This work adapts the Q4γs quadrilateral element to analyse three-layer FGM sandwich plates. Two types of FGM sandwich configurations are employed to assess the element performance in conducting static, free vibration, and thermal buckling analysis. The first configuration is a homogeneous core and FGM outer layers, while the second involves homogeneous top and bottom layers and an FGM core. Various problems have been run, and the results are compared with references to assess the accuracy of the element. Numerical results on the deflection, stresses, frequencies, and thermal buckling of symmetrical and non-symmetrical FGM sandwich plates are examined to evaluate the effectiveness of the current model. Furthermore, the influence of the power-law index and the length-to-thickness ratio on the analyses is also investigated. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd