Whether you're halfway through ripping out a tired old kitchen or you've simply had enough of scrubbing the grout behind your hob every weekend, sooner or later you'll need to decide what's going on that stretch of wall, and for most UK homeowners the shortlist comes down to glass, tile or acrylic.
All three can look fantastic in the right setting, yet they behave very differently once you start cooking, cleaning and living with them day in, day out, so the material you choose matters far more than you might expect.
Colour, sparkle and even mirrored effects are available in more than one material these days, which is why the smartest way to compare your options is to look past the finish and focus on what sits behind it, because a toughened glass splashback and a sheet of acrylic in the same shade of sage green will age in completely different ways.
Stainless steel splashbacks have their fans too, but it's glass, tile and acrylic that most of you will be choosing between.
Glass vs Tile vs Acrylic Splashbacks Compared
Each of these materials has earned its place in British kitchens for good reason, so rather than writing any of them off, it's worth understanding exactly what you get with each one before you part with your money.
Toughened Glass Splashbacks
A glass splashback is cut to your exact measurements, toughened for strength and heat resistance, and then finished with colour or a design applied to the back, leaving you with one smooth, seamless surface between your worktop and wall cabinets. Because nothing sits on the front of the glass, finishes such as printed designs stay protected from scratches and cooking splashes, although you'll need to get your socket cut-outs right before ordering since glass can't be trimmed once it arrives.
Tiled Splashbacks
Ceramic and porcelain tiles have lined kitchen walls for generations, and you can find them in just about every shape, colour and pattern imaginable, often at a very low price per tile. The trade-off is the grout between each one, which soaks up grease and moisture over time, though if you'd rather not strip them out, it's often possible to fit a splashback over your existing tiles as long as they're flat and in good condition.
Acrylic Splashbacks
Acrylic sheets are lightweight, affordable and easier to cut than glass, and you'll find them in gloss, matt, sparkle and even mirrored finishes that can look surprisingly similar to glass from across the room. Where acrylic really falls short is its low tolerance for heat, since most acrylic starts to soften and warp at temperatures your hob can easily reach, which is why many suppliers advise against fitting it behind a gas or electric hob.
Which Splashback Handles Heat, Grease and Everyday Wear Best?
If your splashback is going directly behind your hob, heat should be the very first thing you think about, because toughened glass and ceramic tiles both cope comfortably with the temperatures a cooker gives off while acrylic generally doesn't.
Even with glass you'll want to leave a gap of around 100mm between the top of your hob and the bottom edge of the splashback, especially over a gas flame, since toughened glass is heat resistant rather than fireproof.
When it comes to keeping your kitchen looking fresh, glass and acrylic both have the edge over tiles because neither has grout lines for grease, limescale and food splatters to cling to, so a quick wipe with warm soapy water is usually all it takes. Tiles themselves are easy enough to wipe down, but grout is porous and slowly discolours however diligent you are with the scrubbing brush.
Scratches are where acrylic tends to show its age fastest, since its softer surface picks up fine marks from abrasive sponges and everyday knocks, whereas the hard face of toughened glass stays looking as crisp as the day you fitted it. Glass is also brilliant at disguising problem walls, and a single sheet can hide uneven plaster and awkward structural features that would be tricky to tile around neatly.
Cost and Style: Getting the Balance for Your Splashback Right
Acrylic is almost always the cheapest material to buy, tiles can work out inexpensive per square metre but often need a professional tiler to fit them neatly, and glass usually costs the most upfront while needing far less work to install and look after over the years.
Your final splashback costs will depend on the size of your wall, how many cut-outs you need and the finish you choose, so it pays to think about how long you plan to stay in your home as well as the price on the day.
Style is more personal, but it's worth remembering that the same finish can look very different depending on the material behind it, since glass gives colour a real sense of depth that's hard to recreate, and a toughened mirror behaves quite differently to a coloured glass splashback when it comes to light and reflection.
To help you narrow things down, here's where each material works best:
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Choose glass: if you want a seamless, easy-clean finish that can sit safely behind your hob and keep looking good for as long as your kitchen does.
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Choose tiles: if you love a particular pattern or a more traditional look and don't mind keeping on top of your grout.
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Choose acrylic: if you're working to a tight budget or covering a wall well away from any heat, such as in a utility room or bathroom.
Order a Made-to-Measure Glass Splashback for Your Kitchen
If glass has come out on top for your kitchen, you can browse our full range online and order a made-to-measure splashback in a matter of minutes, whether your heart is set on a bold colour glass splashback or the light-bouncing finish of a toughened mirror.
If you're still deciding which shade suits your kitchen, ordering a sample first lets you see it against your own cabinets and worktops before you commit to anything.
Our team is also always glad to talk you through sizes, cut-outs and finishes, so if there's anything you'd like to check before placing your order, just send a message to info@directsplashbacks.com and we'll point you in the right direction.
