How strong is tempered glass compared to regular glass?

Tempered glass is significantly stronger than regular glass due to the way it is manufactured. The tempering process involves heating the glass to a high temperature and then rapidly cooling it. This process creates compressive stresses on the surface and tensile stresses within the glass, making it much more resistant to impact, thermal stress, and breakage.

The increase in strength is substantial; tempered glass can be approximately four to five times stronger than equivalent thickness regular (annealed) glass. This characteristic makes tempered glass an ideal choice for applications that require enhanced safety and durability, such as in doors, windows, and automotive glass. The ability of tempered glass to withstand high levels of stress and impact is a key reason it is used in situations where safety is a priority.