Do You Need a Glass Table Top, or Glass Table Protector or Cover? Require Glass Cut to Size? Not Sure What the Choices Are? We’re Here to Help and Take You Through the Various Options.

Here at Table Glass Online we specialise in glass table tops, glass table covers and protectors for both new and replacement scenarios. Broadly speaking if you need glass for your table it will be for a couple of reasons. Firstly you want a piece of glass to cover or protect an existing item of furniture. Or secondly you may be wanting to create a new bespoke table where glass can be used to finish off your project. Lets look at the options and choices. For measuring we use millimetres for accuracy.

What Thickness of Glass Do I Need for My Table or Furniture Protector?

All our glass is toughened to the relevant UK standard and is custom made for you based on your requirements. Toughened glass (also known as Tempered Glass) comes in a range of thicknesses.

These are the following; 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm and 19mm.

6mm toughened glass with rounded corners, used to protect this chest of drawers
4mm toughened glass is often used to protect smaller items of furniture
6mm toughened glass is often used to protect dining tables
Marble tables often benefit from glass covers, in this instance OPTIWHITE Low Iron glass was used
6mm and 4mm toughened glass are used most often to cover smaller pieces furniture and bedside tables

The glass thickness is based on it’s intended use.

4mm toughened glass is used for covering and protecting furniture, normally up to a 1000mm x 1000mm. Over this size and 4mm glass does have a tendency to ‘bow’. therefore is used for smaller pieces of furniture such as bed side tables, dressers, coffee tables and cabinets.

6mm toughened glass is used to cover and protect larger items, such as regularly used dining tables, tables which are used in the public domain such as restaurants and bars, and also for coffee tables and sideboards. 6mm thickness is the most common for replacement garden furniture tables.

8mm toughened glass is the first thickness that is considered for stand alone desks, or for furniture which has minimal support underneath i.e. not sitting completely flush on the furniture. Desks for example which are essentially tressels and glass can incorporate an 8mm clear toughened piece of glass.

10mm toughened and 12mm toughened thick glass is often the default thickness for a stand alone table top, or as a means of extending the area of a table, by which the glass overhangs the furniture on all sides.

12mm clear toughened table top glass
25mm Radius Corner on a dining table
12mm Clear Toughened Glass is a great thickness if you’re wanting to extend the area of a dining table

15mm toughened and 19mm toughened thick glass is generally used for large tables, and expensive furniture manufacture. The weight of glass can increase dramatically, and so does the cost.

In short, if you are intending to use glass to protect your furniture use either 4mm or 6mm depending on the size. If you want to use glass as the complete table surface, consider 8mm (depending on the size) or 10mm thick glass and above.

What are the Different Glass Types? Clear, Low Iron, Tinted, Opaque (Solid Colour) and Frosted/Sandblasted.

The above mentioned thicknesses are available in two types of glass quality. These are known as ‘Clear Toughened’ and ‘Optiwhite Low Iron Toughened’. The clear toughened glass has a higher iron content and so appears more ‘green’, whereas the optiwhite low iron, has less iron in the glass and so has a clearer appearance. The thicker the glass, the more apparent the difference.

Clear Toughened glass can appear darker on the edges, due to the higher iron content. This is the most common glass used for covers and tops.
Glass Side Boardd-736
Optiwhite Low Iron glass has less of a green tint, compared to standard Clear Toughened
4mm Low Iron glass
Low Iron 6mm glass was used to protect this circular table
Grey tinted glass for outside table
Grey Tinted 6mm Glass, perfect for Garden Table Replacements
Tinted Grey Table Glass, can vary in appearance due to lighting
Bronze tinted glass for table
Bronze Tinted Toughened glass, often used for garden furniture replacements

As a variant the 6mm and 10mm glass thicknesses have a Grey Tinted also known as a Smoked Tinted option, and a Bronze Tinted option. These tinted glasses are regularly used in external garden furniture. There are post manufacture options for glass, and commonly these include a solid ‘Opaque Colour’, such as black, brown or white, the glass is essentially painted on the underside. Production will paint the glass, but it comes at a premium cost. We advocate a DIY approach, which is to purchase the glass, and use an oil based paint to achieve the desired colour result. This approach is often the most viable option for those wishing to replace damaged external furniture glass.

