Equal-leg 90° angle guard
The standard choice for square wall corners, from about 19 × 19 mm to 76 × 76 mm wings.
Wall and edge protection
Aluminium Corner Guards
Aluminium corner guards are angle profiles fixed over the outside corners of walls, columns, door frames and furniture to stop impact damage from trolleys, carts and foot traffic. Metline supplies extruded and formed aluminium corner guards in 90°, 135° and custom angles, wing widths from about 12 to 100 mm and lengths up to about 3.6 m, anodised, brushed or powder coated, for projects worldwide.
- Angles
- 90°, 135°, custom
- Wing width
- about 12 – 100 mm
- Thickness
- about 1.2 – 4.8 mm
- Lengths
- up to about 3.6 m
What are aluminium corner guards?
A corner guard is a protective angle that covers the vulnerable outside edge of a wall or column. Plaster, plasterboard and painted block chip easily when struck at the corner; an aluminium guard spreads the impact over a larger area and takes the wear instead.
Aluminium sits between plastic and stainless steel. It is far more impact- and scratch-resistant than PVC or vinyl guards and keeps its appearance for years, yet it is lighter, easier to cut on site and usually cheaper than stainless steel. It does not rust, is non-combustible, and can be anodised, brushed or coated to suit anything from a warehouse to a hotel lobby.
Most aluminium corner guards are extruded in 6063 or 6060, alloys that give sharp profile detail and an excellent anodised finish. Simple flat-wing guards can also be formed from 3003, 5005 or 5052 sheet on a press brake, which suits very wide wings, diamond (tread) plate guards and short runs.
Types of aluminium corner guard
135° guard
For angled walls and bay corners in corridors and lift lobbies, where a 90° guard would stand off the wall.
Rounded-nose guard
An extruded profile with a radiused corner bead that is kinder to people and trolleys than a sharp edge.
Flanged / flush-mount guard
Wings with a step that sits under plaster, tile or wall covering for a recessed, flush finish in new construction.
Diamond (tread) plate guard
Formed from embossed tread plate for loading docks, warehouses and vehicle workshops.
Retainer with cover
An extruded aluminium retainer fixed to the wall, with a snap-on vinyl or PVC impact cover, common in hospitals.
Three-sided / column wrap
Channel-shaped guards for wall ends and narrow columns, protecting two corners at once.
Corner caps and end caps
Small formed or cast pieces for furniture corners and the top or bottom of a guard.
Perforated guards
Pre-drilled or slotted wings for screw fixing or for plastering over.
Common corner guard sizes
Corner guards are described by wing width (each leg), thickness and angle. Imperial sizes dominate catalogues, so the table shows both.
| Wing × wing × thickness | Metric equivalent | Typical location |
|---|---|---|
| 3/4 × 3/4 in × 1/16 in | 19 × 19 × 1.6 mm | Residential, offices, furniture edges |
| 1 × 1 in × 1/16 in | 25 × 25 × 1.6 mm | Offices, light corridors |
| 1-1/4 × 1-1/4 in × 1/16 in | 32 × 32 × 1.6 mm | Corridors, schools |
| 1-1/2 × 1-1/2 in × 1/8 in | 38 × 38 × 3.2 mm | Hospitals, hotels, retail back-of-house |
| 2 × 2 in × 1/8 in | 51 × 51 × 3.2 mm | Service corridors, lift lobbies |
| 2 × 2 in × 3/16 in | 51 × 51 × 4.8 mm | Warehouses, loading areas |
| 3 × 3 in × 1/8 in | 76 × 76 × 3.2 mm | Industrial walls, column protection |
| Unequal, e.g. 1/2 × 1 in | 13 × 25 mm | Door frames, reveals, tile edges |
Supply range
- Thickness
- about 1.2 – 4.8 mm (0.050 – 0.1875 in)
- Wing width
- about 12 – 100 mm (1/2 – 4 in); wider in formed sheet
- Angle
- 90° and 135° as standard; other angles made to order
- Length
- Common lengths 1.2 m (48 in), 1.8 m (70 – 72 in), 2.4 m, 3.0 m and 3.6 m; cut to height
- Fixing preparation
- Plain, pre-drilled and countersunk, or with double-sided tape applied
Guards are usually ordered to run from skirting height to about 1.2 – 1.8 m, the zone where trolleys and carts strike, or full height in high-traffic areas.
Alloys and finishes
| Material | Form | Why it is used |
|---|---|---|
| 6063-T5 | Extruded | Sharp detail, rounded noses and flanges possible; excellent anodised finish |
| 6060-T5 / T6 | Extruded | Similar to 6063, common in Europe for trims |
| 6061-T6 | Extruded | Higher strength for heavy-duty industrial guards |
| 3003-H14 / 5005-H34 | Formed sheet | Wide or long wings, short runs, good anodising (5005) |
| 5052-H32 tread plate | Formed sheet | Diamond-pattern guards for docks and workshops |
Clear or satin anodised
The most popular finish: hard, even and easy to clean. Best choice outdoors.
