Is Etched Glass Expensive?

What is etched glass?

Before getting into whether etched glass is expensive or not, it’s important to understand exactly what it is and that not all etched glass is created equal. There are different methods used to produce it so you want to make sure you’re getting the quality you’re paying for.

Etched glass is the process of obscuring a clear panel of glass. When some areas are etched and others are left clear, it can create a stunning decorative design. There are two main ways that glass has been etched historically, the older method of using acid to etch a panel, and the modern method of sandblasting a panel. Due to health and safety concerns, the process of using acid to etch a panel has more or less been phased out in the UK. Sandblasted glass doesn’t use inks or acid to create the etched effect, instead sand is fired at high speed across the panel allowing for extreme precision/detail and permanent quality.

You may find that some companies offer to supply “etched” glass panels when in reality they apply a cheap vinyl to imitate the etched glass effect – so no part of the panel has actually been etched. From vinyl stickers shrinking to discolouration in sunlight, buyers remorse is a real possibility for those opting for the ‘cheap option’. You can learn more about the perils of ‘etched effect’ stickers and screen printed glass here.

All etched glass supplied by Leadbitter Glass are authentic sandblasted panels for quality that lasts.

Is etched glass expensive?

While etched glass CAN be expensive, it doesn’t have to be. The level of detail in the design is the biggest factor in determining the price so if you opt for a simpler design, this will keep the cost down. The size of your panel will also affect the price so as you’d expect, a larger panel will cost more than a smaller one. Choosing a design from our extensive etched glass galleries will also keep the cost down as we already have the artwork files to work from. Choosing a bespoke design will naturally increase the price of your panel as it means we have to spend a significant amount of time drawing the pattern in our design software. Our Victorian Etched Glass designs contain more detail so tend to cost more than most patterns.

See the two panels below as an example of how varied the cost of etched glass can be. The panel on the left is a third of the price of the one on the right due to the level of detail in the panel and its size.

What is possible with etched glass?

Everything is possible from simple border panels and house numbers to jaw dropping Victorian feature windows. You can view our extensive etched glass galleries for hundreds of designs which could be just what you’re looking for. An example of something a bit different that you might not have considered as an option is our Shadows of Nature range.

We can also create panels if you supply your own bespoke design. This might be additional panels to compliment an original etched window in your home or a design you saw in a neighbours house that you like. We frequently recreate Victorian etched glass panels for clients who have broke an original in their home. To create panels with a bespoke design like this, we would just need a high quality image of the design you would like us to use.

To see a range of etched panels we’ve created for clients over the years, view our Etched Glass Past Works.

To see our vast range of etched designs, visit our Etched Glass Main Gallery.