If you’ve ever wondered why one acrylic sheet is $7.99 and another is $15+, you’re not alone. Whether you're running a laser cutting business, starting a sign-making side hustle, or just curious about material sourcing—acrylic pricing is one of the most common (and misunderstood) topics in the personalization industry.
Link to XISHUN Acrylic
Let’s break down the real differences behind cheap vs. premium acrylic, and why pricing isn’t just about the material—it’s about your entire business growth strategy.
Yes, it’s true: imported acrylic—especially mirror, gloss, or basic colors—can be incredibly cheap.
So when you see a seller offering $7.99 mirror acrylic, chances are they’re importing it directly and using a traditional 2x markup.
That’s standard for basic retail margins. But for a business to grow sustainably, that margin isn’t enough.
If you’re importing and selling at a 2x margin, you’re either:
Reinvesting every penny into restocking inventory, or
Hitting a ceiling fast with zero budget for growth
To scale successfully, most businesses need a 4x markup or more to cover:
✅ Labor
✅ Overhead
✅ Equipment
✅ Packaging
✅ Unexpected costs
✅ Profit
And many of the businesses selling ultra-cheap acrylic are operating out of a garage, basement, or spare bedroom. There’s nothing wrong with that—in fact, that’s exactly how I started. But without the margin to hire help, expand, or improve processes, you’ll eventually get passed by businesses that can grow.
At CMB, we used to import our own mirror sheets. Want to know what happened?
We were scrapping at least 50% of the inventory due to:
Scratches
Poor masking
Inconsistent quality
Now? We pay 3X as much for domestic mirror acrylic—and here’s why that price is worth it:
✅ Double paper-masking
✅ Reliable quality
✅ Almost zero scrap
✅ No more wasted time or money
When you’re in production mode, that kind of consistency matters more than saving $1–2 per sheet. Time is money,especially for laser and UV print businesses.
Let’s talk real business for a second.
CMB isn’t run out of a garage anymore—we’ve grown into a company with a team of 10+ employees. And here’s what that looks like behind the scenes:
Competitive living wages
Full health, dental, vision, and life insurance
401(k) with company match
PTO, bereavement, and holiday pay
This isn’t fluff. It’s a non-negotiable part of how we run our business—and why our prices are higher than someone shipping from a one-person operation.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of iridescent acrylic sheet. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Because when you buy from a more established supplier, you’re not just paying for a sheet of acrylic. You’re paying for:
✅ Fast shipping
✅ Customer service
✅ Consistency
✅ Support when you need it most
Want a perfect example of why I believe in paying for quality? Look at PDS Equipment—the company we source our UV printers from.
They’re not the cheapest, and that’s fine. Because when my machine needs help, I can text Miles, Michael, or Steve and someone will respond within the hour. If needed? There’s a tech on a flight to my shop in 24 hours.
That kind of reliability is priceless—and it’s the same level of service I bring into CMB Acrylic.
We’ve helped customers troubleshoot issues with materials we didn’t even sell them—because that’s who we are. When we say we’re here to help your business grow, we mean it.
You can buy acrylic from anywhere.
But if you're building a serious business—especially in laser cutting, personalization, or signage—you want a supplier that supports your growth, not just your cart total.
Ask yourself:
Will they be there when your machine settings need dialing in?
Will they ship reliably?
Can they grow with you?
If you want cheap, you’ll find it.
If you want consistent, scalable support with quality materials and a relationship that lasts—that’s what we do.
Acrylic - which also goes by the brand names of Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite and Perspex - is known throughout the world of plastics for its dazzling glossiness and its remarkable scratch and impact resistance. It even boasts a greater load bearing capacity than polycarbonate, one of the toughest materials out there. What you may not know is that this exceptional plastic comes in a variety of models designed to meet the specific needs of demanding owners and remodelers. If you've got a specialized project in mind and are looking for the perfect material to fulfill your design, read on to discover the variety of acrylic plastic that'll help bring that design to life.
