Acrylic & Perspex Shelves Cut to Size

A clear acrylic shelf almost disappears on the wall, so whatever sits on it takes centre stage. That is why acrylic shelves are popular for bathrooms, shop fit-outs, collectible displays, kids' book walls and floating shelves in living areas. Perspex Online cuts acrylic shelves to your exact length and depth, polishes the edges and ships Australia-wide from the Gold Coast.

Acrylic is about half the weight of glass, far more impact resistant, and will not chip at the corners the way a glass shelf can. It can be drilled, notched and routed to suit almost any bracket, and it does not rust, rot or swell in damp rooms.

The most important decision for any shelf is thickness. Acrylic is stiff for a plastic, but it is more flexible than glass or timber and, like all plastics, it can slowly creep and sag under a load that stays in place for a long time. The longer the span between supports and the heavier the contents, the thicker the shelf needs to be.

As a general starting point only: short shelves with supports no more than about 300mm apart carrying light items such as toiletries, ornaments or small collectibles are commonly made from 6mm acrylic. Spans up to about 600mm with light to moderate loads usually move to 10mm. Longer spans, deeper shelves or heavier items such as books generally need 12mm, 15mm or more, or extra supports. Floating shelves supported only along the back edge need more thickness than shelves supported at both ends or from below.

These figures are a guide, not a load rating, and we do not guarantee a load for any shelf because the result depends on the brackets, the wall, the span and how the shelf is used. For spans over about 600mm, anything heavy, or any shelf that will be leaned on, tell us the length, depth, bracket type and what will sit on it, and we will recommend a thickness or suggest adding a support. When in doubt, go thicker or shorten the span.

Acrylic shelves suit most standard glass shelf hardware: clamp brackets, U-channel and continuous floating shelf rails, pin supports in cabinets, and wire or rod suspension systems. Clamp-style brackets should have rubber or plastic liners, and should be tightened only enough to hold the shelf, since overtightening point loads can crack acrylic.

If you plan to screw through the shelf, we can drill holes to your positions. Holes should be slightly oversized to allow for thermal expansion, and placed well in from the edge. For built-in shelving, routed slots or notches can be cut to locate the shelf on pins or around posts. Glass shelf brackets and rails are not part of our range, so source those to suit your thickness.

On a clear shelf the front edge is the part everyone sees. Sawn edges are matt and slightly rough, so for any shelf in view we recommend polished edges, which turn the edge glossy and almost glass-like. Edge finishing can be selected when you price your shelves in the pricing calculator. Corners can be radiused for bathrooms, children's rooms and shop aisles where people brush past.

Clear cast acrylic sheet is the most popular choice. Perspex Opal and Perspex Frost hide dust and scratches and glow beautifully when lit from behind or below with LED strip. Coloured shelves from the Perspex Spectrum range and mirrored shelves in acrylic mirror sheet suit retail fit-outs and feature displays.

In bathrooms, acrylic shelves are a light, shatter-resistant alternative to glass for shower niches, above vanities and beside basins. Acrylic is waterproof and will not rust, but it is sensitive to some solvents, so avoid alcohol-based cleaners, nail polish remover and harsh bathroom chemicals on the surface. Clean with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. For splash surfaces behind basins see acrylic splashbacks.

Retailers use clear acrylic shelves in display cabinets, glass-look wall bays and window displays where timber shelves would look heavy. For tiered steps that sit on an existing shelf, see acrylic shelf risers, and for complete enclosed showcases see acrylic display cabinets.

Straight shelves are cut accurately to length and depth, and shaped shelves, corner shelves, notches and routed slots are machined on our CNC router. Small decorative shelves and detailed shapes can be produced with our laser cutting services.

For rectangular shelves, enter your sizes and thickness in the pricing calculator for an instant price ex GST, or browse the full Perspex range. For long spans, shaped shelves or a full fit-out, send us the dimensions, the bracket type and the load and we will recommend a thickness and quote.