I am Noman and back in 2020 on Ghazi Road Lahore I wasted a 6mm glass worth 4,500 rupees using a diamond cutter. My hand shook the cut went crooked and the glass broke. Consequently the client deducted the money. Later I saw a CNC machine in a big factory in Rawalpindi. There a boy would click on the computer and the machine would cut 100 identical pieces. That is when I understood that shifting from hand to machine would be necessary in 2026. Today I will tell you how glass is cut in workshops and factories and what the rates of these machines are.
CNC Glass Cutting Table
What is it? This is a computerized machine. Place the glass on the table, provide the AutoCAD file and then press start. The machine will cut it automatically. This machine is available on Barki Road in Lahore and a 12x8 feet table is installed on this machine. They cut 200 to 300 window glasses in a single day. How is there 0% error? Because the computer operates a Carbide Wheel on the cutter head. Aluminum window shutters and architectural glass walls are all made using this.
2026 Rate: In Pakistan, a high-quality new machine is available for approximately 8 million rupees and a normal one costs up to 3.5 million rupees which is imported directly from China to Pakistan. Its cutting charges are 80 to 100 rupees per foot. In Dubai, it is 5 to 8 Dirhams, and in the USA, it is 3 to 4 dollars per foot.
Waterjet Glass Cutting
What is it? In this, glass is cut using water. Water with a pressure of 60,000 PSI is used along with fine sand called garnet to perform the cut. Where does it come in handy? For cutting round holes for touch sensors in LED mirrors, crooked cuts for washbasins and creating intricate designer table-top shapes. This is impossible with a hand cutter. I had an LED mirror made in F-10 Islamabad. The hole for the touch sensor at the back was cut using a waterjet. The edge was completely clean without even a 1mm chip. Glass cracks with hot cutting whereas a waterjet is cold cutting, so it is also safe.
2026 Rate: In Pakistan, it is 250 to 300 rupees per foot. In Dubai, it is 10 to 15 Dirhams, and in the UK, it is 8 to 12 Pounds per foot. This is expensive but best for designs.
Laser Glass Cutting - The Future of 2026
What is it? A CO2 laser beam heats the glass at the molecular level and separates it. The biggest benefit: there is no need to polish the edge after the cut. It is so smooth, as if it has come polished from the factory. Smart glass, mobile screens, and display glass are all cut using this.
2026 Rate: The machine costs 15 to 30 million (1.5 to 3 Crore) rupees. The cutting charges are 30% more expensive than a CNC machine.
Oil-Feed Hand Cutter - For Small Workshops
What is it? This is the old diamond cutter but upgraded. There is a small tank for oil inside the handle. As soon as you make a cut kerosene oil comes out automatically bit by bit. Why is it best? The oil keeps the cut cool. The glass breaks straight with a single snap. Wastage is less than 5%. Even today, I do small pieces cutouts and on site installations using this. I have a Bohle German cutter worth 450 rupees which has been running for 3 years. An ordinary cutter worth 200 rupees gets ruined in 15 days.
2026 Rate: A good oil-feed cutter is available for 400 to 800 rupees which is also called a glass cutting pen. The cutting labor is 20 to 30 rupees per square foot.
Golden Rules - Which I Learned from Mistakes
Never cut tempered glass. First get the size cut then get it tempered. Tempering is done after cutting. If tempered glass is cut it will shatter with an explosion.
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