The short answer
Both 6mm and 8mm shower glass are toughened safety glass, so both are safe. 8mm is a third heavier and stiffer, so doors feel more solid, flex less and can stand taller — ICON's 8mm doors are 1950mm high against 1850mm for 6mm. 6mm is lighter to carry and fit and costs less. Choose 8mm for wetroom screens, wide doors and a heavier feel; 6mm for bath screens, smaller enclosures and tighter budgets.
6mm and 8mm glass at a glance
The number is the thickness of the glass panel. Everything else — the frame, hinges, seals and finish — is designed around it, which is why a door, its side panel and its profiles always come in one thickness.
| 6mm glass | 8mm glass | |
|---|---|---|
| Glass type | Toughened safety glass | Toughened safety glass |
| Weight of the glass | About 15 kg per m² | About 20 kg per m² |
| ICON door height | 1850mm | 1950mm |
| Wetroom screens | — | 2000mm high, with a support bar |
| Bath screens | Yes | — |
| Finishes | Chrome, matt black, brushed brass | Chrome, matt black, brushed brass, brushed bronze |
| Easy-clean coating | ICON Shield | ICON Shield |
| Warranty | 10 years | 10 years |
Is 6mm shower glass safe?
Yes. Shower glass is toughened: heated and cooled quickly so it's several times stronger than ordinary glass of the same thickness, and if it ever breaks it crumbles into small blunt pieces instead of sharp shards. That's what makes it safety glass, and it's true of 6mm and 8mm alike.
Extra thickness adds stiffness rather than safety. An 8mm panel bends less when you push the door or lean on the screen, which is why it feels more solid and why large unframed panels — wetroom screens especially — are made in 8mm.
How much heavier is 8mm glass?
Glass weighs about 2.5 kg per square metre for every millimetre of thickness, so 8mm is a third heavier than 6mm. On a real door that's the difference between a one-and-a-half-person lift and a definite two-person lift:
| Panel | 6mm (1850mm high) | 8mm (1950mm high) |
|---|---|---|
| 760mm wide | about 21 kg | about 30 kg |
| 900mm wide | about 25 kg | about 35 kg |
| 1200mm wide | about 33 kg | about 47 kg |
The weight is why 8mm doors need solid fixings into masonry or properly noggined stud walls. Plasterboard alone won't hold them.
How much more does 8mm cost?
Here's the same ICON door or panel in both thicknesses, at today's prices:
| Door or panel | 6mm glass | 8mm glass | 8mm costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome Shower Side Panel 800mm | £158.10 | £175.56 | +£17.46 |
| Chrome Shower Side Panel 900mm | £158.10 | £183.32 | +£25.22 |
| Chrome Sliding Shower Door 1000mm | £243.46 | £379.26 | +£135.80 |
| Chrome Sliding Shower Door 1200mm | £253.16 | £404.48 | +£151.32 |
| Chrome Sliding Shower Door 1400mm | £290.99 | £445.22 | +£154.23 |
The extra buys you the taller door, a heavier feel and the brushed bronze option. If the budget is tight, 6mm gives you the same toughened glass, easy-clean coating and 10-year warranty for less.
Which thickness should you choose?
Choose 8mm for a walk-in or wetroom screen, for wide sliding doors where a stiff panel runs more smoothly, for a tall bathroom where the extra 100mm of door height looks right, or simply if you want the heavier, more expensive feel.
Choose 6mm for a bath screen, a small en-suite where the door is light to swing, a rental or a budget refit, or when you're fitting it yourself and the weight matters.
Whichever you pick, match the door, side panel and profiles: a 6mm door and an 8mm side panel don't share fixings, so pick the side panel from the same ICON range, thickness and finish as the door.
ICON doors and screens in both thicknesses
In stockICON
ICON Pivot Shower Door13 options available
Frominc VAT£167.32 ex VAT
✓ Delivery available✓ Collect today
In stockICON
ICON Bifold Shower Door17 options available
Frominc VAT£198.03 ex VAT
✓ Delivery available✓ Collect today
In stockICON
ICON Sliding Shower Door52 options available
Frominc VAT£202.88 ex VAT
✓ Delivery available✓ Collect today
In stockLondon Plumbing
(Width) x 1850mm(Height) Bifold Shower Door Enclosure Cubicle (Chrome)4 sizes available
Frominc VAT£204.51 ex VAT
✓ Delivery available✓ Collect today
Glass travels by a fragile-goods courier for £29.99 per order, however many pieces you buy, or collect free from our Chingford counter.
Questions
- Is 8mm shower glass worth the extra?
- If you want a wetroom screen, a wide door or a more solid feel, yes. For a bath screen or a small enclosure, 6mm does the same job for less.
- Can I use a 6mm door with an 8mm side panel?
- No. The profiles and fixings are made for one thickness, so the door and side panel must match — and the finish should match too.
- Does thicker glass stop leaks?
- Not by itself. Leaks come down to the seals, the tray and the fitting. Thicker glass flexes less, which helps the seals stay put on a large panel.
- Is 10mm shower glass better again?
- 10mm is used for frameless made-to-measure screens. For standard doors and wetroom screens, 8mm is the heavy option; ICON's range is 6mm and 8mm.
- How is shower glass delivered?
- By a fragile-goods courier for £29.99 per order, whatever the basket total, or collect free from our Chingford counter.
Related guides
- Bathrooms & showersShower Enclosure Buying Guide: Types, Sizes and Which to Choose
- Bathrooms & showersWetroom vs Walk-In Shower: Screens, Trays, Drains and Tanking
- Bathrooms & showersHow to Measure for a Shower Enclosure or Shower Door
- Bathrooms & showersShower Tray Sizes UK: Standard Sizes Chart and How to Choose