Choosing Cover Glass Thickness

Cover glass thickness is a cost, weight and reliability decision, and the right answer depends more on how the product is used than on the datasheet.

1.1 mm — thin and light

The standard for handheld devices, small HMIs and anything where weight matters. Chemically strengthened, 6H, and it survives a drop onto a corner reasonably well. It is also the cheapest. Limitation: it flexes, so on a large panel a heavy touch can change the capacitance reading — fine up to about 15 inch, less so beyond.

1.8–2.0 mm — the kiosk default

Stiffer, more impact-resistant, and the thickness most public-facing terminals use. The extra 0.7 mm has almost no effect on sensitivity with a modern controller. If your product is in a public space and has no other protection, this is the sensible choice.

3.0–4.0 mm — vandal resistance

For outdoor terminals, car parks, unattended kiosks and anywhere a hammer is a realistic threat. Sensitivity needs a boosted controller and sometimes an on-cell design, because the electric field has further to reach. Expect 10–15 % more cost and a slightly reduced ability to detect a passive stylus.

What thickness does not fix

Thicker glass does not make a capacitive panel work with gloves, and it does not make it readable in sunlight — those are controller and coating problems. It also does not stop a determined attack; it buys time and turns a break into a crack.

Edge treatment

Polished edges look better and reduce the chance of a chip propagating into a crack. A 2.5D curved edge is available and adds about 5 %; it is worth it on any product where the glass edge is visible and handled.