# Best Glass Greenhouses 2026: Brands, Prices, Glass

Every glass greenhouse sold in the US with a readable price, checked September 20, 2026: Janssens from $7,999, BC Parkside $12,495, Alitex from $60,000.

- Canonical: [https://greenhouses.guide/guides/best-glass-greenhouses](https://greenhouses.guide/guides/best-glass-greenhouses)
- Markdown: [https://greenhouses.guide/guides/best-glass-greenhouses.md](https://greenhouses.guide/guides/best-glass-greenhouses.md)
- Published: 2026-09-20
- Updated: 2026-09-20
- Author: Anna Persson

## Quick answer

Checked September 20, 2026, the best glass greenhouses in the US by price are the Exaco Junior Victorian at $7,999 retail and the Janssens Royal Victorian VI 34 at $11,499, both in 4mm tempered glass on 17-gauge aluminum, with glass excluded from the 15-year warranty; the BC Greenhouse Builders Parkside at $12,495 to $12,995 in 3mm lapped tempered glass with a lifetime frame warranty and 6mm, laminated or 16mm double-glass upgrades; the Greenhouse Megastore Cottage at $11,867.50 in 3mm lapped tempered; redwood Sturdi-Built kits from $6,125 with a tempered roof; Hartley Botanic by quote in 4mm toughened glass with about 20 percent added for shipping and installation; and Alitex from $60,000 in 4mm low-e toughened glass. Every glass warranty we read excludes breakage, so the difference is who processes the freight claim: BC and Sturdi-Built commit to it, Exaco dealers vary. No US seller publishes a per-pane replacement price; one buyer's local glass shop quoted about $250 a sheet.

Checked **September 20, 2026**, a glass greenhouse in the US costs $7,999 in a Junior Victorian kit and starts at $60,000 from Alitex, and in between the glass itself hardly changes: 3mm or 4mm tempered, in every brand, excluded from every warranty. What changes is the frame under it, the base it stands on, and who takes the phone call when the freight carrier delivers a crate of broken panes.

We don't sell greenhouses. We save you from buying the wrong one. This guide lists every glass greenhouse we could price on a readable page today, the glass spec behind each price, the safety-glass standards that apply, and the freight and foundation terms that decide whether your glass arrives whole and stays standing. If you are still deciding whether glass is worth it, read [glass vs polycarbonate](/guides/glass-vs-polycarbonate-greenhouse) first. If the Victorian silhouette is what you want, [the Victorian greenhouse guide](/guides/victorian-greenhouse-brands-cost) covers pitch, cresting and the knee wall.

## Quick Answer: Every Glass Greenhouse by Price

| Brand and model | Footprint | Glass | Frame | Price found September 20, 2026 | Warranty | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sturdi-Built Trillium and up | Various, redwood kits | Tempered roof; walls tempered or standard glass, thickness not stated | Redwood | From $6,125 (Nantucket from $18,245) | Not captured; 3-day freight damage window | 60 to 90 days |
| Exaco Junior Victorian 23 / 24 / 25 | 7 ft 9 in by 10 ft 2 in to 15 ft | 4mm tempered | 17-gauge tubular aluminum | $7,999 retail; MSRP $8,799 / $9,599 / $10,249 | 15 years frame; glass excluded | 5 to 9 business days |
| Janssens Royal Victorian VI 23 / 34 / 36 / 46 | 7 ft 9 in by 10 ft 2 in to 12 ft 7 in by 19 ft 11 in | 4mm tempered | 17-gauge tubular aluminum | MSRP $9,799 / $11,499 / $14,499 / $18,999; Costco listed one size at $9,999.99 | 15 years frame; glass excluded | In stock; 4 to 6 weeks special order |
| Greenhouse Megastore Cottage | 8 ft 7.5 in by 12 ft 8.5 in | 3mm lapped tempered; 6mm one-piece at extra cost | Aluminum | $11,867.50 | Lifetime frame, 10 years covering | Not captured |
| BC Greenhouse Builders Parkside | 8x10 and 8x12 | 3mm lapped tempered; 6mm, laminated or 16mm double optional | 6063 aluminum | $12,495 / $12,995 | Lifetime limited frame; glass breakage not guaranteed; BC processes freight claims | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Hartley Botanic Victorian Classic | 8 ft 6.5 in by 12 ft 11.75 in | 4mm toughened safety glass BS6206, no glass-to-glass or glass-to-metal contact | Aluminum | Quote only; shipping and installation add about 20 percent | 30-year guarantee; "not possible to guarantee glass" | Made to order |
| Alitex Kew Collection | Bespoke | 4mm low-e toughened | Aluminum | From $60,000 | Lifetime frame, 10 years paint; replacement panes "for a small charge" | Made to order |

Not glass, despite the search results: Exaco's Riga is polycarbonate only, and no Grandio page we could read states its glazing, so neither is listed.

