The thickness of bulletproof glass really comes down to what level of protection it’s built for. In general, bullet-resistant glass runs anywhere from 0.75 inches up to over 3 inches thick. On the lower end, something like UL Level 1, which stops 9mm handguns, typically sits around 0.75 to 1 inch. That’s the kind of thing you’d see in small storefronts or gas station windows.
Move up to mid-range protection, like UL Level 3, which handles .44 Magnum rounds, and thickness climbs to about 1.25 to 1.5 inches. At the high end, UL Level 8, built to stop high-powered rifle rounds, can hit 2 to 3 inches or more.
The material matters too, not just the rating. Glass-clad polycarbonate (GCP) tends to be thinner and lighter than traditional all-glass laminates while still holding up just as well, sometimes better. And because this glass gets so thick, it also gets heavy, which is exactly why it needs specialized framing and professional installation. Getting a handle on how thickness relates to protection level is really the key to picking the right product for whatever you’re actually worried about.
Having a hard time figuring out which type of security glass your project needs? Check out Landmark’s Security Glass Rating Selector tool for FREE!
