fused glass vs stained glass: what are the differences?
02 July 2025
You’ve probably noticed that there are many different types of gorgeous glass products out there — but did you know that they’re all slightly different, even with glass as the star of the show in each?
Two of the most popular types of glass for ornaments and decorations are fused glass and stained glass.
Today we’ll be getting our hands dirty with both, taking a look at their similarities and differences. Don’t worry — it’s normal to get confused between the two! They’re both pretty and colourful, after all, so we can’t blame you…
what is fused glass and glass fusing?
Fused glass is formed by stacking, layering, and melting different pieces of glass together in a high-temperature kiln, usually at temperatures up to 800°C.
Heat is the most important part of the glass fusing process. It melts the glass, fusing it into a single, solid piece of glass art. When creating a fused glass ornament or decoration, you can use high temperatures to create your desired depth, texture, and design.
The kiln-based process of fused glass means that glass fusing artists can get super creative with fun fused glass techniques like colour blending, bubbles, metal foils, and 3D shaping via slumping — a method that softens the glass, allowing it to form a curved or textured surface.
Some of the most common things for artists to create with fused glass are:
Just take a look at the wonky shop for our full collection of fused glass ornaments and decorations.
what is stained glass?
Stained glass is the process of cutting coloured glass into specific shapes, and joining them together using lead cames or copper foil using a soldering iron. You may have first seen fused glass in churches, where stained glass, its light, and its colours were used to tell stories from the past.
Stained glass is traditionally flat, as it is designed to be viewed against a light source — most commonly a window. It's beautiful and very eye-catching, but it does have its limitations compared to fused glass.
how are fused glass and stained glass different?
Fused glass has lots of charm, as well as a few defining characteristics that set it apart from stained glass:
- Fused glass doesn’t require soldered joins: Unlike stained glass, fused glass doesn’t mean you also have to become a pro at handling metal, foil, or lead. Instead, you can leave the super-hot kiln to work its fiery magic.
- Fused glass has a smooth, shiny finish: With its soft edges and glossy surface finish, fused glass is smooth to the touch, unlike stained glass, which can feel raised, especially at the joins.
- Fused glass comes in custom shapes and textures: Fused glass is super malleable and can be slouched, curved, pulled, and more to add texture and dimension. This is all thanks to the kiln’s boiling hot temperature so that you can shape, curve, and contour to your heart’s content.
- Fused glass is known for its bold and vibrant colour: There’s no fading or dull patches when a piece of fused glass comes out of the kiln! Coloured glass frits and stringers can be blended, layered, and stacked to create the brightest, beautiful glass ornaments and decorations.
try your hand at glass fusing, or buy yourself a unique fused glass ornament instead!
It’s never been easier to try glass fusing from the comfort of home. Everything you need is included in your pack. All you need to do is follow the simple instructions, send your finished fused glass artwork back to us to be fired in the kiln, and we will complete it with a hanging ribbon and return it to you safely.
At molten wonky, we sell make-at-home glass fusing kits as well as ready-to-hang fused glass decorations to fill your home with quirkiness, fun, and bold colours. Shop today and browse our collection — bring some molten wonky magic to your home this summer!