Brushed
A fine linear texture that hides minor scuffs, often sealed with clear anodising.
Polished
A bright, reflective look for hotels and retail fronts.
Powder coated or painted
Colour-matched to walls. Unanodised mill finish takes site paint more easily.
Bronze and black anodised
Dark, architectural tones that complement timber and dark stone.
Mill finish
Lowest cost for industrial areas where appearance matters less.
Anodised or not? Outdoors and in wet or cleaned areas, choose anodised for durable corrosion and wear resistance. Indoors either works; if you plan to paint guards to match the wall, order mill finish or a primer-ready surface.
How to measure, cut and install corner guards
- MeasureMeasure the corner from the top of the skirting (or floor) to the height you want protected. Choose a guard length equal to or slightly longer than that, and cut down.
- CutUse a mitre saw with a fine-tooth non-ferrous blade, or a hacksaw for thin guards. Clamp the guard, cut slowly and deburr the edge. Cut 45° mitres where a guard meets a skirting or another guard.
- PrepareClean the wall of dust and grease. Check the corner angle; if it is not 90°, bend thin guards slightly or order a 135° or custom angle.
- FixApply double-sided acrylic foam tape or construction adhesive to the wings for a fastener-free finish, or screw through countersunk holes into plugs for high-impact areas. Many installers use both.
- FinishPress firmly from the bottom up, check plumb, and fit end caps or a neat chamfer at the top.
For flush-mounted guards in new construction, the retainer or flanged guard is fixed before plastering or tiling so the finished wall surface meets the guard nose.
Aluminium vs stainless steel, PVC and acrylic
| Material | Impact resistance | Appearance | Typical locations | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Medium to high | Metallic, modern; many finishes | Hospitals, offices, factories, warehouses | Medium |
| Stainless steel | Very high | Industrial, hygienic | Commercial kitchens, food plants, labs | High |
| PVC / vinyl | Light to medium | Coloured, soft | Schools, clinics, homes | Low |
| Acrylic / polycarbonate | Moderate | Clear, decorative | Retail, receptions, over wallpaper | Medium to high |
Aluminium is the practical middle ground: tough enough for most commercial traffic, available in thicknesses up to about 5 mm for industrial duty, and finished to match interior design. Where very heavy pallet trucks strike walls, combine aluminium guards with floor-mounted steel bollards or kick rails.
Where aluminium corner guards are used
- Healthcare: corridor and ward corners struck by beds, wheelchairs and trolleys; anodised for frequent cleaning
- Hotels and hospitality: service corridors, lift lobbies and back-of-house areas
- Offices and schools: corridor corners, stair walls and door reveals
- Retail: stockroom walls, display units and shopfitting edges
- Warehouses and factories: heavy-gauge and tread-plate guards on columns and dock walls
- Residential and furniture: stair corners, kitchen units, tabletops and shelving edges
- Exterior facades: siding corners, cladding edges and window reveals
How to order aluminium corner guards
- SpecifyWing widths, thickness, angle, nose shape (sharp or rounded), alloy if required, finish and colour.
- Quantity and lengthNumber of corners, guard height or cut length, and whether you need tape, pre-drilled holes or end caps.
- QuoteWe confirm the profile drawing, finish sample if needed and delivery terms (EXW, FOB, CIF or DAP).
- InspectDimensions, angle and finish checked; material certificate supplied on request.
- Pack and shipEach guard film-wrapped, packed in cartons with spacers, labelled by size and finish, and crated for export.
References and standards
- EN 755-2 and EN 755-9 – Extruded aluminium profiles: mechanical properties and tolerances
- ASTM B221 – Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
- EN ISO 7599 – Anodizing of aluminium and its alloys: decorative and protective anodic coatings
- US Department of Veterans Affairs master specification 10 26 00, Wall and door protection (WBDG)
Aluminium (aluminum) corner guards: frequently asked questions
What size corner guard should I use?
For offices and homes, 19 – 32 mm wings in 1.6 mm thickness are usually enough. For hospitals, hotels and service corridors, use 38 – 51 mm wings in about 3 mm. Warehouses and loading areas need 50 – 76 mm wings in 3 – 5 mm or tread-plate guards.
How do I install an aluminium corner guard?
Clean the corner, cut the guard to height with a fine-tooth non-ferrous blade, then fix it with double-sided foam tape or construction adhesive, adding countersunk screws into wall plugs in high-impact areas.
Can corner guards be made for angles other than 90°?
Yes. 135° guards are standard for angled corridors, and other angles can be made to order by extrusion or press-brake forming.
Are aluminium corner guards suitable outdoors?
Yes. Anodised or powder-coated aluminium resists weather and does not rust. Use stainless steel screws to avoid staining and galvanic corrosion.
Can aluminium corner guards be painted?
Yes. Mill-finish or lightly abraded guards take primer and paint well; anodised guards need a special primer. If you want a colour finish, factory powder coating is more durable than site painting.
Protecting corners on a project?
Send the sizes, angle, finish and quantities. We will reply with a profile drawing and a delivered price.
