Best Safety Glasses for Work in Australia (2026 Guide)

Safety glasses are the cheapest piece of PPE on most sites and one of the most important. Eye injuries from grinding sparks, flying chips, dust and splashes are common in construction, manufacturing, landscaping and workshops, and almost all of them are preventable with the right pair. The catch is that "safety glasses" covers everything from a $2 pair of visitor specs to a sealed goggle, and the wrong lens or fit means they end up on top of someone's head instead of over their eyes.

This guide explains what to look for in work safety glasses in Australia: the standard, impact ratings, lens tints, anti-fog, fit and prescription options, and when glasses are not enough. At the end are our top picks by job from the safety glasses range.

The standard: AS/NZS 1337.1

In Australia and New Zealand, safety glasses, goggles and face shields for work are certified to AS/NZS 1337.1 (eye and face protectors for occupational applications). Most products on the market are certified to the 2010 edition and will show AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 on the listing, the packaging or the frame.

The standard tests the lens and frame for optical quality, robustness and impact resistance. It sets several impact levels, and the one printed on the product tells you what the eyewear can withstand:

• Medium impact: the usual rating for safety glasses (specs). It covers flying particles from tasks such as drilling, sanding, sawing and general site work. Almost every pair in our range is rated medium impact.
• High impact: mostly goggles and some heavier specs, for higher energy particles.
• Extra high impact: face shields and visors, such as the clear polycarbonate visors on a browguard, for grinding, chipping and cutting where large or fast fragments can fly.

Under the WHS laws, your employer has to work out the eye hazards on the job and provide suitable protection. If your site or SWMS says "AS/NZS 1337.1 eye protection", a plain pair of sunglasses does not count, even if it looks similar.

Welding is different again. Welding filters and shade numbers are covered by AS/NZS 1338.1, so for welding and cutting you need a shade-rated filter, not an ordinary tinted spec.

Choosing the right lens tint

The lens colour should match the light you work in. A dark lens indoors is a trip hazard, and a clear lens on a bright concrete slab causes squinting and headaches.

Lens	Best for	Avoid
Clear	Indoors, workshops, factories, night work, general use	Strong glare outdoors
Smoke (grey)	Outdoor work in bright sun: construction, civil, landscaping, driving plant	Indoors, low light, night
Amber (yellow)	Low light, overcast days, dawn and dusk; boosts contrast	Bright midday sun
Indoor/outdoor (light mirror)	Moving between inside and outside, such as warehouse and yard, or forklift drivers	Very bright sun all day
Mirror (silver or blue)	Very bright conditions with reflected glare	Indoors and low light
Polarised	Glare off water, wet roads, glass and metal roofs	Reading some LCD screens

If your crew moves between indoor and outdoor work through the day, an indoor/outdoor lens is usually a better compromise than asking people to swap glasses.

Features that make people actually wear them

The best safety glasses are the ones that stay on. Comfort and clear vision matter as much as the rating.

• Anti-fog coating: essential in humid weather, cool mornings, cold rooms and when wearing a mask or respirator. Fogged lenses get taken off.
• Anti-scratch coating: keeps vision clear for longer, especially on dusty sites.
• Wraparound lens: protects from the side as well as the front without separate side shields.
• Soft nose pads and arm tips: stop pressure points over a full shift and help the glasses grip when you sweat.
• Adjustable arms or a strap: for a secure fit on different face shapes, or when bending and climbing.
• Weight: lighter frames are more comfortable over long shifts. Rimless specs such as the JB's Wear Eye Saver weigh about 24 grams.
• UV protection: look for 99.9% UV protection for outdoor work. Most certified tinted and clear lenses in our range offer this.

Prescription wearers: over-specs and bifocals

Ordinary prescription glasses are not safety eyewear. Workers who wear glasses have three practical options:

• Over-specs: safety glasses sized to fit over most prescription frames. They are also the standard choice for visitors. See the JB's Wear Visitor Over-Spec 8H050 (pack of 12) and the DNC Visitor Over-Spec SP01 (box of 12).
• Bifocal safety glasses: a reading section built into the bottom of the lens, for reading plans, labels and screens without swapping glasses. The Magnum bifocal safety reading glasses come in clear and smoke from +1.50 to +3.00 at $14.99. Check the listing for the certification you need before using them as your main eye protection.
• Prescription safety glasses: made by an optometrist to AS/NZS 1337.6 for workers who need full-time correction.

