Sneeze Guards: Materials, Configurations, and How to Order

For most counter applications, clear acrylic is the right call — polycarbonate is worth the premium only when impact risk is real

Sneeze guards are one of those jobs that look simple until you're standing in front of a fabricator trying to specify one. Material, thickness, mounting method, pass-through aperture, edge finish — every decision affects how the screen performs and how long it lasts. This post walks through each choice so you can brief the job properly and get a result that actually works.

Acrylic vs polycarbonate: which material suits your application

The two materials used in virtually every commercial sneeze guard are acrylic (Perspex) and polycarbonate . Both are optically clear, lightweight, and far easier to fabricate than glass. The differences come down to impact resistance, scratch resistance, and cost.

Acrylic is the default choice for food service counters, retail checkouts, reception desks, and pharmacy windows. It has excellent optical clarity — arguably better than polycarbonate for a display-quality finish — and it's significantly more scratch-resistant. It machines cleanly, flame-polishes to a glass-like edge, and is cost-effective at the sheet sizes typical for counter screens. The trade-off is that acrylic is more brittle than polycarbonate under a sharp impact. For a fixed counter screen that won't be knocked around, that's rarely a problem.

Polycarbonate is the right call when impact resistance is a genuine requirement — security screens, corrections facilities, high-traffic kiosks, or anywhere a screen might be struck deliberately or accidentally with force. It won't shatter. The downside is that polycarbonate scratches more easily and can yellow over time with UV exposure if it's not a UV-stabilised grade. For indoor applications, that's manageable; for outdoor-facing screens, specify a UV-stable sheet.

A third option worth knowing about is PETG . It sits between acrylic and polycarbonate on impact resistance, machines and bonds well, and is food-contact safe. It's less common for sneeze guards but a legitimate choice for food-processing environments where chemical cleaning is frequent.

For most hospitality and retail applications, 4–6 mm acrylic is the standard. If you want to order standard-size panels quickly, you can buy sneeze guards online through our sister site Perspex Online, or contact us for custom dimensions and configurations.

Mounting configurations: freestanding, fixed, and suspended

How the screen is mounted affects the fabrication brief as much as the material choice. There are three broad approaches:

Freestanding with a base. The panel slots into or bolts to a weighted base — typically acrylic, aluminium, or steel. This is the most flexible option: no drilling into counters, easy to reposition, and straightforward to replace if damaged. The base needs to be heavy or wide enough to resist tipping. For tall panels (above 600 mm), a wider base footprint or a heavier material is worth specifying.

Counter-fixed. The panel is bolted or bonded directly to the counter surface. More permanent and stable, particularly for high-traffic environments. Requires accurate measurement of the counter and coordination with the fitout. Standoff fixings give a cleaner look than through-bolts and allow the panel to be removed for cleaning.

Suspended or ceiling-hung. Used where counter space is limited or a continuous run of screening is needed across multiple positions. Requires structural fixings above the counter and careful attention to panel weight. Polycarbonate is often preferred here because a dropped panel is less likely to shatter.

Pass-through apertures — the gap at the bottom of the screen for exchanging items — are standard on food service and retail screens. The height of the aperture needs to be large enough for practical use (typically 100–150 mm) but small enough to maintain the protective function of the screen. If you're running a card reader or till through the gap, measure the equipment first.

Edge finish and fabrication details that matter

A sneeze guard is a visible piece of fabrication, often at eye level in a customer-facing environment. Edge finish is not cosmetic — it's part of the brief.

Acrylic edges can be flame-polished to a clear, glass-like finish. This is the standard for any screen that will be seen at close range. Machine-cut edges are fine for edges that sit inside a channel or base, but any exposed edge on a customer-facing screen should be polished. Our acrylic fabrication service includes polished edges as standard on cut-to-size panels.

Polycarbonate edges are typically machine-finished rather than flame-polished. The material doesn't respond to flame polishing the same way acrylic does. For polycarbonate screens, a clean router cut with a fine-pitch bit gives a good result; sanding through progressively finer grits and finishing with a plastic polish will improve clarity on exposed edges.

Corners should be radiused rather than sharp — both for safety and because sharp internal corners are stress concentration points in acrylic. A 5–10 mm radius on external corners is standard. If you're drilling fixing holes, keep them well clear of edges; too close to the edge and you risk cracking under load.

For screens that need to be bent — wrapping around a curved counter, for example — acrylic bending and forming is the process. Acrylic can be line-bent or oven-formed to consistent radii. Polycarbonate can also be cold-bent to gentle curves without heating, which is useful for large-radius applications.

Branding, printing, and custom configurations

A sneeze guard doesn't have to be a plain clear panel. Several options are worth knowing about if you're fitting out a retail or hospitality space:

Laser engraving can add a logo, business name, or decorative pattern directly into the acrylic surface. This is permanent, doesn't peel, and looks sharp on clear or frosted material. It's a common request for café and retail counters where the screen doubles as a branding element.

Frosted or tinted acrylic can be used for the lower portion of a screen — useful for hiding under-counter clutter while keeping the upper section clear for face-to-face interaction.

Multi-panel configurations — side returns, corner joins, angled panels — are all achievable with solvent-bonded acrylic or mechanical fixings. If you're screening a long counter run or an L-shaped service desk, brief the full layout rather than ordering individual panels and trying to join them on site. A fabricated assembly will be more rigid and look better.

How to brief a sneeze guard job

The more information you provide upfront, the faster the job moves. When you contact us, have the following ready:

Overall panel dimensions (width × height). Measure the counter width and the height you need the screen to reach — typically to just above head height when seated or standing at the counter.

Pass-through aperture size — height and width of any gap at the base of the panel.

Mounting method — freestanding base, counter-fixed, or suspended. If counter-fixed, note the counter material (timber, stone, laminate) as this affects fixing choice.

Quantity — multiple identical units can often be nested and cut in a single run, which reduces cost.

Edge finish and any branding requirements — polished edges, laser engraving, frosted sections.

Our sneeze guards product page covers standard configurations we fabricate regularly. For anything custom — unusual dimensions, integrated branding, multi-panel assemblies, or high-security polycarbonate builds — get in touch with the team directly. We fabricate on the Gold Coast and can turn around most jobs quickly once the brief is confirmed.

Ready to specify your screens? Contact P&M Plastics with your dimensions and mounting requirements and we'll come back to you with a quote.