## How These Numbers Were Built, and When

Prices were read from the manufacturer or a named US retailer on September 20, 2026. Glass specifications come from the manufacturer's own product or FAQ page. Warranty terms come from Exaco's July 2024 glass greenhouse warranty document, Hartley's and Alitex's FAQs, and BC's published warranty. Where a retailer's warranty summary contradicted the manufacturer's document, the document wins; Greenhouse Megastore's "covering 15 years" on the Victorian conflicts with Exaco's exclusion of tempered glass and is not used. Costco's listing mixes two sizes, so its price is shown without a size. We have not built or broken any of these.

## The Glass Itself

Every brand here uses tempered glass, which the Safety Glazing Certification Council describes as fracturing "into small pieces" rather than shards. The US standards are ANSI Z97.1, voluntary, and CPSC 16 CFR 1201, mandatory for the products it names: storm doors, doors, bathtub and shower enclosures, and patio-type sliding glass doors. Greenhouses are not on that list. The International Building Code applies 16 CFR 1201 to glazing in hazardous locations. Whether your local code treats a detached greenhouse as one is a question for your inspector; the practical answer is that every kit on this page is tempered anyway.

Thickness is 3mm lapped, where panes overlap like shingles, on BC's Parkside and the Megastore Cottage, and 4mm single panes on Janssens, Hartley and Alitex. BC publishes the light figures: about 95 percent transmission for single 3mm lapped, about 90 percent for 16mm double tempered, and a 6mm laminated option that "will remain intact even when broken." Hartley's differentiator is glazing detail: "NO glass to glass, glass to metal, nor overlapping glass contact." Alitex glazes in low-e toughened glass, which reflects heat back into the house. [Greenhouse glass safety](/guides/greenhouse-glass-safety) covers tempered versus annealed in detail.

## What Happens When a Pane Breaks

Nothing, under warranty. Exaco's document covers the frame and stainless hardware "up to 15 years" and defects "up to 10 years", and excludes "tempered glass glazing" and "glazing breakage caused by large hail, rocks or other projectiles", offering replacements "at a reasonable cost." Hartley: "it is not possible to guarantee glass." BC: "We will not guarantee that glass will not be broken during customer handling, installation, or use." Alitex will "replace any broken panes for a small charge."

No US seller publishes what that charge is. One Reddit buyer in 2025 reported a local glass shop quoting "around $250 a sheet" for custom-cut single pane. Ask each seller for the per-pane price in writing before ordering; it belongs on [the quote checklist](/guides/greenhouse-quote-checklist) with the freight terms.

## Freight: Where Glass Orders Go Wrong

Every kit ships LTL freight to the curb. Planet Greenhouse's rule is the industry's: "If you notice any damage you should make note of it when signing for delivery. You will not be able to make claims for shipping after the product has already been inspected from the courier." Backyard Oasis replaces shipping damage "as long as the documentation is provided." Sturdi-Built allows damage claims within three days of delivery and a 14-day inspection period. BC goes furthest: "We will process all freight claims if the glass is damaged during shipping." For a Janssens, the freight is about 1,665 pounds of crate, and [the Janssens review](/guides/janssens-greenhouse-review) walks through the inspection.

## The Base Under Glass

Glass does not flex. Exaco: "you will need to have a level foundation for the frame, but note that your corners will need to be anchored into the foundation." Greenhouse Megastore lists stakes, treated 4x4s, concrete piers or a slab for its Victorian. BC's Parkside can sit on "a simple 4x4 pressure treated wood threshold on a gravel base." Alitex bolts are "150mm long and need to be anchored into solid material", at minimum three courses of brick. Sturdi-Built: "a level, square foundation is essential." [The foundation guide](/guides/greenhouse-foundation-base-guide) prices each of those.

## Brand by Brand

### Exaco Junior Victorian, $7,999: the entry to tempered glass

The cheapest glass greenhouse with a published price in the US, in three lengths on a 7 ft 9 in width, with 4mm tempered panes in a 17-gauge aluminum frame and a 38-degree roof. Fifteen-year frame warranty, glass excluded. Ships in days from stock.

