Fifteen millimetres is where polycarbonate stops being a general glazing sheet and becomes a structural one. It is also where price quotes spread widest — often 30% between two suppliers for what looks like the same line item.
Start with weight, because it is half the freight
A 1220 × 2440 mm sheet at 15 mm, with density around 1.20 g/cm³, weighs roughly 53.6 kg. That is 1.6 times a 10 mm sheet of the same size. In a container the extra weight usually costs more than the resin upgrade, so ask for a landed figure rather than an FOB figure.
The four levers that move the number
- Resin grade. Virgin UV-stabilised resin versus regrind; regrind is cheaper and unacceptable for exterior architectural glazing.
- Coating. A hard coat on both faces adds cost but keeps transmission above 85% for years on a cleaned surface.
- Colour. Clear is the base; bronze and opal carry a small premium.
- Quantity. Container-quantity orders move the per-sheet price far more than thickness.
When 15 mm is the right answer
A stadium concourse screen with a 2.4 m unsupported span and a requirement to resist a body impact lands at 15 mm solid PC. At 10 mm the same span deflects enough to feel soft under load and fails the impact test. Where the span is 1.5 m and impact is light, 10 mm does the job at lower weight and lower freight.
Sizing a thinner panel is covered in polycarbonate sheet 10mm, and scheduling the order in polycarbonate sheet lead time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does a 15 mm polycarbonate sheet weigh?
A:About 53.6 kg for a 1220 × 2440 mm sheet, at a density near 1.20 g/cm3. That is roughly 1.6 times a 10 mm sheet of the same size, which is why freight often dominates the price difference.
Q: Is 15 mm polycarbonate worth the extra cost over 10 mm?
A:On spans over about 2 m or where impact resistance is specified, yes — 10 mm deflects too much and can fail an impact test at that span. On short spans with light loading, 10 mm saves weight and freight.
For a cut-to-size or stock-sheet quotation, send the panel list, thickness and destination port to oversales@rpplexiglass.com.