Short answer: No. Ordinary acrylic sheet, even 1 in. thick, is not bullet-resistant; only purpose-made, tested products are, and rated monolithic acrylic is typically about 1 1/4 in. thick for UL 752 Level 1 (three 9 mm shots at about 1,175 to 1,293 ft/s) and about 1 3/8 in. for Level 2 (.357 Magnum). If you need protection from firearms, buy a UL 752 listed product and rated framing from a bullet-resistant glazing specialist.
Is any acrylic bullet-resistant?
Yes, but not the sheet in a hardware store or a sign shop. Bullet-resistant acrylic is made specifically for the purpose, typically in thicknesses well over an inch, and it's tested by shooting it under controlled conditions. Monolithic acrylic around 1 1/4 in. thick is one of the ways manufacturers reach the lowest handgun rating levels, and higher levels use thicker sheet or laminates of polycarbonate, acrylic, and glass.
The important word is rated. A product earns its rating through testing of that specific product. Two sheets that look the same can perform very differently, and "it's thick acrylic" is not a rating.
What is the difference between bulletproof and bullet-resistant?
There's no such thing as truly bulletproof glazing. Industry and testing standards use "bullet-resistant," meaning a product stopped a specified set of shots from a specified weapon and ammunition under test conditions. Anything can be defeated by a more powerful weapon or by more shots than it was tested for.
What is UL 752?
UL 752 is UL's standard for bullet-resisting equipment: glazing, panels, doors, and other barriers (not body armor). UL defines "bullet-resisting" as protection against complete penetration, fragments, and spall. Compliance is voluntary, but a UL listing is what specifiers and insurers usually look for. The long-used 11th edition rates products by numbered levels:
| UL 752 level | Test round | Bullet weight | Velocity | Shots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 9 mm full metal jacket | 124 gr | 1,175 to 1,293 ft/s | 3 |
| Level 2 | .357 Magnum jacketed soft point | 158 gr | 1,250 to 1,375 ft/s | 3 |
| Level 3 | .44 Magnum lead semi-wadcutter | 240 gr | 1,350 to 1,485 ft/s | 3 |
| Level 4 | .30-06 rifle soft point | 180 gr | 2,540 to 2,794 ft/s | 1 |
| Level 5 | 7.62 mm (.308) rifle FMJ | 150 gr | 2,750 to 3,025 ft/s | 1 |
| Level 6 | 9 mm FMJ | 124 gr | 1,400 to 1,540 ft/s | 5 |
Levels 7 and 8 cover multiple rifle shots. The 12th edition (UL describes it in a 2024 article) replaces numbered levels with threat designations by weapon type: handgun UL-HG-A to D (reference velocities about 1,305 to 1,470 ft/s), rifle UL-RF-A to J, and shotgun UL-SG-A and B. Both editions are in use during the transition, so check which one a product was tested to.
Key facts
- Rated acrylic panels for Levels 1 to 3 run about 1.25 to 1.375 in. thick and weigh about 7.7 to 10.5 lb per sq. ft.
- Commercial listings commonly show 1 1/4 in. cast acrylic at Level 1 and 1 3/8 in. at Level 2. Glazing makers offer acrylic for Levels 1 to 3 and 6; rifle levels need glass-clad polycarbonate laminates.
- Standard sign and display sheet tops out around 1 in. and is untested.
A rated product's documentation tells you its level and the conditions it was tested under. If you're specifying glazing for a bank, a pharmacy, a ticket window, or a guard booth, that documentation is what matters, along with the frame: a rated window in an unrated frame or wall isn't a rated opening.
Why isn't ordinary acrylic enough?
- Standard sheet is typically 1 in. or thinner, short of the roughly 1 1/4 in. used by rated Level 1 acrylic.
- It's brittle compared with polycarbonate, and can crack and spall (throw fragments off the back face) when struck hard.
- It hasn't been tested, so there's no way to know what it would stop.
Polycarbonate is far tougher in impact, which is why it shows up in many rated laminates and in riot shields, but ordinary polycarbonate sheet isn't rated either. Acrylic vs polycarbonate.
Do we sell bullet-resistant acrylic?
No. We don't sell rated bullet-resistant products, and nothing we cut should be relied on to stop a bullet. If you need ballistic protection, contact a bullet-resistant glazing specialist who can supply a rated product and installation. This page describes materials in general and isn't legal or security advice; check with your security consultant, insurer, or local authority about what your situation requires.
What is acrylic good for in security?
Plenty of protective jobs don't involve firearms, and acrylic does them well:
- Sneeze guards and counter shields. Clear, easy to clean, and light. See acrylic sneeze guards.
- Transaction windows and pass-throughs where the goal is separation and hygiene, not ballistic protection.
- Display cases that keep hands off merchandise, ideally with a lock.
- Covers and guards for controls and equipment. Where something might be hit hard, polycarbonate is better; see machine guards.
- Glazing for break-in deterrence in sheds or outbuildings: acrylic is far harder to break than glass. Polycarbonate is tougher still.
For any of these, we can cut panels to size with polished edges, holes, and bends. Get an instant quote or describe your project.
Questions
Will 1 in. acrylic stop a bullet?
Don't count on it. Ordinary 1 in. sheet isn't tested or rated, and rated Level 1 acrylic is typically about 1 1/4 in. thick and made for the purpose. Use a product listed to a standard like UL 752.
What do banks use for teller windows?
Many use rated bullet-resistant glazing, which may be thick acrylic, polycarbonate, or glass-clad polycarbonate laminates, installed in rated framing. A specialist supplies and installs these.
Is the plastic in armored cars acrylic?
Armored vehicle glazing is usually multi-layer glass and polycarbonate laminate, sometimes several inches thick. It's engineered and tested as a system, not cut from standard sheet.
How thick does acrylic need to be to stop a 9 mm?
Rated products that stop UL 752 Level 1 (three 124 gr 9 mm rounds) are typically about 1 1/4 in. thick. The rating belongs to the tested product, though, not to any sheet of that thickness.