### Janssens Royal Victorian, $9,799 to $18,999: the standard

Four sizes, 6 ft 7 in sidewalls, 4mm tempered glass, finials included, black or fir green. The VI 34 at $11,499 is the size most buyers land on; Costco listed a Royal Victorian at $9,999.99 but its page mixes the VI 34 and VI 36, so confirm the size before you count on that price. A hybrid version with a 10mm polycarbonate roof is $14,999, which buys hail resistance and loses the roof clarity.

### Greenhouse Megastore Cottage, $11,867.50: the plain glass house

An 8 ft 7.5 in by 12 ft 8.5 in aluminum house in 3mm lapped tempered glass, with 6mm one-piece glass "at an additional cost", a lifetime frame warranty and ten years on the covering. The no-ornament option at Janssens money.

### BC Greenhouse Builders Parkside, $12,495 to $12,995: the glass options and the freight promise

Three-millimeter lapped tempered standard, with 6mm full-sheet, 6mm laminated and 16mm double tempered available, a lifetime limited frame warranty, and the only written commitment on this page to process freight claims for broken glass. Four to eight weeks. BC's engineered Pacific series adds wind and snow ratings you name; see [the heavy duty kits guide](/guides/best-heavy-duty-greenhouse-kits).

### Sturdi-Built, from $6,125: redwood and glass, sold direct

Portland-built redwood frames from the Trillium at $6,125 to the Nantucket at $18,245, with a tempered glass roof standard and walls in tempered or standard glass. Wall glass thickness is not stated on the pages we read. Sixty to ninety days, direct from the maker.

### Hartley Botanic: quote only, installed

No published prices. Hartley's FAQ says a brochure with starting prices follows a call, and that shipping and installation on a Victorian Lodge add about 20 percent. Four-millimeter toughened glass to BS6206, a 30-year guarantee on the structure, and a glazing system with no glass-to-metal contact. [The Hartley cost guide](/guides/hartley-botanic-greenhouse-cost) assembles every public number.

### Alitex: from $60,000

The Kew Collection starts at $60,000, in 4mm low-e toughened glass, with a lifetime frame guarantee and ten years on paint. Replacement panes for a small charge, bolts into brick. [The Alitex cost guide](/guides/alitex-greenhouse-cost) has the UK price ladder, and [Hartley vs Alitex](/guides/hartley-botanic-vs-alitex) compares the two.

## Which Buyer Should Get Which

- **Glass under $10,000, you handle the base and assembly:** Junior Victorian, or a Sturdi-Built Trillium if you want wood.
- **The house most people picture, under $15,000:** Janssens Royal Victorian VI 34, with the freight inspection done properly.
- **Glass options and a seller who owns the freight risk:** BC Parkside, and ask about the laminated or double glass if you get hail.
- **Designed, delivered and installed:** Hartley or Alitex, with the base drawings, installation scope, per-pane price and glass exclusion all in the same document.

## What We Could Not Verify

- Which Royal Victorian size Costco's $9,999.99 applies to.
- Home Depot's Junior Victorian price; the page blocked our fetch.
- Exaco's assembly-manual foundation text; the manuals were unavailable.
- Sturdi-Built wall glass thickness and whether "standard glass" means annealed.
- Any published per-pane replacement price from any US seller.
- Grandio glazing; no page we read states it.
- Whether local codes treat a detached greenhouse as a hazardous glazing location; ANSI Z97.1's text is paywalled.
- We have not built any of these.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### We'd like it be a rather permanent fixture and last 20-30 years. Would it be worth opting for glass, or is polycarbonate good enough quality?

For 20 to 30 years, glass is the material that does not yellow or need replacing, and the frame warranties here run 15 years to lifetime. Polycarbonate makers plan on 10 to 15 years of panel life. The costs of that permanence are roughly double the kit price and double the heat loss of twin-wall, covered in [glass vs polycarbonate](/guides/glass-vs-polycarbonate-greenhouse).

### What type of roofing material do you use if you get hail in your area? I'd prefer something that has as much light penetration as glass if possible.

Every glass warranty here excludes hail. The two glass answers are BC's 6mm laminated glass, which stays intact when broken, and Janssens' hybrid with a 10mm polycarbonate roof over glass walls at $14,999. Both cost light: BC quotes about 90 percent for its double glass against 95 for single 3mm.

### The glass one looks better but I also read that it's getting super hot in a glass greenhouse in summer.

It does, and so does polycarbonate. Glass passes more light and more heat both ways. The fix is vent area and shade, not the glazing; [the ventilation guide](/guides/greenhouse-ventilation-overheating) sizes it.

