Guides
Work out the weight first, then plan the route. How to weigh a glass panel, what our weight tool's handling bands mean, and what to check before a large panel arrives.
By the SW Glass workshop team· Published · 5 min read
Work out the weight first. Glass weighs 2.5 kg per square metre for every millimetre of thickness, so a 2000 × 900 mm panel in 10 mm glass is 1.8 m² and weighs 45 kg. That figure is weight only. Whether a panel can be carried safely also depends on its size, how it can be gripped, the route into your home and the people carrying it, so plan the route before the glass arrives.
Multiply the width by the height in metres to get the area in square metres. Then multiply by 2.5 kg for every millimetre of thickness. A square metre of 10 mm glass weighs 25 kg, and a square metre of 4 mm weighs 10 kg.
| Panel | Size (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Area (m²) | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hob splashback | 900 × 600 | 6 | 0.54 | 8.1 |
| Dining table top | 1200 × 700 | 10 | 0.84 | 21 |
| Frameless shower screen | 800 × 2000 | 8 | 1.6 | 32 |
| Large shower panel | 2000 × 900 | 10 | 1.8 | 45 |
Toughened glass weighs the same as float glass of the same size and thickness. Laminated glass is the exception: it is two plies plus an interlayer. Our glass weight calculator counts the plies, and the interlayer adds roughly 0.4 kg per square metre on top.
Our weight tool puts each panel in one of three planning bands. They are the workshop's own rule for glass, set below the HSE's guideline figures because a pane of glass is carried away from the body, with cut edges and a large surface to catch the air.
| Band in our weight tool | Weight (kg) | Longest edge (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| One person | Up to 20 | Up to 1500 |
| Two people | Up to 50 | Up to 2500 |
| Mechanical handling | Over 50, or | any edge over 2500 |
A panel goes in the first band whose weight and edge limits it meets. The 45 kg panel above has a 2000 mm edge, so the tool calls it a two-person lift.
These bands are planning guidance, not a manual handling assessment and not a safe lifting limit for everyone. There is no single safe weight. The risk depends on the task, the load, the route and the people doing it. A light panel two metres long still needs a second pair of hands, and a stair with a tight turn can make a modest panel hard to move. The HSE explains how to assess this in its manual handling guidance.
This is general guidance. For your project, follow the regulations and manufacturer instructions that apply, and ask your building control body, engineer or Gas Safe engineer where needed.
Walk the route from the street to the room before the glass arrives, with the panel's size in your hand, and check each of these:
If a large panel may not fit along the route, ask us before you order. A panel that only goes in one way is worth planning for, and toughened glass cannot be cut down once it is made.
We do not publish a delivery price list. When you order, checkout says we will confirm the delivery cost and day by phone before we send it. That call is the time to tell us about your stairs, lift, parking and who will be on hand. Our help page on delivery, collection and lead times explains how it works.
Yes. Collection from our Fulham branch is free. Ring before you set off so your order is ready on the counter. Before you choose collection, measure your vehicle's load space against the panel's size and check its weight in the calculator, so you know how many people you need at both ends. If you are not sure it will fit, ask us to arrange delivery instead.
Enter your panel's size and thickness in the glass weight calculator to see its weight and handling band.
Tell us about the stairs, the floor and the access when we ring to confirm delivery, and we will talk it through with you. For anything unusual, ask us before you order.
Measure the load space with the seats down and compare it with the panel's size, then check the weight in the calculator. If it does not fit comfortably, ask us to arrange delivery.
We confirm the delivery cost and day by phone before we send your order. For an idea before you order, contact us with your postcode and what you are buying.
Ask us with your postcode and we will tell you.
Ready for the next step?
Find measuring instructions and order support in Help and advice, or ask the team about your project.
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