The most common form of acrylic, the flexibility of clear sheeting is evidenced mainly by the staggering variety of dimensions it can be ordered in. Thicknesses range from four inches to a 1/25th of an inch; widths from three feet to ten feet; lengths from four feet to twelve and a half feet. No matter the particulars of your design, it's all but certain that there's a size of clear acrylic sheeting available to meet those needs.
Fairly common in its own right, white acrylic sheeting is perfect for when you have unusual dimensions to fulfill and would prefer to use an opaque material to do so. What's more, acrylic technology has come so far that you can now even buy sheeting that starts black but turns white under exposure to LED lighting. The transitory nature of this remarkable material makes it perfect for light-sensitive acrylic applications, such as outdoor signage and advertisements.
Those looking for something a little more colorful will appreciate the rainbow of options in which colored acrylic sheeting can be ordered. With twenty different hues from which to choose, these varieties of acrylic are as striking as they are strong and can be just what you need to complete projects where both aesthetics and durability are needed. If you're looking for something that really pops, take a look at fluorescent acrylic sheet for transparent colored sheets whose corners actually glow in the light.
A triumph of both form and function, acrylic mirrored sheeting offers all the strength and durability of acrylic while also acting as a resistant reflective surface perfect for all sorts of service and high-stress environments. These sheets can even be ordered in different colors - fourteen of them, to be exact.
The superior light diffusion of this sheeting prevents both visible hot spots and luminance fluctuations, making it the perfect choice for all kinds of backlit signs and letters. See for yourself the difference between basic acrylic and light diffusing acrylic. This material not only makes for better-looking signage - it also helps owners save money by requiring fewer lighting sources and less channel material.
Are you looking for a material that can protect valuable objects from fading under harsh UV rays? Perhaps you're merely looking to cut your energy costs by managing temperatures within your business or facility. Either way, solar tinted acrylic sheeting provides unbeatable protection against the sun and even does so without any additional film - meaning that you won't ever have to worry about the surface peeling or bubbling.
Maybe the material you're looking for doesn't need to keep the light out entirely - maybe you're just looking to reduce the glare in the display cases for your products or valuables. If that's the case, you'll appreciate how the special matte finish non-glare acrylic sheeting provides exceptional protection for your items while also allowing unobscured observation of whatever you're displaying or selling.
Though acrylic sheeting can provide exceptional protection for all sorts of electrical components, some manufacturers fear its potential to carry electrostatic discharges that can harm those components. Make those fears a thing of the past with anti-static acrylic sheeting, a specialized material whose transparent coating prevents the formation of static electricity. As an added bonus, the permanent nature of that coating means that you don't have to worry about its effectiveness being undercut by humidity (as you would with temporary coatings).
Static electricity isn't the only hazard faced by acrylic sheeting, however. Though the material already boasts an excellent resistance to abrasion, this double-coated variety takes that resistance to the next level by offering unmatched strength against scuffing and scratching. Perfect for public spaces, abrasion resistant acrylic even provides exceptional protection against exposure to abrasive and damaging chemicals.
Impact resistance is one area in which basic acrylic falls a little short - though its strength in this area is seventeen times greater than that of glass, it's not as resistant as polycarbonate or certain other plastics. Modified acrylic helps to close that gap, as it's a material that boasts impact resistance similar to polycarbonate while still possessing superior affordability, weatherability and optical clarity.
A must for intricate lighting projects, this specialized sheeting allows for LED lights to be embedded directly into the material to create an evenly diffused glow. In addition, block acrylic sheet holds the ability to maintain a constant transmission of color no matter the light source for both indoor and outdoor applications.
The durability and aesthetic features of acrylic have led to it being used in lieu of glass in a number of different applications. This textured acrylic sheeting, for example, has proven extremely popular as a material for partitions, cabinet doors, and patio tables - any environment in which the material must provide strength, privacy, and exceptional light transmission.
For more colored mirror acrylic sheetsinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.