Obscure Glass Patterns: Privacy Levels 1 to 5 Explained

Obscure glass is graded on a privacy scale of 1 to 5: level 1 barely blurs an outline, level 5 reduces everything to light and shadow. Picking the right level is about the room, the distance to the viewer, and how much daylight you want to keep.

How the scale works

The rating reflects how much the pattern distorts a shape viewed through the glass at close range. It is not a light-transmission scale — even level 5 patterns pass almost as much daylight as clear glass. Distortion, not darkness, creates the privacy.

Matching level to room

• Levels 1–2: feature glazing, internal doors, stairwells — texture more than privacy
• Level 3: the all-rounder for WCs, hallway sidelights and front doors near the street
• Levels 4–5: bathrooms, shower-adjacent windows, anywhere overlooked at close range

Distance changes everything

A level 3 pattern that hides everything from a passer-by two metres away hides much less from someone standing at the glass. If the window is right on a boundary path, go a level higher than instinct suggests.

Practical notes

Pattern faces the cavity in a sealed unit, leaving both room-side surfaces smooth and easy to clean. Obscure pairs freely with toughening for door panels and with low-E for heat performance. Browse the pattern range in our technical resources, then price the units in the quote calculator — patterned options cost little more than clear.