Why Are Mirrors So Expensive? (17 Crazy Reasons & Facts U Know)

The mirror in the image below was sold for the mind-boggling price of $1,575,500!

This little mirror on Amazon costs less than $$$. That looks a bit too expensive to most people, but that isn’t actually the case.

Ever thought about what makes mirrors so expensive? Is it a frame or mirror itself? Is it weight that makes it expensive? What is the most expensive mirror? What makes a mirror good quality? If you are going to buy a mirror, read this post.

Let’s get started with the answer to the related question: why are mirrors so expensive?

Manufacturing of mirrors requires excellent craftsmanship, high-quality material, fine cuts, exceptional procedures and all of that requires time and skills. Mirrors are so expensive because of great polishing and detailed final touches that cannot be achieved by machinery.

Here is a telescopic mirror that costs $20 million. Have a look at this too.

Why Are Mirrors So Expensive: 10 Bonafide Reasons

What do mirrors cost so much? Glass is an essential component for extracting a mirror. It’s the high cost of glass that makes the mirror costly. There are some other factors such as the process needs time, craftsmanship and machinery. All these are expensive to arrange.

Let’s discuss the 10 genuine reasons that make mirror so expensive below:

1- Mirror Manufacturing Is Time Consuming

The manufacturing of a first-rate mirror always requires final touches by craftsmen that take a considerable amount of time and effort. However, mass-produced mirrors have not been worked upon that much and neither are they too expensive. But when you see an expensive mirror, know that it has been through a time-consuming manufacturing process.

2- Cost Varies With Type Of Glass Used

There are usually two basic types of mirrors; first surface mirrors and second surface mirrors.

First surface mirrors or FS mirrors are made for special applications and hence, are laced with great quality and render greater accuracy. Vanity mirrors are usually second surface mirrors. Second surface mirrors are regular mirrors that create a ghosting effect, unlike FS mirrors which is why they are relatively less expensive.

Zadro Polished Dual Sided Glamour Vanity Mirror

Solid and stylish construction
Weighs approximately 12 pounds
The bulb is replaceable, UL listed
A leading innovator for over 30 years
Zadro offers a broad array of personal care mirrors
Bath and health and wellness products

Check Price On Amazon

3- Design of Mirror Makes It Costly

The expense of the mirror also depends on the degree to which it is flat, smooth, and polished. Mass-produced mirrors are not as smooth as custom-made quality mirrors as it takes much more time to achieve the accuracy and precision that makes an exceptional mirror. Some mirrors are made from cheap material such as plate glass or BK7 while good quality mirrors use expensive material like borosilicate glass or Ultra-low Expansion Glass materials which makes them a lot more costly than a regular/standard mirror.

4- Glass Itself Is Expensive

Glass is expensive and it becomes even more costly when it undergoes the process of polishing with high-quality silver or aluminium, coatings of tarnish-resistant material and those exquisitely designed frames that makes the end product a high-end mirror. Plastic mirrors are inexpensive but they scratch very easily and fail to provide a good image quality. Certain other metals can also be used in making mirrors but a highly flattened surface is easiest to achieve only with glass.

5- Application Of Mirrors Make It Costly

Mirrors are used in different applications. Its price varies with its application. For example, household mirrors will be less expensive than telescopic mirrors. Similarly, decorative mirrors are more expensive than household mirrors. Lighted mirrors are more costly than table mirrors. Magnifying mirrors are also more costly than ordinary makeup mirrors.

6- Frames Increase The Cost Of Mirror

Most of the time, the mirror itself is not costly but frames add extra bucks. If you’re short of budget, buy frameless mirrors. For decorative mirrors, these frames are quite heavier. Some are made up of metal and others are made up of wood. These frames are carved with different artistic designs. That’s why the cost of the artist is also included in the price of mirrors. For the decorative purposes, these frames are decorated with ornaments also. Such decorative mirrors are luxury lifestyle symbols. If you can’t afford it, it’s better to buy a frameless mirror or make a frame yourself.

7- Breakable Item, Shipping Is Risky

Mirrors are easy to break items when shipping from one area to other. That’s why very few dealers take this risk of exporting mirrors in bulk. They have to bear heavy shipping costs with safety shipments. This makes the mirror more expensive. It requires a lot of time, packing material and packing skills to transfer mirrors from manufacturer to seller. Many times they break on the way and dealers have extra costs. This factor makes mirrors an expensive item to ship not only inside the country but also out of the country.

8- Over Sized & Over Weight Items To Ship

Decorative mirrors, dressing mirrors and gym mirrors are oversized and overweight items. Small mirrors are not much costly. As you demand more size, the weight increases automatically. When weight increases the shipping cost of the item also increases. This requires a lot of expenditure on packing material. From packing to shipping, one has to pay out of pocket for buying a large size wall mirror, or decorative mirror. The shipping cost increases a lot when you order it from another country.

9- Quality Of Mirror Makes It Expensive

There are many types of mirrors available online and one on one stores. Some are cheap and some are priced. When you ask the storekeeper about the high-quality mirror, it would always be pricey. The high-quality mirror is extra thick. It will never rust sooner when you expose it to a set area. That’s why for vanity and basins people often buy high-quality mirrors. The longevity is an additional feature that may also add a few bucks to the mirror’s actual price.

10- Cost Of Craftsmanship Makes Mirror Expensive

Mirror manufacturing is an art. It requires specific tools, machinery and chemicals. Only expert craftsmen know how to make decorative frames for mirrors. These craftsmen are trained professionals and get high wages from mirror manufacturers. That’s why manufacturers sell mirrors to retailers that charge an extra cost. They have to pay for material and craftsmen also.

What Makes A Mirror Good Quality?

Some primary factors that affect the quality of the mirror are the purity and quality of the glass sheet, the flatness of the glass, mirror silvering, and glass thickness. A high-end mirror cannot be manufactured unless provided with great quality raw material.

Quality of Glass

A good quality mirror production requires pure glass sheets with no inconsistencies. Any inconsistency in the glass sheet creates distortions that drop the quality of the mirror. A highly flattened glass surface ensures the excellent quality of a mirror. The smoother the surface, the better will be the quality of the mirror-like this one.