Product Specifications
Materials, construction, glass types, and cabinet features
What types of glass do you use in your display cabinets?
Can I request a custom size for a display cabinet?
Can you make a cabinet to my design?
Can your cabinets be adapted to meet my requirements?
What lighting options are available for display cabinets?
What security features are available on your cabinets?
How much weight can the glass shelves hold?
What sizes of display cabinets do you offer?
How do I choose between wood-backed and glass-backed display cabinets?
The choice between wood-backed and glass-backed display cabinets affects how your items are presented and the overall character of the display. Both have clear use cases depending on the setting, the items being shown, and the visual effect you want to achieve.
Wood-backed cabinets use a solid panel — typically MDF, plywood, or timber veneer — as the rear wall. This creates a strong visual contrast that helps products stand out, particularly useful for jewellery, medals, trophies, and bright collectibles where a neutral or tonal backdrop makes items easier to see. Wood-backed units also tend to look more furniture-like, which suits home settings, schools, and businesses with a traditional or heritage aesthetic. The solid back also provides a surface for mounting hooks, brackets, or lighting strips.
Glass-backed cabinets are fully transparent from front to back. This creates an open, airy look that works well in modern retail environments, museum galleries, and spaces where a minimalist feel is preferred. If the cabinet is placed in front of a lit wall or window, light passes through the entire unit, giving a bright, open display. Glass-backed cabinets can feel lighter visually in smaller spaces and allow 360-degree viewing if the cabinet is freestanding.
How to decide:
- Choose wood-backed if you need strong contrast, are displaying small or dark-coloured items, or want a classic appearance
- Choose glass-backed if transparency and a modern, open look are priorities, or if the cabinet will be backlit by a wall or window
- Consider that wood-backed cabinets are sometimes more structurally rigid and provide a better surface for internal fixings
- For items requiring conservation care, wood-backed cabinets with the correct board specification (low off-gassing MDF) can offer better environmental stability
Display Cabinets Direct can advise on both configurations across our standard and bespoke cabinet ranges. Contact our team with your setting details and we can recommend the most suitable backing option for your display.
Buying & Ordering
How to order, payment options, quotes, and invoicing
How do I place an order with you?
How do I pay for my order?
How do I pay for my quotation?
Can I get an invoice for my web order?
The company I work for requires an invoice to pay against, can you supply one?
Can I have credit terms?
Are your prices inclusive of VAT?
Do you offer discounts for bulk orders?
Can display cabinets be hired or rented for exhibitions and events?
Display cabinet hire is a niche service in the UK and is not widely available from mainstream cabinet manufacturers — including Display Cabinets Direct, whose focus is on supplying and manufacturing quality cabinets for purchase. However, understanding the hire market is useful if you have a short-term need for a display.
When hire makes sense:
- One-off exhibitions, trade shows, or events where you need display cases for a few days and do not want to invest in ownership
- Pop-up retail, seasonal shop setups, or temporary installations in hotels, galleries, or public spaces
- Testing a display concept before committing to a permanent purchase
Where to find display cabinet hire:
- Exhibition and event hire companies that supply full furniture and display packages for trade shows and fairs
- Museum and gallery equipment hire specialists — particularly useful for conservation-grade display cases for short-term loans of artefacts
- Some regional furniture hire companies that supply retail and commercial environments
The case for buying instead: For many buyers, a short-term hire cost can approach or exceed the purchase price of a standard display cabinet, particularly for countertop or smaller floor-standing units. If you anticipate using a display cabinet more than once — for recurring events, a market stall, or a growing retail presence — purchasing is typically more cost-effective. Our range includes competitively priced units that are portable enough for repeated use.
If you are unsure whether to hire or buy, contact our team with your event details and we can help you decide whether purchase is a more sensible investment for your situation.
Delivery & Shipping
Delivery times, costs, locations, and shipping options
Is delivery always FREE?
Why is your delivery or lead time so long?
What does tailgate delivery mean when delivering glass cabinets?
What if delivery of my cabinet is taking longer than originally planned?
Do you deliver your glass cabinets to Ireland?
Can you ship your products abroad?
Why does shipping cost so much?
Can you deliver to other than ground floor?
Assembly & Installation
Assembly requirements, installation services, and setup help
Are your display cabinets pre-assembled, or will I need to assemble them?
How easy are your cabinets to build?
Are any special tools required to build your cabinets?
Do you provide an installation service for the display cabinets?
How do I wall-mount a display cabinet safely?
How do I level my display cabinet?
Museums & Galleries
Museum-grade cabinets, conservation, climate control, and archival standards
What makes a display case 'museum-grade'?
How do I protect artefacts from light damage?
Do you offer climate-controlled display cases?
What is air exchange rate and why does it matter?
Should I use glass or acrylic for museum exhibits?
What is the Oddy Test and do your cabinets pass it?
Do your cabinets meet requirements for heritage loans?
Retail & Business
Shop displays, jewellery cabinets, commercial solutions, and retail merchandising
What are the benefits of using glass display cases in stores?
What display cabinets are best for jewellery shops?
How do I maintain and clean display cases?
Do you have countertop display cases for small items?
How can I maximise the impact of my glass cabinet displays?
Schools & Sports Clubs
Trophy cabinets, award displays, and solutions for educational institutions
What type of display case is best for schools?
What should I consider before buying school display cases?
How do I keep trophies and awards secure in a display cabinet?
Do you supply display cabinets for sports clubs?
How can I display sports jerseys and kits?
Home Collectors
Protecting and displaying collections at home
How do display cases protect my collection?
Should I choose glass or acrylic display cases for my home collection?
What size display case do I need for my figurines or models?
Do you have display cases for coins and medals?
How should I display sports memorabilia at home?
Customer Service
Returns, warranties, complaints, and getting help