What is quarter glass on a car?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
Quarter glass is the small fixed pane behind the rear door or set into the rear pillar of a car. It does not move, and it is often bonded to the body the way a windshield is. Because it is small and fixed, it is a distinct part from the door glass beside it, matched to the vehicle by its part number.
Where is the quarter glass?
- Behind the rear door, on the rear side of the cabin.
- Set into the rear pillar, the upright between the rear door and the back glass.
- On some two-door cars, ahead of the front door in the front pillar.
- A small fixed pane that does not roll down, unlike the door glass beside it.
- Often bonded to the body with urethane, the way a windshield is.
What is a quarter window?
Quarter glass is the small, fixed pane that fills the space beside the rear seat, behind the rear door or in the rear pillar. It is called quarter glass because it sits in the quarter of the body behind the doors. It does not move, which sets it apart from the door glass that rolls up and down, and it is usually tempered, so it shatters into small pieces when it breaks.
On many vehicles, quarter glass is bonded to the body with urethane adhesive, the same method used for a windshield, rather than set into a moving track. That means replacing it is closer to a windshield job than a door-glass job: the old pane is cut out, the bond surface is prepped, and the new glass is bonded in and left to cure. On some older vehicles it is set into a rubber gasket instead.
Because quarter glass is a distinct part shaped to the body, it is matched to the vehicle by its part number, and the VIN identifies the correct pane. A break means a full replacement, since tempered quarter glass cannot be resin-repaired. The work is straightforward but takes a cure period, like any bonded glass.
Quarter glass is a separate part
Because it is small and fixed, quarter glass is a distinct part from the door glass beside it. A break means a full pane replacement matched to the vehicle, not a repair.
More questions about quarter glass
Is quarter glass expensive to replace?
The cost varies by vehicle and part, and quarter glass is a distinct pane matched to the body by its part number. Because it is tempered and often bonded like a windshield, a break means a full replacement with a cure period. Ask for a quote from your VIN for the exact figure.
Can quarter glass be repaired?
No. Quarter glass is tempered, so it has no interlayer to hold a resin fill, and a break means the whole pane is replaced. Only laminated glass, like a windshield, can be resin-repaired, and only when the damage is small.
How is quarter glass replaced?
On most vehicles it is bonded to the body with urethane, like a windshield, so the old pane is cut out, the surface is prepped, and the new glass is bonded in and left to cure. On some older vehicles it is set into a rubber gasket instead.
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