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What is the difference between laminated and toughened glass?
Toughened glass is heat-treated to be up to five times stronger than ordinary (annealed) glass and breaks into small granular chunks. Laminated glass is two or more sheets bonded with a plastic interlayer, so it holds together in the frame when it breaks.
| Toughened (tempered) | Laminated | |
|---|---|---|
| How it is made | Heat-treated single sheet | Two or more sheets bonded with a plastic interlayer (often PVB) |
| Strength | About 4–5× standard glass (hipages) | Depends on the sheets used |
| When it breaks | Small granular chunks; the pane falls out | Cracks but stays in the frame |
| Security | Opening is left open once broken | Helps prevent forced entry (Glazewell) |
| Can it be cut after making? | No (Wikipedia) | Ask the glazier |
| Glass only, per m² (hipages) | About $230 | About $403 |
Sources: hipages (23 Jan 2026), Glazewell (2026), Wikipedia (Tempered glass; Laminated glass). Indicative only.
Which is safer?
Both are safety glass, for different reasons. Toughened avoids large jagged shards. Laminated stays in place when broken, so there is no open hole. Which one a location needs is the glazier's decision under AS 1288, not a general rule.
Both are covered by the Australian Standard for safety glazing materials, AS/NZS 2208, and their use in buildings by AS 1288. See safety glass and AS 1288 explained.
Which is better for security?
Laminated. Because the interlayer holds the broken glass together, the opening stays covered. Glazewell, a Perth glazier, says laminated glass helps prevent forced entry. Toughened glass falls out of the frame once it breaks.
How much do laminated and toughened glass cost in Perth?
Glazewell publishes $380–$650 per pane for toughened and $450–$900 for laminated, supplied and installed in Perth. hipages lists the glass alone at about $230 per m² for toughened and about $403 per m² for laminated, nationally.
| Glass type | Per pane, supplied & installed (Glazewell) | Glass only, per m² (hipages) |
|---|---|---|
| Clear float glass | $280–$450 | $38–$46 per m² |
| Toughened glass | $380–$650 | about $230 per m² |
| Laminated glass | $450–$900 | about $403 per m² |
| Low-E glass | $450–$800 | about $288 per m² |
| Double-glazed unit | $600–$1,400 | about $265 per m² |
Can toughened glass be cut or repaired?
No. Toughened glass has to be cut, drilled and edge-polished before it is toughened, and can't be reworked afterwards. So a toughened panel, such as a shower screen or glass door, is replaced, not trimmed or patched.
Why does toughened glass sometimes break on its own?
Tiny defects such as nickel sulfide inclusions can cause toughened glass to break on its own, with no impact, and damage to the edge makes breakage more likely. It is one reason a shower screen can break with no obvious impact.
See shower screen repair.
What about Low-E and double glazing?
They solve a different problem: heat. hipages describes Low-E glass as having a coating that filters infrared radiation, and double glazing as two layers of glass with an air or gas gap for noise and thermal insulation. Either can also be laminated or toughened. Glazewell notes many Perth owners upgrade to one of these when replacing a broken pane.
Sources
Accessed 19–23 October 2026. Third-party prices are indicative ranges published by others, not quotes and not our prices.
- hipages — How Much Does Glass & Glazing Cost? [2026] (national averages, last updated 23 Jan 2026)
- Glazewell (a Perth glazier) — Window Glass Replacement Perth Costs, 2026 Pricing Guide
- Viridian Glass — Safety glass: why it's important (toughened up to 5× stronger, breaks into small blunt-edged pieces; laminated fragments adhere to the PVB interlayer)
- Viridian Glass — Why does glass break? (toughened fragments into small granular pieces; nickel sulphide inclusions and spontaneous breakage; edge damage)
- Standards Australia — AS 1288:2021 Glass in buildings: Selection and installation (store page, table of contents)
- Australian Glass & Window Association (AGWA) — Repairs and Maintenance: Like-for-Like Replacement (fact sheet, Sept 2025)