The three common thicknesses
Quarter-inch glass is used in framed systems, where the frame carries the load. Three-eighths is the standard for frameless doors and panels. Half-inch is used for very tall or very wide panels and for a heavier feel.
- 1/4 in. — framed doors and sliders only.
- 3/8 in. — the default for frameless hinged doors and fixed panels.
- 1/2 in. — oversized panels, tall transoms, and heavier hardware.
Weight drives everything else
A half-inch panel weighs roughly a third more than the same panel in three-eighths. That extra weight decides hinge count, whether wall blocking is adequate, and whether a header or support bar is required.
This is why hardware cannot be chosen from a photo. It follows from the panel size and thickness.
All shower glass is tempered
Tempered safety glass is required for shower enclosures. It cannot be cut, drilled, or notched after tempering — which is the real reason templating happens before fabrication rather than after.
Coatings and finishes
Factory-applied protective coatings make cleaning easier by reducing how much mineral residue bonds to the surface. They reduce maintenance; they do not eliminate it.
For hardware finish near the water, ask specifically how a given finish is applied, not just what colour it is. Application method is what determines how it ages in a humid, salt-air bathroom.
The short version
Pick the layout first, then let panel size and thickness determine the hardware. Any quote that names a finish before it names a panel size is working backwards.