Should you choose this?
Take the deal only when the finished prescription basket is cheaper after lenses, delivery and exclusions. Ignore headline discounts that do not apply to your lens type.
Cheap glasses
Cheap glasses online: what usually costs extra?
See the common extra costs when buying cheap glasses online in the UK, including coatings, lens thinning, delivery, tints and return limitations.
| Option | Typical cost | Choose it for | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voucher/code | Lower if valid | Exact basket qualifies | Medium |
| Two-for-one | Good if both pairs needed | Spare pair or sunglasses bundle | Medium |
| Everyday low price | Often safer | Simple single-pair order | Low to medium |
Best deallowest suitable finished basket
Skipcode excludes your lenses
Alternativeeveryday low-price retailer
Editorial reviewReviewed by UK Glasses Guide editorial team.
Source dateChecked on 1 May 2026.
CorrectionsSend a correction if retailer terms, pricing or delivery details have changed.
ImportantInformation only; use an optician for optical or medical advice.
Quick answer
The most common extras are lens coatings, thinner lenses, tints, complex prescription charges, delivery and sometimes returns or remake limitations.
Affiliate disclosure: Some retailer links on UK Glasses Guide may earn commission at no extra cost to you. We still explain caveats, alternatives and buyer checks before linking out.
Clear buyer intent
This page is written for shoppers who already know the buying problem they need to solve.
Finished basket
Use the delivered price after lenses, coatings, delivery and exclusions.
Complex orders
Use optician or retailer support for strong prescriptions, varifocals or uncertain measurements.
How this page should be used
Start with the buyer problem, then compare prescription suitability, lens options, delivery, returns and support before price. Cheap glasses pages are reviewed as commercial decision pages, so claims should stay cautious, dated and easy to correct.
Retailer shortlist for this topic
This is not a ranking. It is the practical provider lens to use before applying affiliate links or sending a reader to a retailer.
| Provider | Useful for | Buyer check |
|---|---|---|
| SelectSpecs | Low-cost finished baskets and spare-pair comparisons. | Check coatings, delivery and lens thinning before judging the headline frame price. |
| SpeckyFourEyes | Discount-led buying and branded-frame offers. | Apply codes to the finished prescription basket; do not assume every frame or lens upgrade qualifies. |
| Goggles4u | Very low-cost backup-pair searches. | Use stronger caveats around UK delivery, support and complex prescriptions. |
The extras that change the basket
Cheap glasses are often advertised with a basic lens package. The price may change when you add anti-reflection coating, thinner lenses, blue-light coating, sunglasses tint, varifocal lenses or faster delivery.
This does not make the retailer bad. It simply means the comparison has to happen at basket level, not headline level.
Which extras are worth considering?
Anti-reflection coating and scratch resistance are often the first add-ons to compare for everyday glasses. Lens thinning may matter for stronger prescriptions or larger frames. Tints and polarisation depend on the use case.
Do not add every upgrade because it sounds premium. Add the upgrade that solves a real problem for your prescription and how you will use the glasses.
How to keep costs under control
Build the same order at two or three retailers. Keep the frame type, prescription, coating, lens index, delivery and voucher assumptions consistent. If one retailer makes an important add-on hard to understand, give that risk a cost too.
Comparison checklist
| Coatings | Can be included, optional or bundled. Compare like for like. |
|---|---|
| Lens thinning | Usually costs extra and matters more for stronger prescriptions. |
| Delivery | Low headline prices can be offset by postage or slower turnaround. |
Practical next step
Use this article as a decision filter, then open the related guides below and compare like-for-like baskets. The most useful order is usually: prescription suitability, frame fit, lens package, delivery, returns, then price.
FAQs
Are lens coatings always extra?
No. Some retailers include basic coatings, while others charge for upgrades or bundle them into lens packages.
Is lens thinning necessary for cheap glasses?
Only when the prescription, frame size and comfort justify it. It is not automatically needed for every order.
Can delivery make cheap glasses poor value?
Yes. Compare the delivered price and timeline, especially if you need the glasses quickly.
Do discount codes apply to lens upgrades?
Not always. Codes can exclude sale items, brands or add-ons, so test them in the finished basket.
What should I compare first?
The final delivered basket for the same frame type, prescription and lens package.
Information-only note
This page is general buyer information for UK shoppers. It is not medical, optical or prescribing advice. If your prescription is complex, your eyesight has changed, you need children's glasses, or you are unsure about measurements or suitability, speak to a qualified optician before ordering online.