Clear Acrylic/Plexiglass

Clear acrylic sheets offer superior optical clarity with 92% light transmission and exceptional scratch resistance, making plexiglass ideal for picture framing, awards and plaques, protective barriers, and architectural displays. Available in thicknesses from 1/8" to 1" in full sheets (48"x96") and custom cut-to-size. Ships within 1-2 business days. Sourced from trusted manufacturer: Optix® (Plaskolite).

Clear Acrylic Sheets: 92% Optical Clarity with Superior Scratch Resistance

Clear acrylic sheets deliver exceptional optical clarity with 92% light transmission—superior to polycarbonate's 88%—making them the professional choice for applications where crystal-clear transparency, scratch resistance, and glass-like aesthetics matter most. Also known as plexiglass or Plexiglas®, acrylic excels in picture framing, awards and plaques, protective barriers for indoor environments, table top protection, and architectural displays. Our comprehensive selection includes thicknesses from 1/8" to 1" in both full sheets (48"x96") and custom cut-to-size options, ensuring you get exactly what your project demands.

Why Choose Acrylic from ShapesPlastics?

We source our clear acrylic sheets exclusively from Optix®, a premium brand from Plaskolite—one of North America's most trusted acrylic manufacturers. All our acrylic meets ASTM D4802 standards for extruded acrylic sheet, ensuring consistent quality, optical clarity, and performance. Whether you're framing artwork, creating awards and plaques, building protective barriers for office environments, protecting furniture with table top covers, or creating architectural displays, you're getting genuine acrylic that professionals specify for applications requiring superior clarity and scratch resistance.

Fast turnaround: Standard sizes and cut-to-size orders typically ship within 1-2 business days, keeping your projects moving without delays. Our precision CNC cutting service provides tolerances of ±1/8", delivering custom panels ready to install without on-site fabrication challenges.

Common Applications for Clear Acrylic

Acrylic excels in indoor applications where optical clarity, scratch resistance, and glass-like appearance are priorities:

  • Picture Framing: Industry-standard material for professional framing, providing crystal-clear protection for artwork, photographs, and prints with superior scratch resistance
  • Awards & Plaques: Premium material for recognition awards, engraved plaques, and trophies where clarity and professional appearance matter
  • Protective Barriers: Indoor sneeze guards, reception desk shields, and office partitions for low-to-moderate traffic environments
  • Table Top Protection: Clear furniture protection for desks, dining tables, and display surfaces requiring scratch-resistant coverage
  • Replacement Windows: Glazing for sheds, porches, greenhouses, and indoor applications where superior clarity is desired
  • Architectural Displays: Retail displays, museum exhibits, and commercial installations requiring glass-like aesthetics with lighter weight

How to Choose the Right Thickness

Selecting the appropriate acrylic thickness depends on your application's structural and aesthetic requirements:

  • 1/8": Most popular for aesthetics—picture framing (industry standard), awards and plaques, lightweight barriers, table top covers
  • 3/16": Enhanced rigidity—larger picture frames (36"+), replacement windows, commercial table tops, kitchen backsplashes
  • 1/4": Industry gold standard—premium replacement windows, architectural installations, commercial displays, heavy-use applications
  • 3/8" to 1": Heavy-duty specialty—large aquarium viewing panels, monumental architecture, extreme structural requirements

Our price match guarantee ensures you're getting competitive pricing on genuine acrylic from Optix®. We work directly with Plaskolite to deliver professional-grade material at wholesale-competitive prices.

Need help selecting the right thickness or size for your application? Our team can provide technical guidance to ensure you get optimal performance for your specific requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about clear acrylic sheets

What is acrylic and why is it better than glass?

Acrylic (also known as plexiglass) is a thermoplastic material that is 17 times stronger than glass and weighs half as much. It offers 92% light transmission—superior optical clarity compared to glass—and has better scratch resistance than polycarbonate. Unlike glass, acrylic won't shatter into dangerous shards if broken. It's the professional choice for picture framing, awards, displays, and indoor applications where crystal-clear transparency and scratch resistance matter most.

What's the difference between acrylic and polycarbonate?

While both are clear plastics, they have different strengths:

  • Acrylic: 92% clarity (vs 88% for polycarbonate), superior scratch resistance, glass-like aesthetics, better UV weathering. Best for indoor aesthetic applications where clarity matters—framing, awards, displays, table tops.
  • Polycarbonate: 250x stronger than glass (vs 17x for acrylic), extreme impact resistance, more flexible. Best for high-impact applications—machine guards, protective barriers in high-traffic areas, outdoor installations subject to abuse.

Choose acrylic for clarity and aesthetics, polycarbonate for impact resistance and durability. For high-impact needs, see our polycarbonate sheets.

What thickness of acrylic do I need for picture framing?

For picture framing, 1/8" acrylic is the industry standard and most popular choice. It provides excellent clarity and protection for frames up to 30-36 inches. For larger frames (36"+), oversized artwork, or commercial installations, consider 3/16" acrylic for enhanced rigidity and reduced flexing. The 1/8" thickness offers the best balance of clarity, weight, and cost for most residential framing applications.

Can acrylic be used outdoors?

Yes, acrylic performs well outdoors in protected applications. It has excellent UV resistance and weathers better than polycarbonate, resisting yellowing for 10+ years. Acrylic is ideal for replacement windows on sheds, porches, and greenhouses where impact resistance is not a primary concern. However, acrylic's lower impact resistance (17x vs polycarbonate's 250x) makes it unsuitable for high-abuse outdoor areas, vandalism-prone locations, or hail-prone regions. For extreme outdoor durability, consider our UV-resistant polycarbonate.

Do you offer custom cutting services for acrylic?

Yes! We offer precision CNC custom cutting for all acrylic thicknesses up to 48" x 96". Our cut-to-size service provides tolerances of ±1/8" and typically ships within 1-2 business days. This eliminates the need for specialized cutting tools and ensures you receive panels ready to use. Simply select "Cut-to-Size" when browsing our acrylic products and enter your exact dimensions. Perfect for custom picture frames, awards, table tops, and architectural installations.

What's the difference between Optix® and other acrylic brands?

Optix® is a premium acrylic brand manufactured by Plaskolite, one of North America's leading acrylic producers. All Optix® acrylic meets ASTM D4802 standards for extruded acrylic sheet, ensuring consistent quality and performance. While various brand names exist (Plexiglas®, Lucite®, Acrylite®), they're all acrylic (PMMA) with similar properties when manufactured to the same standards. We source Optix® for its consistent quality, reliable availability, and competitive pricing while maintaining professional-grade specifications.

Need a Specific Thickness or Size?

Browse our complete selection of acrylic sheets by thickness:

Most Popular Thicknesses

View All Thicknesses & Sizes

Learn More About Acrylic Applications

Find the perfect acrylic for your specific use case:

Picture Framing → Awards & Plaques → Patio Insulation → Table Top Protection →