What is laminated glass?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
Laminated glass is two layers of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer. It is used for windshields because it holds together when broken instead of shattering into the cabin, blocks most ultraviolet light, and adds sound damping. A chip or short crack in laminated glass can often be repaired with resin, unlike tempered glass.
How laminated glass is built
Laminated glass is a sandwich. Two sheets of glass are bonded to a plastic interlayer between them, usually polyvinyl butyral, under heat and pressure. The interlayer is clear and flexible, and it holds the glass together when the pane is struck. If the glass cracks, the fragments stick to the plastic instead of falling into the cabin.
That is why the windshield is made of laminated glass. It stays in one sheet during a collision, which keeps the roof supported and the airbag cushioned against it. The interlayer also blocks most ultraviolet light and adds a layer of sound damping, which is why acoustic windshields use a thicker, sound-absorbing version of the same interlayer.
Laminated vs tempered glass
Laminated glass
- Two glass layers with a plastic interlayer.
- Holds together when broken.
- Used for windshields.
- Qualifying chips and cracks can be repaired with resin.
Tempered glass
- Single heat-treated pane.
- Crumbs into small pieces when broken.
- Used for most side and back windows.
- A broken pane is replaced, not repaired.
The windshield is laminated so it stays in one sheet; the side and back glass are usually tempered so they crumble safely. See our full laminated versus tempered glass comparison.
Why a windshield is laminated
- It holds together when struck, keeping the glass out of the cabin.
- It supports the roof and backs the passenger airbag in a collision.
- The interlayer blocks most UV light from reaching the cabin.
- It adds sound damping, which acoustic glass takes further.
- A chip or short crack can be repaired with resin instead of replacing the pane.
More questions about laminated glass
Why is a windshield laminated?
So it stays in one sheet when broken. The plastic interlayer holds the glass together, which keeps the roof supported and the airbag cushioned, and blocks most UV light.
What is laminated safety glass?
Two glass layers bonded to a plastic interlayer. The interlayer holds the fragments in place when the glass breaks, which is why it is called safety glass.
Can a cracked laminated windshield be repaired?
Often, yes. Chips to about quarter size and cracks up to about six inches are usually repairable when they are outside the driver’s line of sight and not at the edge. Longer or edge cracks mean replacement.
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