The Difference Between Toughened, Laminated, and Float Glass

When incorporating glass into your projects, whether domestic or commercial, it’s important you understand the different types available. There are three main types – float, toughened, and laminated – which all offer several benefits. But they shouldn’t be mistaken for one another. Join the experts at Express Glass Warehouse as they discuss the differences between the three… Continue reading The Difference Between Toughened, Laminated, and Float Glass

The Difference Between Toughened, Laminated, and Float Glass

28th May 2025

When incorporating glass into your projects, whether domestic or commercial, it’s important you understand the different types available.

There are three main types – float, toughened, and laminated – which all offer several benefits. But they shouldn’t be mistaken for one another.

Join the experts at Express Glass Warehouse as they discuss the differences between the three main types of glass to help you make the best choice for your upcoming project.

Float glass

Float glass, also known as annealed glass, is the most basic type of glass, which is typically used for window panes, mirror backing, and other applications where a smooth, flat surface is required.

This type of glass is also the base product to produce other types, including both toughened and laminated.

Made simply by floating molten glass on a molten metal bath, float glass is one of, if not the most affordable type of glass, ideal for projects where strength isn’t a top priority and those working with a more limited budget.

Toughened glass

Toughened glass (AKA, tempered glass) is one of the most common types of safety glass, used in all sorts of domestic and commercial projects – from balustrade panel installations to shower screens, splashbacks, and more.

Slightly pricier than standard annealed glass, toughened glass products are made by heating a sheet of float glass to a high temperature, before rapidly cooling it using pressurised air or water, in a process known as ‘quenching’.

This process creates a strong, durable glass that’s incredibly resistant to heat and external impacts. In the unlikely event of breakage, toughened glass shatters into small, blunt pieces, rather than large, sharp shards, reducing the risk of potentially nasty injuries and making it a much safer option for around the home or in the office.

Laminated glass

Laminated glass is another common type of safety glass, mainly used for commercial applications where security and high strength are top priorities, like shopfronts and display cases, high-rise windows and skylights, and vehicle windscreens.

This type of glass is made by bonding two or more glass sheets together with a flexible interlayer, which is typically made from PVB (polyvinyl butyral), using heat and pressure.

Unlike toughened glass, which shatters into small, blunt pieces, laminated glass breaks, but the plastic interlayer prevents the glass from shattering into small pieces, instead holding the broken pieces in place to enhance safety.

Which is best for my project?

The best type of glass for your project depends on several factors – from strength and safety to durability and aesthetics.

Whilst toughened glass is an excellent option for projects prioritising safety, due to its superior strength and tendency to break into smaller, blunt pieces, laminated glass is better for projects where safety and breakage are a concern, like office doors, balustrades, and display cases.

Standard annealed glass is best used for aesthetic purposes, in areas where breakage isn’t a concern, like windows and door panes, and for those with limited budgets.