How Much Does It Cost to Cut Glass? [2025 Data]
The cost to cut glass is $100 per square foot, on average, and prices normally fall between $50 and $200 per square foot, depending on the type of glass and intricacy of the cut.
The average cost to cut glass is $100 per square foot, but prices can range from $10 up to $300 per square foot. The per-square-foot price will be higher for thicker glass, for certain types of glass like tempered or shower door glass that are more challenging to cut, and for intricate cuts.
Cost Factors
Let’s look at a few key factors that influence the cost to cut glass and how they can affect your project total.
Type of Glass
There are a few types of glass you may have in your house, each of which has a different hardness, affecting how difficult it is to cut through. Some types of glass, like tempered glass and shower door glass, also take longer to cut because the risk of shattering is higher.
| Type of Glass | Cost (per Sq. Ft.) |
|---|---|
| Annealed glass | $20 |
| Ceramic glass | $60 |
| Laminated glass | $40 |
| Mirror glass | $10 |
| Shower door glass | $200 |
| Tempered glass | $20 |
| Tempered laminate glass | $100 |
Annealed Glass
Annealed glass costs $20 per square foot to cut, on average. Annealed glass is the “standard” type of glass, so you’ll find this on picture frames and cabinet doors, as well as some budget windows.
Ceramic Glass
Ceramic glass costs $60 per square foot to cut. This type of glass has an extremely high resistance to heat and won’t expand and contract to the point of breaking with fluctuations in temperature. You’ll find ceramic glass on fireplace doors, on wood burning stoves and pellet stoves, as well as on glass cooktops.
Laminated Glass
You can expect to pay an average of $40 per square foot to cut laminated glass. Laminated glass has a layer of hard plastic sandwiched between two layers of glass, making it shatter-resistant. You’ll find laminated glass most often on storm windows, exterior doors, and skylights.
Mirror Glass
It costs an average of $10 per square foot to cut mirror glass. As the name suggests, you’ll normally only find this glass on mirrors.
Shower Door Glass
Shower door glass costs $200 per square foot to cut. This glass is hardened for safety and support and also tempered for safety reasons in case someone slips in the shower and falls through the glass. The glass will shatter into small, blunt pieces to avoid additional injury.
Tempered Glass
Expect to pay $20 per square foot to cut standard tempered glass. Similar to shower doors, this glass breaks into small chunks that lack sharp edges for safety reasons. If you need to cut a glass tabletop or glass railings on a balcony or stairs, you’re likely dealing with tempered glass.
Tempered Laminated Glass
Tempered laminated glass costs $100 per square foot to cut. This type of glass includes two layers of tempered glass with a sheet of hard plastic between them to add security while also reducing the risk of lacerations from the glass after it breaks. This glass is common on sliding glass doors, large picture windows, some casement windows, and some skylights in areas prone to severe weather.
Glass Thickness
Thicker glass takes longer to cut through and can increase labor costs, so you’ll pay more the thicker your glass is. The average cost to cut glass is $100 per square foot at 3/32”. Expect to pay up to $200 per square foot for thicker glass on shower doors and security windows and as little as $10 per square foot to cut thinner glass on mirrors, picture frames, and cabinet doors.
| Glass Thickness (in.) | Cost (per Sq. Ft.) |
|---|---|
| 1/8 | $30 |
| 3/32 | $100 |
| 3/8 | $150 |
| 1/2 | $200 |
Project Intricacy
The challenge of making the cuts you need will affect labor costs, as well, with more intricate cuts like arches, curves, and cut-outs taking longer to complete. Cutting a simple square from a standard glass pane will be the most affordable project, costing as little as $10 per square foot. Cutting curves or patterns can push your total up to $300 per square foot.
Polishing
You’ll pay an additional $20 to $55 to have your professional polish the edges of the glass after they make the necessary cuts. Polishing will reduce the risk of cutting, so it’s a necessary step if the edges of the glass are exposed. Some common projects you may need polishing for include the following:
Floating shower doors without a border
Floating glass stair railings
Glass tabletops
Borderless mirrors
Picture frames
Drilled Holes
Drilling holes in a sheet of glass will cost $20 to $40 per hole, depending on the size, as a standalone service. If you need holes drilled in addition to glass cutting services, you could pay as little as $10 per hole.
DIY Glass Cutting vs. Hiring a Pro
All of the cost of glass cutting will go toward labor, so if you already have the tools on hand, you’ll save an average of $100 by doing the work yourself. If you don’t already have the tools and don’t anticipate needing them for other projects in the future, it’s more cost-effective to hire a glass and mirror specialist near you. You could buy a simple glass cutter for $12 at a local home improvement store, but more precise tools are often necessary and will cost over $200.
Even if you have the tools to cut glass, you should hire a professional if you’re working with a particularly large piece that’s difficult to handle or if you have an expensive piece of glass or an antique that requires extra care when cutting. A professional will be able to get the job done with no risk of breaking.
Cost of Common Glass Cutting Add-Ons
While you’re budgeting for glass cutting costs, you might want to consider coupling services with the following to save some money on trip fees since your professional will already be on-site.
Cost for glass etching to add privacy: $20 per sq. ft.
Cost to install window tinting: $5–$19 per sq. ft.
Cost to install low-emissivity (low-E) coating for efficiency: $20–$60 per sq. ft.
Cost to install hurricane window film: $10–$20 per sq. ft.
How to Save Money On Glass Cutting Costs
Hiring a professional to cut glass for your project can quickly get expensive, with costs sometimes going up to $300 per square foot. There are a few things you can do to help keep your total down.
Stick with regular, straight cuts: You’ll pay more for intricate and curved cuts because they take longer and may require special tools. Go for straight cuts and right angles whenever possible to keep costs to a minimum.
Skip the polishing, if possible: You can save up to $55 on your project by skipping the polishing around the edges. If your glass will have a protective border on the finished product, this is a good way to save.
Get multiple projects done at once: A good portion of the labor fees will be a trip fee for your glass cutting project, as the actual cutting normally doesn’t take long. Couple the cutting with similar projects to save.
Consider DIYing if you have the tools: If you have the tools and aren’t too concerned about messing up and breaking the glass, consider doing the work yourself to save on expensive labor charges.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best tool for DIYers to use to cut glass is a glass cutter, which can either use a straight blade or a sharp cutting wheel to score glass. Once you score the lines you want to cut, elevate the scored line over a pivot point and apply light, even pressure to both sides. Make sure you wear protective gloves and glasses to stay safe during the process.
Cutting glass yourself can be dangerous, as the edges are sharp and can easily cause lacerations if you’re not careful. Working with larger pieces of glass is especially dangerous, as they can be cumbersome and difficult to handle without shattering. If you’re uncomfortable doing the work yourself, you can hire a professional to get the job done safely.
The easiest way for DIYers to smooth the edges of cut glass is to use sandpaper. Wearing protective gloves, gently sand the sharp edges smooth using low-grit sandpaper and working up to high-grit sandpaper. You can also use a multitool with a rotating sandpaper cylinder to make quicker work of the project.
