Acrylic table top covers

Protector or replacement top?

There are two different jobs here, and they need different thicknesses.

• Protector over a solid table: the acrylic lies flat on the existing top, fully supported. Thickness only needs to keep it flat and resist dents: 1/4 in. for most tables, 3/16 in. for small side tables and desks.
• Replacement top on a frame: the acrylic spans an open base or rests on a ledge, like a glass top. Now it has to carry weight between supports: 3/8 in. for coffee and end tables, 1/2 in. or more for dining tables. Check the span with the shelf sag calculator, since a tabletop on a frame behaves like a wide shelf.

Acrylic or tempered glass?

Be honest about how the table will be used. Acrylic is half the weight of glass, won't shatter into a hazard if a child or a pet knocks something onto it, and is clearer than ordinary glass with no green edge. But it scratches more easily, and hot pans or dishes straight from the oven can mark it, since it's only rated for continuous use to about 160 to 180 °F. For a busy dining table where plates slide around every day, tempered glass resists wear better. For a desk, a coffee table, an heirloom wood finish, or a kids' craft table, acrylic is the safer, lighter pick. More in acrylic vs tempered glass for tabletops.

How to measure your table

1. Measure the length and width across the middle and both ends, and use the smallest numbers.
2. Decide whether the cover sits flush with the edge or slightly inside it. Many people go 1/4 in. smaller on each side so the edge of the table frames the acrylic.
3. For rounded corners, measure the corner radius of the table (or trace a corner onto paper and send it as a drawing).
4. For round or oval tables, measure the diameter both ways; tables are often not perfectly round.

Anything up to 48 × 96 in. comes from one sheet; for larger tables, we confirm the size by hand.

Edges and corners

The edge is what makes a table cover look built-in. Diamond polishing gives straight edges a clear, glass-like finish, and rounded corners get a flame polish to match, so the whole perimeter looks continuous. A 1 to 2 in. corner radius is kind to hips and knees and resists chipping. Ease the top edge slightly if the table sees a lot of sleeves and elbows. See edge polishing for the options.

Colors and finishes

Clear cast is the standard, because it shows off the table underneath. Gray or bronze tint (up to 3/8 in.) suits glass-replacement tops on modern bases. Frosted or white turns a plain base into a lit side table if you put an LED strip below it. Non-glare is only available in 1/8 in., too thin for a tabletop.

Care

• Use coasters and trivets for hot drinks and dishes.
• Clean with mild soap and water and a microfiber cloth; never Windex-type window sprays, solvents, or strong alcohol, which can cause crazing.
• Light scratches buff out with a plastic polish; see how to remove scratches from acrylic.

Rectangles and rounded rectangles price instantly in the cut-to-size calculator. Round, oval, or traced shapes: upload a drawing.

Questions