Finite element (FE) models using the eigenstrain approach are used to construct the complete residual stress field in commercially available glass. The surface contour deformation resulted from the stress relaxation along a newly cut plane is used to establish an accurate estimate of the misfit strain (i.e. eigenstrain) presents in the original glass specimens. The paper shows that once the underling eigenstrain distribution has been determined the complete residual stress distribution can simply be determined by incorporating the eigenstrain distribution as a misfit strain in an appropriate FE model. The results show that a parabolic stress depth profile generated in float glass. It is also shown that the hybrid model enables modelling residual stress in new geometries (e.g. pieces cut from the original glass panel) and/or during subsequent loading application, by simply installing the eigenstrain as an initial “load step” in FE models.