Aquarium Glass Thickness Calculator

Your details

The interior length (longest horizontal dimension) of the tank.
cm
The interior width (front-to-back depth) of the tank.
cm
Height of the water column, typically 2-5 cm less than the tank height.
cm
Optional: enter a known thickness to check deflection for that glass. Leave 0 to auto-calculate the minimum.
mm
Multiplier applied to the theoretical load. 3.8 is the standard for aquariums; use 4+ for very tall tanks or saltwater.
Tempered glass is 4-5x stronger than float; borosilicate has a lower thermal expansion coefficient.
Side/front panel - min thicknessVery large tank - specialist glazier required
67.8mm

Minimum theoretical glass thickness for the side and front panels

Side/front panel - buy this size67.8 mm (no standard size - consult a glazier)
Bottom panel - min thickness28.2mm
Bottom panel - buy this size28.2 mm (no standard size - consult a glazier)
Side panel deflection0mm
Tank volume360L
Water weight359.3kg
Glass weight (approx.)387.9kg
Side/front panel (mm)67.8
Bottom panel (mm)28.2

Your 120 × 50 × 60 cm tank needs at least 67.8 mm side glass.

  • The minimum calculated thickness for your side panels is 67.8 mm; buy 67.8 mm (no standard size - consult a glazier) to match the nearest commercial size.
  • The bottom panel needs at least 28.2 mm; buy 28.2 mm (no standard size - consult a glazier). The bottom carries a distributed load over its full area.
  • The expected side-panel deflection is 0.00 mm, well within safe limits.
  • This tank holds 360 litres of water, weighing 359 kg. Make sure your cabinet and floor can support the total weight including glass and substrate.

Next stepAlways round up to the next commercial thickness, apply a proper silicone sealant (structural aquarium-grade, not bathroom), and allow 24-48 hours cure time before filling.

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