Flat & float glass
Part of the Glass & Construction Materials sector
Flat and float glass is the base glass that processors and glaziers turn into windows, facades and interiors. This hub explains the main types and thicknesses, and how to find and compare verified flat glass suppliers on Digibition.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Overview
Flat glass is glass produced as a level sheet rather than a shaped or hollow object. Most of it is float glass, made by floating molten glass on a bath of liquid tin to give flat, parallel faces and a clear, distortion-free surface. The result is sold as clear, tinted, low-iron (extra-clear) or coated stock.
From this base, processors make the glass used in buildings and products: toughened (tempered) and heat-strengthened glass for safety and load, laminated glass for security and acoustics, insulating glass units for thermal performance, and low-emissivity or solar-control coated glass for energy efficiency. Common nominal thicknesses run from about 3 mm to 19 mm, supplied as stock sheets or jumbo plates.
On Digibition, float glass producers, processors and distributors publish verified profiles, so buyers such as facade contractors, window makers and furniture producers can discover and compare them by specialization and country.
What to check when sourcing
When you source flat glass, start with the exact product: glass type, nominal thickness, coating, and whether it is annealed, heat-strengthened, toughened or laminated. Small differences in thickness or coating change both performance and price, so match the specification to your application rather than to a close substitute.
Flat glass is heavy and fragile, so logistics matter as much as the glass itself. Confirm sheet or stock-plate sizes, packing on A-frames or crates, pallet weight and breakage handling, and ask how the supplier protects coated surfaces in transit. For construction uses, performance characteristics are often declared against harmonised standards — in the EU a Declaration of Performance may accompany a CE mark — so ask which standards and documents apply in your market.
Use the directory to shortlist suppliers by specialization and country, then contact several, compare samples and lead times, and confirm minimum order quantities before you commit.
What to check when sourcing flat & float glass
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Glass type | Clear, tinted, low-iron or coated; annealed, heat-strengthened, toughened or laminated |
| Thickness | Nominal thickness (about 3-19 mm) matched to span, load and application |
| Surface quality | Optical clarity, coating uniformity and absence of defects for the use |
| Sizing | Stock-sheet or jumbo-plate dimensions and achievable cut sizes |
| Logistics | A-frame or crate packing, pallet weight, edge protection and breakage terms |
| Standards | The harmonised standards and performance documents your market requires |
Frequently asked questions
- What is float glass?
- Float glass is flat glass made by floating molten glass on a bath of liquid tin, which gives it flat, parallel faces and a clear surface. It is the base product from which most building and product glass is further processed.
- What is the difference between annealed and toughened glass?
- Annealed glass is the basic float product, cooled slowly and relatively easy to cut. Toughened (tempered) glass is heat-treated for much higher strength and breaks into small blunt fragments, which is why it is used where safety and impact resistance matter. It cannot be cut after toughening.
- How do I find flat glass suppliers?
- Use the Digibition directory to filter by this specialization and by country, then open each company profile to review its products, certifications and specializations. You can message suppliers directly, or add several to a quote list and request quotes from all of them at once.
- How is flat glass shipped safely?
- Flat glass is usually shipped upright on A-frames or in crates, with interleaving and edge protection, and pallet weights are high because glass is dense. Confirm sizes, packing method and breakage handling with the supplier in advance. This is general information, not legal or technical advice.
- What should I check before placing a large order?
- Confirm the exact glass type, thickness, coating and sizes, agree lead time, minimum order quantity and packing, and clarify which performance documents your market needs. Where possible, request samples and agree quality and breakage terms in writing before committing to volume.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Important notice
This page is general industry information published by Digibition for educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, customs, regulatory, or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Standards, certifications, duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements differ between countries and markets and change over time; nothing here is guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. Verify any requirement independently with a qualified adviser and the relevant competent authority before you act. Digibition is an online company directory and digital-fair platform; it is not a party to any transaction between users and does not endorse, guarantee, or accept responsibility for any third-party company, product, claim, or certification. A company being reviewed or approved for listing refers only to Digibition's internal listing review and is not a warranty of that company's quality, legality, solvency, or performance. Any mention of specific standards or certifications is illustrative and is not an endorsement or a statement of compliance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Digibition accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this page; any reliance is at your own risk.