When glasses are not enough

Safety glasses protect against flying particles from the front and side. Some hazards need more:

• Dust, chemical splash and liquids: use a sealed or indirectly vented goggle, such as the Pro Choice Cyclone 6000 ($22.99), or foam-bound specs like the Pro Choice Ambush, which seal out dust and can be switched to a head strap.
• Grinding, chipping and cutting: wear a face shield over your safety glasses. The Pro Choice browguard with clear visor BGVC is rated extra high impact and resists molten metal and hot solids.
• Chainsaw and pruning work: a mesh visor with earmuffs, such as the Pro Choice BGVMADD kit.
• Fire and emergency services: fire retardant goggles such as the Pro Choice Inferno, tested for ignition resistance.

For the full range, see eye protection, and for other site PPE read our guide to work safety gloves and PPE for every industry.

Our top safety glasses picks for 2026

Best budget everyday spec

The DNC Eagle SP12 ($9.99) is a full frame wraparound with a soft padded nose bridge and padded arm tips, certified to AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 for medium impact with 99.9% UV protection. It comes in smoke, clear and other lens options, which makes it easy to standardise across a crew. The DNC Aurora SP06 is another low-cost, lightweight option.

Best for all-day comfort

The Pro Choice Futura is ultra lightweight, with soft rubber-tipped arms and an anti-fog lens, in clear, smoke and blue mirror (box of 12, $103.99). The JB's Wear Eye Saver 8H001 is a 24 gram rimless spec with a multi-fit design (pack of 12, $27.99).

Best anti-fog

The Pro Choice Cirrus has an anti-fog lens and soft flexible arms that grip without pinching, in clear, smoke, amber and indoor/outdoor (box of 12, $91.99). The Pro Choice Breeze MkII adds anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings in clear, smoke, amber and silver mirror (box of 12, $78.99).

Best for outdoor glare

The Pro Choice Surge polarised ($43.99) cuts glare from water, roads and bright surfaces, in smoke or brown, while still being certified to AS/NZS 1337.1:2010.

Best for indoor and outdoor work

The Pro Choice Fusion indoor/outdoor 9208 has extended curve lenses for side protection and adjustable arms, and each pair comes with a spec cord (box of 12).

Best value bulk box for sites

The Pro Choice Tsunami in clear or smoke is a close-fitting one-piece wraparound at $37.99 for a box of 12, which works out at around $3 a pair. It is a good choice for stocking a site office or a visitor station.

Looking after safety glasses

• Clean lenses with lens wipes or water and a microfibre cloth, not a dusty shirt. Pro Choice anti-fog lens wipes clean and leave an anti-fog layer.
• Store them in a microfibre pouch, not loose in the toolbox or on the dashboard.
• Use a spec cord so glasses hang around your neck between tasks instead of getting lost or sat on.
• Replace glasses that are scratched, cracked, pitted or loose, or that have taken a hit. Scratches distort vision and weaken the lens.

Frequently asked questions

What standard do safety glasses need to meet in Australia?

AS/NZS 1337.1, usually the 2010 edition. Look for the standard on the listing, packaging or frame, and check the impact rating suits your task. Most safety specs are rated medium impact.

Are tinted safety glasses OK to wear indoors?

Not as a rule. Smoke, mirror and dark lenses reduce how much you can see in low light, which increases trip and collision risk. Use clear or amber indoors, or an indoor/outdoor lens if you move between the two.

Can I wear safety glasses over my prescription glasses?

Yes, with over-specs designed to fit over most frames, such as the JB's Wear 8H050 or DNC Visitor SP01. Normal safety glasses will not sit properly over another pair.

How do I stop my safety glasses fogging up?

Choose glasses with an anti-fog coating, make sure there is a gap for airflow, and use anti-fog lens wipes. If you wear a mask, fit it firmly over the bridge of your nose so your breath does not go up into the lenses.

Are safety glasses enough for grinding?

Glasses alone are not ideal. Grinding throws fast, hot particles, so wear safety glasses with a face shield rated extra high impact over the top.

How often should safety glasses be replaced?

Whenever the lens is scratched, pitted or cracked, the frame is loose, or the glasses have taken an impact. On dusty sites that can mean every few weeks, which is why many businesses buy in boxes of 12.

Can I buy safety glasses in bulk for my business?

Yes. Many of our styles come in boxes or packs of 12, which brings the cost per pair down to a few dollars. Contact us for larger quantities.