How to Cut Glass in 5 Steps

Prepare Your Work Station and Clean the Glass

For this project, you’ll want to choose a sturdy flat surface with a large workspace. Next, pad the table so you have some cushioning while you work to protect the glass and the work surface. You can use a work blanket or any similar padding. 

When working with glass, be cautious of potentially sharp pieces and splinters, especially along the edges of the glass. Proceed with caution and wear protective equipment like work gloves and safety glasses.

Once your workstation is set up and ready to go, you’ll want to clean the glass pane with a glass cleaner. Make sure to focus on the area where you want to make your cut. This will help the glass cutting tool slide, and make scoring the glass easier.

Measure and Mark the Glass

Place the glass flat on your work surface and measure the pane to the dimensions for your project. Mark one or two spots lightly with a marker so you can see where you’ll place your cut line. Make sure to use a marker that will wash off easily later.

Score the Glass Using a Glass Cutter

Photo: Africa Studio / Adobe Stock

Once your markings are complete, you’ll want to lubricate your glass cutter with glass cutting oil. You don’t need much—just enough so the cutting wheel can move freely. Keep in mind, though it’s called a glass cutter, this tool is actually used to score the glass rather than cut all the way through it. 

To score the glass, you’ll want to use your straight edge to make a straight line that fits your measurements. Angle the glass cutter slightly up and use it to score toward you, using an even amount of pressure across your cut. For the best results, you’ll want to make the cut in one continuous smooth movement.

If needed, you can repeat this process for a deeper cut, but using only one cut is preferable to avoid splintering when you snap the glass. If you’re cutting thick glass, you may wish to score both sides of the glass to ensure a clean break. Getting a clean score is important so that when you snap it, the glass breaks with a straight cut. This will help you avoid having to replace your glass or fix cracks in the glass. 

Snap the Glass Along the Score Line

There are several methods for snapping glass along a score line. The method you choose might depend on your comfort and the size of the piece of glass you are removing.  

One method is to snap the glass along the edge of your work surface. To do this, support both sides of the glass pane and line up the edge of your table to the score line. Make sure the glass you’re removing hangs over the edge of your work surface, and that the score mark is facing upward. Hold the glass pane firmly against the table and snap the overhanging glass downward so it breaks along the score line.    

It might feel easier to snap the glass with it placed on a flat surface. For this method, place a thin piece of wood at the edge of the glass under the score line. Once in place, push down evenly and firmly on both sides of the glass pane to snap the glass. If the glass doesn’t break completely, you can rotate your hands outwards to separate it. Or, move the wood to the other side of the score and repeat the process.

This third technique is best for removing small sections of glass like edge strips, or trimming glass edges. Depending on the size of the glass pane, you can hold the glass against a table for support. For smaller pieces, you can support it with your opposite hand. Use a pair of glass pliers to grip the piece of glass you want to remove. Then, firmly snap the pliers down and away from you to remove the glass. 

Trim and Smooth Any Sharp Edges

To finish up, you’ll want to trim off any jagged pieces with your glass pliers. You can do this by grasping the piece you are removing with the pliers and snapping it down and away from your body. This is similar to the third technique described above. 

Once you’re done cutting, use a fine grade of sandpaper or a sharpening stone to smooth out any rough edges on the cut line. Sanding edges will help avoid unexpected injuries and make the glass safer to handle while you complete any DIY projects.