Polystyrene Sheet

Our polystyrene sheets are a lightweight, versatile material used for insulation, craft and modelling, packaging, signage backing, set building, displays and general construction. Made from medium grade expanded polystyrene, they offer excellent thermal insulation, cut cleanly with a hot wire or a sharp blade, and suit home, commercial, educational and industrial projects alike.

Why polystyrene sheet works so well

• Very light, so large panels can be handled and installed by one person
• Strong thermal insulation value for its weight and cost
• Easy to cut, carve, shape and sand with basic tools
• Takes adhesives, renders and coatings readily
• Closed cell structure resists moisture absorption
• Economical in large sheet sizes and thicknesses

Common applications

• Thermal insulation for walls, floors, ceilings and coolrooms
• Packaging inserts and protective void fill for fragile goods
• Model making, architectural models and prototyping
• Theatre, film and event set building, props and carved lettering
• Signage backing and lightweight display panels
• Craft, school and hobby projects
• Void forming and lightweight fill in construction

Polystyrene grades explained

Expanded polystyrene is sold by density, and density is what determines compressive strength. Low density grades are the cheapest and are fine for packaging, craft and display work where nothing bears on the sheet. Medium grade, which is what we supply as standard, sits in the useful middle: rigid enough to handle in large panels, carve cleanly and hold its shape in a set build or an insulation application, without the cost of a high density board.

Expanded polystyrene should not be confused with high impact polystyrene, which is a solid thermoplastic sheet used for vacuum forming and printing. If your job calls for high impact polystyrene rather than the expanded foam board, let us know and we will point you at the right product.

Sizes, thicknesses and lead time

• Standard sheet size: 1200 x 2400mm
• Thicknesses: 10mm up to 150mm on request
• Medium grade expanded polystyrene

Because polystyrene sheets are made to order against production schedules, lead time is typically 2 to 3 weeks depending on the thickness and quantity you need. It pays to order early if your project has a fixed install date. Thicker sheets and larger quantities generally sit at the longer end of that window.

Cutting and handling tips

A hot wire cutter gives the cleanest edge and produces almost no mess. If you are cutting by hand, a long fine tooth blade or a sharp craft knife scored in several passes works well. Polystyrene is not compatible with solvent based adhesives and paints, which will melt the surface, so use a polystyrene safe adhesive and water based coatings.

Ordering from Associated Plastics

Associated Plastics has supplied plastics and foams to Tasmanian trades, builders, schools and prop makers since 1979, and we ship Australia-wide. We can cut polystyrene sheets down to your required panel sizes, and our hot wire and CNC capability means we can also produce shaped pieces, letters and profiles rather than plain rectangles. Tell us the thickness, quantity and what the sheets are for, and we will confirm pricing and the current lead time.