Choose between ceramic steel and glass on appearance alone, and a board picked for its look can turn out to hold magnets noticeably less reliably than expected once documents and materials are actually pinned to it daily. The two surfaces differ significantly in magnetic performance, not just in how they look. Know that difference before choosing and the board holds up to how it is actually meant to be used, not just how it looks empty.
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1
Ceramic steel vs glass: how magnetic performance differs between whiteboard surfaces
Why ceramic steel holds magnets directly
The steel layer behind a ceramic steel surface is part of the panel’s core construction, not an accessory. Magnets attach to that steel through the thin ceramic coating, which is why the magnetic pull is consistent across the entire writing surface, from corner to corner, rather than concentrated in one area.
Why glass needs different magnets, not a different setup
Glass itself has no magnetic properties, so Chameleon bonds a 0.4 mm galvanised steel backing sheet to the rear of every glass panel during manufacture, as a standard part of the product rather than a site-fitted extra. That backing sheet is what lets a glass whiteboard hold magnets at all. Because the magnet has to reach through the glass thickness to that backing sheet, standard whiteboard magnets don’t grip as reliably, so glass whiteboards are used with dedicated, stronger glass board magnets instead.
What this means for attaching documents and materials
On a ceramic steel board, a document, printed card or accessory holds with any standard whiteboard magnet, anywhere on the surface. On a Chameleon glass board, the same is true, but only with glass board magnets designed for the purpose: a standard whiteboard magnet that works well on ceramic steel is unlikely to hold securely through the glass.
Side-by-side comparison
| Ceramic steel | Glass | |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic backing | Built into the panel construction | 0.4 mm galvanised backing sheet, bonded to the panel as standard |
| Magnet holding strength | Strong, works with standard magnets | Weaker through the glass; needs dedicated glass board magnets |
| Attaching documents and cards | Standard, no extra parts needed | Possible with glass board magnets, but not with standard magnets |
Which matters more for your use case
If magnetic function is central to how a board gets used, for planning boards, project walls, or anywhere documents and cards are attached regularly, ceramic steel is the more straightforward and consistent option. If a board is used mainly for writing and occasional light magnetic use in a space where the glass aesthetic is the priority, a glass board with a backing plate can still work, provided that’s confirmed at the specification stage rather than assumed.
Looking for a ceramic steel whiteboard?
For a surface that’s magnetic by default, explore our ceramic steel whiteboards range.
Need immediate help and advice with your choice?
