Do Magnets Stick to Glass Whiteboards? How Magnetic Glass Boards Work?

Magnets stick to magnetic glass whiteboards only because a steel layer hides behind the glass — plain glass alone will not hold them.

A refrigerator magnet slides right off a glass whiteboard because the glass never had anything to grab. Magnetic glass boards solve this with a thin sheet of steel behind tempered glass, turning the surface into a magnetic receiver. That hidden layer decides whether your board holds notes, photos, and charts — or sheds them the second you let go.

Why Magnets Don’t Stick To Plain Glass

Glass is not magnetic, so a magnet has nothing to attract it — no iron for the field to pull against, which is why a standard fridge magnet falls straight down.

The name misleads: a “magnetic glass board” sounds like the glass itself is magnetic, but MooreCo builds its boards with 20 Ga steel behind the glass so rare earth magnets have something to latch onto. Skip that layer and you get a beautiful writing surface that ignores every magnet you own. Note too that glass whiteboards and glass dry erase boards are often sold side by side, and plain versions are not magnetic at all. Check the spec before buying if magnets are part of your plan.

How Magnetic Glass Boards Actually Work

A steel sheet sits directly behind tempered glass, letting strong magnets clamp to the steel through the glass. The glass stays smooth and easy to wipe clean while the steel does the magnetic work.

• The glass surface resists ghosting and wipes clean with a dry cloth or standard cleaner.
• The steel backing sits close enough that a strong magnet grips firmly through the pane.
• Tempered glass adds safety — if it breaks, it crumbles into small dull pieces instead of sharp shards.

MooreCo notes its trim keeps aluminum off the glass directly, preventing edge stress over time.

Strong magnets are not optional: several manufacturers require rare earth or neodymium magnets, and standard refrigerator magnets usually fail. Our guide to the best magnets for glass whiteboards covers which neodymium sizes hold through glass without scratching it.

Magnetic Glass Board Specs And Finishes Compared

These boards span from small squares to wall-sized panels. MooreCo’s Visionary line runs from 17.72″ x 23.62″ up to 47.24″ x 94.49″, while SIGEL lists compact squares like 45 x 45 x 0.90 cm alongside large formats such as 240 x 120 x 1.80 cm.

Both brands use tempered glass. MooreCo lists 0.15″ thick tempered glass, and its framed magnetic glass board arrives in gloss white tempered safety glass that handles dry erase, wet erase, and grease pen.

Pricing varies by size and finish and moves often enough that checking current listings beats trusting a stale figure. Buy for the surface you want and the size your wall can take.

Which Magnets Work, And Which Won’t

Only strong rare earth magnets reliably hold. Ordinary fridge magnets, thin novelty magnets, and weak ceramic discs usually do not grip at all.

The steel backing is real, but the glass adds a small gap between magnet and steel. That gap weakens weak magnets to nothing and barely dents strong ones. Neodymium magnets carry far more pull for their size, closing the distance and holding firmly.

• Thin ceramic magnets slide or drop almost immediately.
• Neodymium magnets with a rubber or felt base protect the glass from scratches.
• Stacked papers, card holders, and chart clips need slightly stronger pull than a single sheet.

Confirm two things in the spec: the steel backing and the tempered glass. Those two layers separate a board that works from one that just looks good.