Acrylic (Perspex)
Crystal-clear, versatile, and 17× stronger than glass
Acrylic sheet, commonly known by the brand name Perspex, is the most popular plastic sheet material in Australia. It offers exceptional optical clarity, UV stability, and weather resistance, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Available in clear, opal, coloured, frosted, fluorescent, and tinted variants, acrylic can be laser cut, CNC machined, bent, polished, and fabricated to suit virtually any project requirement.
Key Properties
Clarity
92% light transmission (clear)
Impact Strength
17× stronger than glass
UV Resistance
Excellent, won't yellow
Temperature Range
-40°C to 80°C
Density
1.19 g/cm³
Fabrication
Laser, CNC, saw, bend, polish
Acrylic sheet stock
Cut and finished in-house
From a single sheet to a full production run, every order is cut to size, machined, and finished by our own team in Kingsgrove. Nothing gets sent out, and most cut-to-size jobs are ready for same-day pickup.
Available Thicknesses
1.5mm – 50mm
Common Applications
- Signage and point-of-sale displays
- Protective screens and sneeze guards
- Skylights and roof panels
- Retail display cases and plinths
- Furniture and interior design
- Aquariums and terrariums
- Picture framing and glazing
- Architectural features and balustrades
Buying Guide
When acrylic is the right choice
Acrylic is the best starting point when you need a clear, polished, display-quality plastic sheet. It gives you glass-like clarity at a much lower weight, and it can be cut, engraved, bent, bonded, and polished into finished parts rather than just flat panels.
For most retail, signage, display, framing, cover, and general protective-screen jobs, acrylic gives the best balance of presentation, price, colour range, and fabrication flexibility. Clear acrylic is the classic option, but opal, frosted, tinted, fluorescent, mirror, and solid colours can change the result dramatically.
Cutting, finishing, and fabrication notes
Acrylic works well with laser cutting when you need clean edges, small profiles, letters, display pieces, or decorative work. CNC routing is better for thicker parts, larger panels, pockets, slots, countersinks, and more technical components. Straight saw cutting is usually the most efficient option for simple rectangular sheets.
Edges can be left as-cut for utility pieces, flame or diamond polished for display work, or fabricated into boxes, covers, guards, plinths, risers, and display cases. If the part needs tight fitting, fixing holes, bends, or glued joins, send the drawing or notes with the quote so the team can choose the right process.
What to check before ordering
For cut-to-size orders, confirm the visible face, whether the sheet needs to stay optically clear, and whether the edges will be seen. Small scratches and machining marks matter far more on retail displays than they do on protective covers or templates.
For outdoor use, acrylic is usually a good option because UV-stabilised grades resist yellowing, but impact risk still matters. If the panel is in a public, vandal-prone, or high-impact location, compare it with polycarbonate before ordering.
Compatible Services
Acrylic laser cutting
Clean profiles, lettering, display parts, and polished-looking cut edges.
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Acrylic fabrication
Boxes, covers, guards, plinths, displays, risers, and custom joined work.
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CNC machining
Thicker acrylic, slots, pockets, countersinks, and repeatable production parts.
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Common Questions
Is acrylic the same as Perspex?
Perspex is a well-known brand name for acrylic sheet. In day-to-day Australian usage, Perspex and acrylic usually refer to the same PMMA material family, though exact grade, colour, and thickness still matter.
Can acrylic be cut to size online?
Yes. Many acrylic colours and thicknesses can be priced instantly through the cut-to-size calculator. If a colour or thickness needs manual pricing, the site sends it as a quote request instead of showing a zero-dollar price.
Should I use acrylic or polycarbonate?
Use acrylic when clarity, finish, colour range, and display quality matter most. Use polycarbonate when impact resistance, guards, or safety glazing are the priority.
