Quick answer: ITO Glass vs FTO Glass: How to Choose covers custom precision glass machined to drawing with inspection reports. Prototypes ship in 5-10 working days.
The ito glass vs fto glass: how to choose decision is really about conductivity versus thermal stability. The short version: ITO for fine patterns and low sheet resistance; FTO for heated and process-temperature duty.
Side by side
| ITO Coated Glass | FTO Coated Glass | |
|---|---|---|
| CTE | substrate dependent | substrate dependent |
| Service temp | 350 C (coating stable) | 600 C (coating stable) |
| Transmission | >85% visible @ 100 ohm/sq | 80 – 82% visible @ 7 ohm/sq |
| Hardness | substrate value | harder film than ITO |
| Density | 2.23 – 2.51 g/cm3 | 2.23 – 2.50 g/cm3 |
| Signature trait | transparent conductivity | thermal stability beyond ITO |
The decision axis is conductivity versus thermal stability. ITO for fine patterns and low sheet resistance; FTO for heated and process-temperature duty.
Specification advice
Before sending the RFQ, check these against your drawing:
- Over-specification is the quiet budget killer: a 20/10 scratch-dig face costs roughly three times an 80/50 face, so grade each surface individually.
For the complete framework, see the tolerance design guide and the holes and edges design guide.
Who orders this
ito glass vs fto glass: how to choose shows up across ccd inspection equipment (CCD cover plates, reference grids, stage glass); oled packaging (cover lids, frit-seal frames, fill-port plates); optical sensors (sensor windows, filter caps, lens covers).
If the part is easier to draw than describe, the custom glass machining 3D + 2D builder turns dimensions into an RFQ in a few minutes.
Useful companion pages: laser glass cutting, microfluidic glass applications, fused silica wafer applications.
Buyer questions, answered
How fast can prototypes ship?
Machined prototypes ship in 5 – 10 working days. Coated or bonded parts add 1 – 2 weeks depending on queue slots.
What files do you need for a quote?
A dimensioned PDF plus DXF or STEP geometry. If only a sketch exists, our drawing review service formalizes it before quoting.
Do parts ship with inspection data?
Dimensional reports, surface certificates and material certs per melt are available; specify the level on the RFQ.
Which should I choose?
As a rule: ITO for fine patterns and low sheet resistance; FTO for heated and process-temperature duty. Borderline cases are worth a materials review with our engineers.
Specifications on this page were last reviewed by our engineering team in August 2026.