Short answer: Acrylic table covers weigh about half as much as glass (1/4 in. is about 1.46 vs 3.2 lb/ft²), won't shatter, ship easily, and can be cut to any shape, including round and odd-shaped tables. Tempered glass resists scratches far better and handles hot dishes; acrylic is rated for only about 160 to 180 °F (71 to 82 °C) continuous, so a hot pan can mark or warp it. For a desk, side table, or display table, acrylic works well; for a dining table that sees hot plates and daily wiping, tempered glass is usually better.
Acrylic vs tempered glass at a glance
| Acrylic | Tempered glass | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight (1/4 in.) | About 1.46 lb/ft² | About 3.2 lb/ft² |
| Strength and breakage | Several times more impact resistant than annealed glass; breaks into large pieces | Four to five times stronger than annealed glass; if it breaks, it breaks into small pieces all at once |
| Scratches | Scratches from plates, keys, grit, and dry wiping | Very scratch resistant |
| Heat | Continuous service about 160 to 180 °F (71 to 82 °C); use trivets | Handles hot plates and mugs |
| Clarity | 92% light transmission, no tint | Clear with a faint green edge (low-iron is clearer) |
| Custom shapes | Any shape, cutouts, notches, rounded corners | Must be cut and shaped before tempering; can't be altered after |
| Thermal expansion | About 8 times glass; a 48 in. top moves about 3/16 in. over 100 °F | Very low |
| Lead time and shipping | Quick to cut; ships by parcel in many sizes | Longer lead times; fragile and heavy to ship |
| Cleaning | Mild soap and water or acrylic cleaner | Any glass cleaner |
Will an acrylic table cover scratch?
Yes, more than glass. Sliding plates, dragging keys, gritty crumbs under a cloth, and dry wiping all leave fine scratches over time. Desks and side tables that see a laptop and a coffee mug stay looking good for years; a busy family dining table shows wear faster. Light scratches can be polished out, and the cover can be flipped or replaced. Placemats and coasters help a lot. See does acrylic scratch easily and how to remove scratches.
Can you put hot dishes on acrylic?
Not directly. Acrylite rates its cast acrylic for 180 °F (82 °C) continuous and 200 °F (93 °C) short-term, and its extruded sheet for 160 °F (71 °C) continuous; extruded starts to soften above about 195 °F. A pan straight from the oven or a casserole dish at 350 °F can leave a cloudy ring, a dent, or a warped spot. A mug of coffee is usually fine; a teapot just off the boil on the same spot for a long time may not be. Use trivets and hot pads, and never put a pan straight from the stove or oven on it. More in acrylic heat resistance.
Tip: if your table regularly gets hot dishes set straight on it, choose tempered glass. Acrylic is the right choice when the goal is protecting a finish from spills and scratches from paperwork, or covering a photo or map display.
Is tempered glass or acrylic safer?
Both are much safer than ordinary annealed glass. Tempered glass is four to five times stronger than annealed and breaks into small pieces instead of long shards, but when it goes, the whole panel breaks at once, often from a knock to an edge or corner. Acrylic resists impact several times better than annealed glass, and when it does crack it breaks into a few large pieces and stays mostly in place. For tables in kids' rooms or for covers that ship, acrylic is the lower-risk choice.
What thickness should a table cover be?
- 1/8 in. for a cover lying on a solid tabletop, such as a desk or side table. It's light and nearly invisible.
- 1/4 in. for dining tables, heavier use, or a more glass-like look and feel. It's also less likely to slide.
- 3/8 in. or thicker for a top that rests on an open frame or a pedestal instead of a solid surface. Acrylic is less stiff than glass and slowly deforms under constant load, so the right thickness depends on the span; ask us.
Glass covers on solid tables are typically 1/4 in. tempered, and freestanding glass tops 3/8 to 1/2 in. or more. See what thickness acrylic do I need.
Other things to plan for
- Expansion. Acrylite says a 48 in. acrylic panel moves about 3/16 in. over a 100 °F swing. A loose cover handles this naturally. Don't glue or screw it down tight.
- Stopping slides. Small clear bumper pads under the corners keep a cover from sliding and leave a little air gap so moisture doesn't get trapped against the wood.
- Suction marks. On a very smooth table, a thin cover can “stick” in spots and show uneven patches. Bumper pads solve this too.
- Edges. We can polish the edges and round the corners so the cover looks finished and doesn't catch sleeves. See edge finishes.
- Cleaning. Mild soap and water and a microfiber cloth. Skip Windex-type sprays and full-strength alcohol wipes, which can craze acrylic.
How do the costs compare?
For a plain rectangle in a standard size, prices can be close. Acrylic tends to come out ahead for round or oddly shaped tables, cutouts for umbrellas or cords, tops that need shipping, and quick turnaround, because it's cut directly from your measurements or template and ships safely. See your price instantly in the instant quote, or browse acrylic table top covers.
Questions
Can you cut an acrylic cover for a round or oval table?
Yes. Give us the diameter, or the length and width for an oval, and we'll cut it with a finished edge. For irregular shapes, trace the table on paper and send us a photo or drawing.
Can I use an acrylic cover on a patio table?
Yes, acrylic handles sun and weather well. Leave room for expansion, keep in mind that a cover on a dark table in full summer sun gets very hot, and expect light scratches from outdoor grit over time.
Can I put photos under an acrylic table cover?
Yes. That's one of the best uses for it. Use UV-filtering acrylic if the table is near a window, so the photos fade more slowly.
Can tempered glass be cut to fit later?
No. Tempered glass has to be cut, drilled, and edged before it's tempered; cutting it afterward makes it break. Acrylic can be trimmed, drilled, or notched at any time.