A frosted glass can be a great way to cover surface scratches on your table
Sandblasted/Frosted glass is often used for external table glass replacements

Aside from the opaque finish a ‘Frosted’ look can be desired, this is achieved by sandblasting the glass. Once ‘Sandblasted’ (the process the glass goes through) the glass appears frosted and can be ideal for covering marks and scratches on items of furniture.

What are the Common Finishes for Glass Perimeter Edges and Glass Table Corners? Polished, Bevelled, Unpolished and 90deg Corners, Dubbed Corners and Radius Corners.

For the perimeter edge of glass there is one basic rule, which is if you see the edge, have it polished. A polished edge on glass means it has been finished with a small chamfer on the top and bottom; a polished edge can also be known more specifically as a ‘flat polished edge’. An alternate finish is to have a ‘Bevelled Edge’, this is more ornate in appearance, and is essentially an incline on the edge of the glass. The minimum size of a bevelled edge is 5mm, however to ensure it is more pronounced 25mm or 30mm is more common. A bevelled edge is often used on glass that is 6mm thick and above, some production facilities will not bevel 4mm glass. It is also worth mentioning that having a bevelled edge can extend the glass lead time by over a working week in some cases.

Polished Edge on a Glass Dining Table Cover, ‘Sharp Corner’
Bevelled Edge on glass table
Bevelled Edge on Glass with a 5mm Radius Corner
5mm Bevelled Edge on table cover

Aside from a polished edge or a bevelled edge, the third option is to have no polishing or finishing at all. Known as an ‘Unpolished Edge’, this option reduces the cost understandably, but is less sightly. An unpolished edge is used if the glass is intended to sit in a frame or be rebated in some form. Unpolished edges can often have chips, shells and defects along the edges.

Unpolished edge on toughened glass
Unpolished Edge on 6mm Toughened Glass

In terms of the corners of a glass table top, for either a square or rectangle, there are three options. Firstly to leave the corners machined finished, this is known as a ‘Sharp Corner’, or a ’90 Degree Corner’. As glass is a precision machined product, the corners are exact. The second option is called a ‘Dubbed Corner’, this is a slight softening of the 90 degree corner, and is often used for glass furniture protectors, as the underlying furniture is not likely to have as precise corner finish as the glass itself. A dubbed corner can be achieved on glass by softening the corner with wet and dry sand paper if required. The third option is called a Radius Corner, this is an exact curve on the corner itself and is used in conjunction with a polished or bevelled edge. The minimum radius is 5mm, and up to 25mm is quite common. Larger radius corners above 25mm can require a CNC process for cutting and shaping the glass table, meaning the cost increases. For further information on radius corners click here.

Radius corner on glass
Glass Table Protector with a Radius Corner
5mm Radius Corner on 6mm Clear Toughened Glass on an external table cover
Dubbed corner on a glass table cover
A ‘Dubbed Corner’ on a 6mm thick table top protector
Radius corners are often used to follow the rounded/curved corners of furniture

To conclude, glass table perimeters are either polished and/or bevelled if they are seen, or unpolished if sitting in a frame. 90 degree, dubbed or radius are the options for the corners.

Shaped Table Glass, Circles, Ellipses, Ovals and Race Track Ovals.

