Polycarbonate Price Calculator
Work out the cost, weight and container load of any polycarbonate order in seconds. Enter your sheet specifications and the calculator returns the price per square metre, the price per sheet, the total weight and volume, and exactly how much of a 20 ft or 40 ft container the order fills — then exports a formatted PDF quotation.
Built by a manufacturer, using the same method our own export desk uses.
Multi-item quotation tool
Polycarbonate price & container calculator
Build a full order line by line. The tool prices every item by weight and shows how much of a 20 ft or 40 ft container the order fills — by weight and by volume, because a tonne of thin solid sheet takes far less space than a tonne of thick multiwall.
Shares total 0% — they are normalised automatically, so 30/30/20/20 works as well as 15/15/10/10.
Order items
Order totals
0USD
- Total area
- 0 m²
- Total sheets
- 0
- Total weight
- 0 kg
- Total volume
- 0 m³
- Average price
- 0 USD/m²
- List price
- 0 USD
- Discount applied
- 0
Container fill
Payload 28 000 kg · 33.2 m³ · max sheet length 5.90 m
Payload 26 500 kg · 67.7 m³ · max sheet length 12.03 m
Payload 26 500 kg · 76.4 m³ · max sheet length 12.03 m
Add items to see the container load.
Indicative estimate of material cost ex-works (FOB). Excludes freight, insurance, customs duties and taxes. Container figures are theoretical: real loading depends on packing, pallet type and carrier limits. Exchange rate is entered by you and is not binding on G-Crystal.
Why Polycarbonate Is Priced by Weight
Polycarbonate sheets are traded by the kilogram, not by the sheet or the square metre. This is the fairest method: it reflects the material actually supplied, regardless of format.
Two sheets of identical size can differ in price by more than double, because weight depends on thickness, structure and grade:
Weight per m² × price per kg = price per m²
A solid 6 mm sheet weighs about 7.2 kg/m². A multiwall 6 mm sheet weighs roughly 1.3 kg/m² — five times lighter for the same coverage. That single figure drives the entire quotation, which is why the calculator asks for it first.
If you know the sheet weight instead — from an invoice or a technical datasheet — enter that and the weight per m² is derived automatically.
What the Calculator Works Out
- Price per m² and price per sheet, in USD and your local currency
- Total weight of the order in kilograms
- Total volume in cubic metres
- Number of sheets required for a given area, with an optional 15% allowance for overlaps and cutting waste
- Container fill for 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high cube, shown separately by weight and by volume
- Volume discount on bulk orders, suggested automatically by tonnage
- A PDF quotation with your company header, itemised lines, totals and container summary
Three Ways to Enter a Quantity
You rarely start with the same information twice, so the calculator accepts whichever figure you have:
| You know | Enter it as | The calculator returns |
|---|---|---|
| The area to cover | Square metres | Sheets needed, weight, cost |
| The number of sheets | Sheet count | Area covered, weight, cost |
| The total weight | Kilograms | Sheets, area covered, cost |
Quantities are always rounded up to whole sheets, because that is how a factory ships.
The Container Question Nobody Calculates
This is where most quotations go wrong.
A container has two limits: a payload in kilograms and a usable volume in cubic metres. Whichever runs out first ends the load — and with polycarbonate, it is very often the volume.
A worked example. One tonne of solid 3 mm sheet occupies about 0.83 m³. One tonne of multiwall 16 mm occupies roughly 1.67 m³ — twice the space for the same weight, because hollow sheets are mostly air held inside a thick profile.
Load a 40 ft container with thin solid sheet and you will hit the 26.5 tonne payload with space to spare. Load the same container with thick multiwall and the space runs out at around half the payload — you pay full freight on a part-loaded box.
The calculator shows both bars side by side and names the limiting factor, so you can advise a customer to add solid sheet to a hollow-sheet order and use the freight they are already paying for.
Planning a Mixed Container
Customers rarely order one product. They ask for a container split across types and colours — for example half twin-wall and half solid, each in four colours.
