Aquarium Glass Thickness Calculator
How thick does the glass need to be? It depends on the height of the water and the length of the panel. Enter your tank size below and the calculator gives the thickness for the front, back, ends and base, rounded up to a thickness you can order, with a cutting list, the water volume and the filled weight. Built for aquarium makers, shopfitters and installers.
How to use the calculator
Enter the outside length, width and height of the tank, in millimetres, centimetres or inches. Then tell the calculator four things:
- Top edge: braced with a frame or glass strips, or rimless.
- Water: fresh or marine.
- Base: sitting flat on a stand, or supported at the edges only.
- How many tanks you are building.
You get the thickness for each panel, a drawing of the tank, and a cutting list with every size. One button sends the list to our team for a quote.
How is aquarium glass thickness calculated?
Water pressure rises with depth, so the height of the tank matters most. A taller tank needs thicker glass, and a longer panel bends more than a short one at the same height.
The calculator uses a published engineering method for glass panels under water pressure. It works out the minimum thickness for each panel with a safety factor of 3.8, then rounds up to the next thickness you can order: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 19 or 25 mm. You can raise the safety factor for extra margin, but never lower it.
Aquarium glass thickness chart
Example results for braced tanks holding fresh water, on a flat stand, at a safety factor of 3.8:
| Tank size (length x width x height) | Front and back | Ends | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 x 300 x 350 mm | 5 mm | 4 mm | 5 mm |
| 900 x 450 x 450 mm | 8 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm |
| 1200 x 450 x 500 mm | 10 mm | 8 mm | 10 mm |
| 1500 x 600 x 600 mm | 15 mm | 10 mm | 15 mm |
| 1800 x 600 x 700 mm | 19 mm | 10 mm | 19 mm |
Use the calculator for your exact size. A small change in height can move a panel up a thickness.
How thick should the base be?
It depends on what the base sits on. On a flat, level stand, usually with a foam mat, the stand carries the water and the base can match the thickest wall. On a frame stand that only supports the edges, the base has to carry the water itself and often needs to be thicker. For a 1200 x 450 x 500 mm tank, that is 12 mm instead of 10 mm.
Which glass is used for aquariums?
Aquarium walls are made from annealed float glass, in clear or low-iron. Low-iron glass is clearer, with less of a green tint, but it is not stronger, so the same thicknesses apply. Toughened glass is not suitable for the walls of the tank. Our guide on
how thick aquarium glass should be covers the glass types in more detail.
Rimless, tall and unusual tanks
The calculator covers rectangular, all-glass indoor tanks with a braced top edge, up to 1,000 mm high. Rimless tanks, taller tanks, outdoor tanks and pools, shaped or sloping glass and viewing panels all need a bespoke check. Choose rimless in the calculator, or send us your sizes, and our team will work through the right build with you.
How much does a filled aquarium weigh?
More than most people expect. Fresh water weighs 1 kg per litre and the glass adds 2.5 kg per square metre for every millimetre of thickness. A 1200 x 450 x 500 mm tank holds about 249 litres and weighs about 300 kg when full. The calculator shows the volume, the glass weight and the filled weight, so you can check the stand and the floor can take it. For single panes, use our
Glass Weight Calculator.
Aquarium glass, cut to size for the trade
ToughGlaze has supplied aquarium makers with glass since 1993. We cut and process every panel under one roof at our UK facility, to the sizes on your cutting list. Send the list from the calculator and our team will come back with a quote. For more on what we supply, see glass for aquariums.
The calculator is a guide, not a structural calculation. Always confirm your specification with our team before you order.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate aquarium glass thickness?
Thickness depends on the height of the water, the length of the panel and the safety factor. Enter the tank size into the calculator on this page and it works out each panel, then rounds up to a standard thickness you can order.
What safety factor should I use for aquarium glass?
3.8 is the usual safety factor, and it is the default in the calculator. You can raise it for extra margin. Do not go lower.
How thick should the base of an aquarium be?
On a flat, level stand, the base can match the thickest wall. If the base is only supported at the edges, it carries the water itself and often needs to be thicker. The calculator handles both.
Can I use toughened glass for an aquarium?
Not for the walls. Aquarium walls are made from annealed float glass, in clear or low-iron. When toughened glass breaks, the whole pane breaks into small pieces at once, which is the last thing you want holding back water.
Is low-iron glass stronger than clear glass?
No. Low-iron glass is clearer, but it is not stronger, so the same thicknesses apply.
How much does a filled aquarium weigh?
Fresh water weighs 1 kg per litre, plus the weight of the glass. A 1200 x 450 x 500 mm tank weighs about 300 kg when full. The calculator gives the filled weight for your size.
Does the calculator work for rimless tanks?
Not yet. Rimless tanks have no bracing along the top edge, so the glass works harder and needs a bespoke check. Choose rimless in the calculator and it will send your sizes to our team.
