|---|
| 1/8” (3 mm) | 1.5 lb/ft² (7.5 kg/m²) |
| 5/32″ (4 mm) | 2 lb/ft² (10 kg/m²) |
| 3/16” (5 mm) | 2.5 lb/ft² (12 kg/m²) |
| 1/4″ (6 mm) | 3 lb/ft² (14.5 kg/m²) |
| 9/32” (7 mm) | 3.5 lb/ft² (17 kg/m²) |
| 5/16″ (8 mm) | 4 lb/ft² (19.5 kg/m²) |
| 3/8″ (10 mm) | 5 lb/ft² (24.5 kg/m²) |
| 1/2″ (12 mm) | 6.5 lb/ft² (32 kg/m²) |
| 3/4″ (19 mm) | 10 lb/ft² (49 kg/m²) |
| 1” (24 mm) | 13 lb/ft² (64 kg/m²) |
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