### I really really love the way the glass looks, but I am told that the polycarbonate is the smarter choice. I just really love the clarity of the glass. I am in zone 6B.

Zone 6B is cold enough that twin-wall halves your heating bill against single glass. If the look wins, the compromise is a Janssens hybrid or a BC with double glass, and a heater sized with [the heater guide](/guides/best-greenhouse-heater).

### I spoke with a glass shop in town, and the quote for single pane, custom cut glass was around $250 a sheet, which seemed reasonable?

That is the only per-pane figure we found anywhere, because no seller publishes one. Get the seller's replacement price in writing before you order, and ask whether they stock your exact pane size.

### I am curious about glass v polycarbonate as a covering material for my greenhouse. Is there any major difference between them?

Clarity, lifespan, weight, heat loss and hail. Glass wins the first two and loses the last three. The full comparison is [glass vs polycarbonate](/guides/glass-vs-polycarbonate-greenhouse).

## Sources

- Exaco, [Royal Victorian](https://exaco.com/product/royal-victorian/), [Junior Victorian](https://exaco.com/product/junior-victorian/), and [Glass greenhouse warranty, July 2024](https://exaco.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2024_Glass_Greenhouse_Warranty.pdf); Exaco, [Riga](https://exaco.com/product/riga/), accessed September 20, 2026.
- Costco, [Exaco Royal Victorian glass greenhouse](https://www.costco.com/exaco-royal-victorian-glass-greenhouse.product.100013451.html); Planet Greenhouse, [Royal Victorian VI 34](https://planetgreenhouse.com/products/royal-victorian-vi-greenhouse-vi34) and [Junior Victorian](https://planetgreenhouse.com/products/exaco-junior-victorian-greenhouse); Backyard Oasis, [Royal Victorian VI 34](https://backyardoas.com/products/exaco-janssens-royal-victorian-vi-34-greenhouse); Greenhouse Megastore, [Victorian glass greenhouse](https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/products/victorian-glass-greenhouse) and [Cottage glass greenhouse](https://www.greenhousemegastore.com/products/cottage-glass-greenhouse), accessed September 20, 2026.
- Hartley Botanic, [glass and warranty FAQ](https://hartley-botanic.com/help-and-support/faqs/kind-glass-used-i-e-shatter-proof-tempered-warranty-comes-purchase/), [prices FAQ](https://hartley-botanic.com/help-and-support/faqs/prices/), [cost FAQ](https://hartley-botanic.com/help-and-support/faqs/cost/), and [Victorian Classic](https://hartley-botanic.com/product/victorian-classic-greenhouses-us/), accessed September 20, 2026.
- Alitex, [home](https://www.alitex-greenhouses.com/) and [greenhouse FAQs](https://www.alitex-greenhouses.com/enquiry-form/greenhouse-faqs/), accessed September 20, 2026.
- BC Greenhouse Builders, [Parkside](https://www.bcgreenhouses.com/greenhouses/economy-greenhouses/parkside-greenhouse/), [glazing options](https://www.bcgreenhouses.com/greenhouse-glazing-options/), and [warranty](https://www.bcgreenhouses.com/resources/warranty/), accessed September 20, 2026.
- Sturdi-Built, [greenhouses](https://sturdibuilt.com/collections/greenhouses) and [resources](https://sturdibuilt.com/pages/resources), accessed September 20, 2026.
- Cornell Legal Information Institute, [16 CFR 1201.1](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/16/1201.1); UpCodes, [IBC 2406.1.1](https://up.codes/s/cpsc-16-cfr-1201); Safety Glazing Certification Council, [What is safety glazing](https://sgcc.org/blog/what-is-safety-glazing).
- Reddit, [Glass questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenhouses/comments/1k8jsat/glass_questions/), [Is glass worth it](https://www.reddit.com/r/greenhouse/comments/1gw79wy/is_glass_worth_it/), [Roofing material for hail](https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenhouses/comments/1dft8t3/what_type_of_roofing_material_do_you_use_if_you/), [Glass or polycarbonate](https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenhouses/comments/1b6c8dm/new_greenhouse_glass_or_polycarbonate/), [Stuck between glass and polycarbonate](https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenhouses/comments/13oujgs/ordering_my_greenhouse_and_stuck_between_glass/), [Polycarbonate or glass covering](https://www.reddit.com/r/Greenhouses/comments/b2q3v0/polycarbonate_or_glass_covering_for_a_greenhouse/).