Glass for tables will broadly speaking fit into a limited number of shape categories. Aside from square and rectangular shapes, circles are very common. One important point to consider with circular glass, is that if the diameter is more than 1000mm then the glass thickness must be 6mm as a minimum. With oval shapes they can vary, and in some instances a template may be required to ensure the glass is made as accurately as possible. In the first instance however we advise taking a look at the following measuring guide for oval table top glass, click here. As with circular glass, larger oval and ellipse shapes need to be a minimum of 6mm in glass thickness. Further custom shapes can be produced depending on the complexity, minimum CNC charges of £120 + are common, there is a golden rule for cut to size glass production, and that is simply ‘keep it simple’.

Circular 6mm toughened glass table replacement with a 50mm diameter central drill hole
Shaped table glass top for garden
Not all garden tables have the same corners; our production facilities can shape as required
A ‘racetrack’ Oval shaped rattan replacement glass
Central cut out in the glass table top; common for ice buckets, lazy suzanne’s etc
6mm toughened glass is often used to replace G Plan furniture glass
10mm Low Iron Glass is often used to make custom furniture stand out

Drilled Holes for Parasols, Cable Holes and other Cut Outs in Glass Tables

A regular requirement for external rattan furniture and garden table glass is to have a hole drilled in the glass for a parasol. These holes are by default positioned centrally, and will be 50mm in diameter. Larger holes are possible, but the cost increases, therefore if 50mm can be made to work for your situation, then we advise that. Often a square or rectangular cut out can be required in a glass table, often seen when replacing external furniture. These cut outs are typically unpolished, and a fabrication cost is £36 approx to start, please email over any images/sketches you may have for accurate pricing.

How Accurate Do I Need to Be When Measuring For My Glass Furniture Cover or Protector?

We require dimensions to be provided in mm, as this is the most accurate unit of measurement and the unit of measurement glass cutting production facilities use. If converting from Inches, please be aware of this. When you’re measuring be aware that in some cases a tolerance for accuracy is required. Production facilities state that cut glass tolerance can be within + or – 1/2mm. Although from experience 99.9% of the time there are no issues. Be mindful if your made to measure glass is intended to sit within a tight frame or surround, take this into account and allow for some flexibility and ‘wiggle room’. Some tables have a lip, or a chamfer or bevel that runs around the perimeter of the table, this is common with wood tables. In order to determine the size of the glass required (for a glass protector or cover), you will need to decide whether you want the glass to overhang (generally by a few mm or so), or to sit within the ‘inner’ perimeter of the table. Take your time to measure and measure again, the onus is on you to determine what width and length dimension you need. Glass can’t be altered once it has been toughened, and refunds/exchanges are not provided on the grounds of measuring errors, or if the glass is within the production mm tolerances listed above.

How Can I Prevent the Glass from Moving When on the Furniture?

Often to stop the glass from moving when on top of furniture, either bump pads or table suckers are used. These are available at most DIY stores and online, please see a couple of links below for reference;

Table Suckers

Bump Pads

How to Order Your Glass Online and What Happens Next? Delivery or Collection?

In order to get a toughened glass price and order your glass online 24/7, use our table glass calculator is here. (if you have any issues with the table glass calculator, please email us at sales@tableglassonline.co.uk Tinted and coloured opaque glass needs to be ordered with us directly, so please send us an email with your needs and we’ll get the best price for you. Once your glass has been paid for and when production is complete, there are two options.

Glass Collection from Chippenham, SN14 6BB.

Firstly to collect your glass from us in Chippenham (Wiltshire) or to have your glass delivered. Collections are available Mon-Fri 10am until 4pm.

Glass Delivery, and Timescales

We deliver across the south UK and the timescales differ, depending on location.

We operate in the following counties/areas for glass supply only; 

Somerset, Dorset, Bristol area, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, London area, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, parts of Essex, Hereford & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and the Birmingham area. 

In either case we can only confirm once the glass is ready and complete from the production environment. Typically glass takes approx 7/10 working days to be produced. (types of glass, size, shape and bevelled edges to extend these typically) Please remember your glass is made specifically for you and is not an off the shelf product. For further information on what happens once on order, please take a look here.