This study synthesized a novel borate-based glass matrix and evaluated its radiation attenuation capability. Melt-quenching was used to prepare four glass samples with different concentrations from zinc borate glasses. To increase the glass density and the attenuation performance as a result, neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) and barium oxide (BaO) gradually substituted boron oxide (B2O3) in the glass network. The well-known narrow beam method was used to experimentally attain the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC), and the results were validated through Phy-X software. There was strong theoretical–experimental data agreement, with less than 7 % deviation at all energy levels. The half value layer (HVL) showed a 56 % drop (from 0.097 to 0.043 cm) at 0.059 MeV and an 18 % drop (from 2.537 to 2.084 cm) at 0.662 MeV, and this difference is all due to the increase in Nd2O3 concentration. The radiation protection efficiency (RPE) results indicate an improvement in the glasses' ability to shield photons with increasing Nd2O3 content since it increased from 23.9 % to 28.3 % at 0.662 MeV and from 18.4 % to 21.4 % at 1.173 MeV as a result of increasing the Nd2O3 content from 2 to 8 mol%.