Set a share percentage on every line, choose the container, and press Fill container. The calculator distributes the load so the requested proportions are respected, then scales everything down until neither the payload nor the volume is exceeded. The sheet count for every line is written back into the table.
Percentages are normalised automatically, so you can enter the customer’s own figures exactly as written — 30 / 30 / 20 / 20 per product type works as well as any other combination.
Container Reference Figures
| Container | Payload | Internal volume | Maximum sheet length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 ft standard | 28,000 kg | 33.2 m³ | 5.90 m |
| 40 ft standard | 26,500 kg | 67.7 m³ | 12.03 m |
| 40 ft high cube | 26,500 kg | 76.4 m³ | 12.03 m |
A loading efficiency setting (85% by default) accounts for pallets, spacing and stacking. Sheets longer than a container’s internal length are flagged automatically.
Typical Weights per m²
Use these as a starting point, then adjust to your own supplier data:
| Sheet type | Weight per m² |
|---|---|
| Solid (compact) | thickness × 1.20 — e.g. 4 mm ≈ 4.8 kg |
| Embossed | roughly 30% lighter than solid at the same nominal thickness |
| Twin-wall | 4 mm ≈ 0.8 kg · 6 mm ≈ 1.3 kg · 10 mm ≈ 1.7 kg |
| Multiwall 4-wall | 8 mm ≈ 1.6 kg · 16 mm ≈ 2.6 kg |
Thickness is entered freely — 2.2 mm, 4.3 mm or any other specification is accepted, not just the standard steps.
Who It Is For
Importers and distributors — check landed cost before committing, and see whether a container is worth filling with a second product.
Contractors and installers — convert a roof or facade area into sheets, weight and budget without a spreadsheet.
Sales teams — build a quotation in front of the customer, copy a summary into WhatsApp, or export a PDF on the spot. The tool runs offline, so it works on site with no signal.
Buying Direct from the Factory
The calculator uses a factory price range of 2.50 to 3.50 USD per kilogram (FOB), which is what we quote as a manufacturer rather than a trader. The final figure depends on thickness, colour, coatings, order volume and the Incoterm.
G-Crystal Polycarbonate Industries has produced polycarbonate sheets since 2006, from 100% virgin raw material, certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and CE, with a 10-year warranty against yellowing and export to more than 60 countries.
📞 Request a firm quotation on WhatsApp — reply within 24 hours.
+2 01095990442 · ✉️ info@gcrystal-pc.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the price of a polycarbonate sheet calculated?
By weight. Multiply the weight per square metre by the price per kilogram to get the price per m², then multiply by the sheet area for the price per sheet. A 4 mm solid sheet at 4.8 kg/m² and 3.00 USD/kg costs 14.40 USD per m².
How do I convert a sheet weight into a price?
Divide the sheet weight by the sheet area to get kg/m², then multiply by the price per kilogram. A sheet weighing 29.52 kg measuring 2.05 × 6.00 m is 2.40 kg/m².
How many polycarbonate sheets fit in a 40 ft container?
It depends entirely on thickness and structure. A 40 ft container carries 26,500 kg or about 67.7 m³, and hollow sheets reach the volume limit long before the weight limit. The calculator works out the exact figure for your specification.
Why does my container fill up before reaching the weight limit?
Because multiwall and twin-wall sheets are mostly air. They occupy the full thickness in the container while weighing a fraction of a solid sheet, so the space runs out first. Adding solid sheet to the load uses the remaining payload without extra freight.
Can I calculate a mixed order of several products?
Yes. Add a line for each product, set a share percentage, choose the container and press Fill container. The proportions you request are preserved and the total is scaled to fit.
Does the calculator work offline?
Yes. Everything runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere, and the tool can be saved as a desktop or mobile app.
Is the result a binding quotation?
No. It is an indicative estimate of material cost ex-works, excluding freight, insurance, duties and taxes. Prices are confirmed only in a signed proforma invoice.
What is FOB?
Free On Board — the price covers the goods loaded onto the vessel at the port of origin. Freight, insurance and import costs are borne by the buyer. We also quote CIF, CFR and EXW.
