On this page
Glass can go behind a hob, but it must be toughened, and every splashback we make is 6 mm toughened glass. The pane behind a hob takes direct heat, so tell us the hob type and how close the glass sits to it. The clearance between a gas hob and the wall is set by the hob maker's installation instructions, and gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Why must the glass be toughened?
Heat from a hob does not warm the glass evenly. The area nearest the burners gets hot while the rest of the pane stays cool, and that difference puts stress on the glass. Ordinary annealed glass can crack under it. Toughened glass resists sudden temperature changes far better, which is why it is used behind hobs. Our toughened, laminated and annealed guide explains how toughening works.
The splashback configurator only offers 6 mm toughened glass, and toughening cannot be turned off.
What should I tell you about my hob?
Step 1: Say the hob type
Gas, induction, ceramic or another type. A gas hob puts the most heat on the wall.
Step 2: Measure the gap to the wall
Measure from the edge of the nearest burner or cooking zone to the wall where the glass will be.
Step 3: Check the hob maker's instructions
Look up the minimum clearance to the back wall and any rule about the wall surface behind the hob. Your instructions take priority over any general guide.
Step 4: Mark the hob on your sketch
Show where the hob sits along the splashback, so we can see which part of the pane takes the heat.
Step 5: Tell us when you order
Add the hob type and the gap in your order notes. We specify the pane to suit.
Who decides the gas hob clearance?
The hob maker. Each gas hob comes with installation instructions that set its clearances to walls and to anything above it. A Gas Safe registered engineer fits and commissions gas appliances and checks those clearances. If the glass is going in after the hob, ask the engineer to confirm the installation still meets the instructions.
This is general guidance. For your project, follow the hob maker's instructions and ask a Gas Safe registered engineer where needed.
Is a cooker hood or eye-level grill different?
A cooker hood draws heat up, but the glass behind and around it still sits near cooking. An eye-level grill or a wall oven beside the splashback can heat the glass from a different side. Tell us about any appliance that sits against the glass, not just the hob, and check each maker's instructions.
How do I care for a splashback behind a hob?
- Let the glass cool before you clean it.
- Wipe splashes once cool with a soft cloth and a little glass cleaner or warm soapy water.
- Do not use scourers, scrapers or abrasive creams, which can scratch the surface.
- Do not stand hot pans against the glass.
Our care and cleaning guide has more on cleaning glass in a kitchen.
Does a back-painted colour cope with heat?
The colour on a back-painted splashback is on the back of the glass, against the wall, so the toughened glass faces the cooking. Tell us about the hob when you order a coloured splashback, as with any splashback, so we can specify it. Our glass splashbacks guide covers the colours.
Where to go next
- Price your splashback: open the splashback configurator
- Glass splashbacks
- Socket and switch cut-outs
- Measuring a splashback
Questions we get asked
Can I put glass behind a gas hob?
Yes, toughened glass, with the clearance the hob maker's instructions set. Every splashback we make is toughened.
Is an induction hob safer for glass?
An induction hob heats the pan rather than the air around it, so less heat reaches the wall. The glass behind it is still toughened.
Who checks the gas hob is safe?
A Gas Safe registered engineer, working to the hob maker's installation instructions.
Can I clean the glass while the hob is on?
No. Let the hob and the glass cool first, then wipe the glass with a soft cloth.
Contact the team with your order reference and the step you need help with, or search all help topics.