Acrylic Thickness and Size Guide

Every piece we sell is clear cast acrylic, cut and finished in our shop in Otsego, Michigan. This guide covers how to pick the right thickness and size for a retail display, a display base, or a UV printing blank. If you're still unsure, send us what you're displaying and we'll recommend a size for free.

Need a plain rectangle, square or circle in an exact size? Use our cut to size designer. Type your dimensions, add holes, pick your corners and see the price right away.

Thickness at a glance

Weights are for clear acrylic and scale with area. A 6" x 6" square is a quarter of a square foot, so a 1/2" piece that size weighs about 0.8 lb.

Choosing thickness for a display

Holding signs and prices

Go with 1/8". It's what our shelf talkers and sign holders are made from, light enough to mount with adhesive and thin enough to bend into slant back and L shapes.

Raising a product up

For risers and bases under jewelry, candles, skincare or collectibles, use 1/2" for small to medium pieces and 1" when the item is heavy or the base is wider than about 10". Thicker bases also look more expensive on a shelf, which is why galleries and museums use 1". See risers and display bases.

Standing on its own

Anything that has to stand upright without a stand, like a photo block or a freestanding star or heart, should be 1/2" or thicker.

Choosing thickness for UV printing

1/8" is the lowest cost per piece and great for testing settings. Our 12 piece sampler pack is 1/8". 1/4" sits perfectly flat on the bed and feels sturdier in hand. 1/2" and 1" are for finished pieces that stand up, like photo blocks and desk displays. Before you order thick blanks, check that your printer can raise its head high enough for the thickness. See all UV blanks.

Choosing the right size

Display bases and risers

Measure the footprint of the item (the widest points where it touches the surface). Then add 1/2" to 1" on every side. A vase with a 4" wide foot looks best on a 5" to 6" base. For a group of products, lay them out how you want them and measure the whole group.

Tiered risers

Our sets of three step down in size so each level shows. If you're building your own set, a difference of about 2" between each size keeps every tier visible.

Shelf talkers and sign holders

Match the holder to the card you'll print. Common sizes are 1" x 3" for price strips, 2" x 3.5" for business card size inserts, 3" x 5" for small signs and 4" x 6" for countertop signs.

Photo blocks

We cut standard photo sizes: 3" x 5", 4" x 6", 5" x 7" and 8" x 10", so prints from any lab fit with no trimming.

UV blanks

Check your printer bed and jig before ordering a large size. Smaller blanks also let you print more at once.

Edges

Most pieces come with polished edges. On some thick circles and bases you can choose flame polished (clear and glossy, best for display) or standard (smooth but slightly frosted, a little lower cost).

Caring for acrylic

Clean with mild soap and water and a soft microfiber cloth. Skip paper towels and ammonia cleaners like window spray, which can scratch or cloud the surface.