If you’ve ever shopped for clear plastic sheets, you’ve probably seen the terms “plexiglass” and “acrylic” used interchangeably — and wondered whether there’s actually a difference. The short answer: they’re the same material. But there’s more to the story, and understanding the nuances can help you make better purchasing decisions for your next project.
Are Plexiglass and Acrylic the Same Thing?
Yes — plexiglass is simply a brand name for acrylic sheet (polymethyl methacrylate, or PMMA). Think of it like “Kleenex” and “tissue” — Plexiglas® was one of the first trademarked brands of acrylic sheet, and the name stuck. Other brand names you might encounter include Lucite®, Acrylite®, and Perspex®. They’re all acrylic.
The generic term “acrylic” covers all sheets made from PMMA, regardless of brand. When someone says “plexiglass,” they almost always mean acrylic sheet — and at American Acrylics, we stock and cut all major brands and grades.
Cast Acrylic vs. Extruded Acrylic: The Real Distinction That Matters
While “plexiglass” and “acrylic” refer to the same material, there is a meaningful difference within acrylic itself: cast versus extruded.
Cast acrylic is made by pouring liquid acrylic into molds and allowing it to cure. This process produces sheets with superior optical clarity, better chemical resistance, and excellent performance under laser cutting — clean edges with a polished, flame-finished look.
Extruded acrylic is produced by pushing acrylic through rollers into sheets. It’s less expensive to manufacture, which makes it a budget-friendly option. However, extruded acrylic has slightly lower tolerances on thickness and can produce gummy or inconsistent edges when laser cut.
For laser cutting applications, we almost always recommend cast acrylic. The difference in edge quality is significant, especially for display pieces, signage, and precision parts.
Acrylic vs. Glass: Why Choose Acrylic?
Many people compare acrylic not just to “plexiglass” but to actual glass. Here’s why acrylic often wins:
Weight: Acrylic is roughly half the weight of glass at the same thickness, making it far easier to handle, ship, and install.
Impact resistance: Acrylic is 17 times more impact-resistant than glass. It won’t shatter into dangerous shards — it breaks into large, dull-edged pieces (if it breaks at all).
Optical clarity: High-quality cast acrylic transmits up to 92% of visible light, which actually exceeds standard glass.
Machinability: Unlike glass, acrylic can be laser cut, CNC routed, drilled, bent, and polished into virtually any shape — making it ideal for custom parts and prototypes.
Common Applications for Acrylic (Plexiglass)
Acrylic’s versatility makes it a go-to material across dozens of industries. Some of the most common uses we see at American Acrylics include:
Signage and displays: Retail displays, point-of-purchase signs, menu boards, and trade show graphics. Acrylic’s clarity and ability to accept printing and engraving make it a top choice.
Architectural and interior design: Privacy screens, room dividers, decorative panels, light diffusers, and protective barriers.
Industrial and electronics: Machine guards, instrument panels, enclosures, and protective covers where visibility and durability are both required.
Art and creative projects: Laser-cut art pieces, trophies, awards, jewelry, and custom gifts.
How to Choose the Right Acrylic for Your Project
When selecting acrylic sheets, consider these factors:
Thickness: Available from thin films (1/16″) up to thick slabs (2″+). Common thicknesses for laser cutting are 1/8″ and 1/4″.
Color and finish: Clear, frosted, matte, mirrored, fluorescent, and dozens of opaque colors. American Acrylics stocks over 100 material options.
Grade: Cast for precision laser cutting and optical applications. Extruded for budget-conscious projects where edge quality is less critical.
Size: Standard sheets come in 4’x8′ and 4’x6′, but we cut custom sizes with no minimums.
Get Custom-Cut Acrylic from American Acrylics
Whether you call it plexiglass, acrylic, Lucite, or Perspex — we cut it. American Acrylics has been providing precision laser cutting and CNC routing services since 1973. We offer tight tolerances, no minimum order quantities, and fast turnaround: e-commerce orders ship in 1-2 days, and custom orders typically ship in 1-4 weeks.
Request a free quote or browse our online shop to get started.