Discover the best Window Tint of 2024.
Window Tint: Sunny days often result in pleasant driving conditions and outdoor enjoyment. However, that enormous sphere in the sky isn’t always a friend. For both the driver and the passengers, it may produce glare. Its UV light may still cause all the typical undesirable things, such as contributing to skin cancer and aging of the skin, and will progressively degrade interior components. It may also force your car to heat up like a greenhouse, sometimes even more than your air conditioning system can handle. Window tints help with that.
Those issues may be lessened, and your car’s haven of beauty and privacy can be enhanced by tinting the glass. Window tint is reasonably priced and simple to apply with perseverance and attention to detail. Precut kits that reduce a particular car’s installation time and learning curve are available for purchase. The film is also available in rolls, which are less costly and provide greater leeway if a user misapplies it. Longer rolls allow you to use the movie on several cars.
Window tinting is a popular and practical addition to vehicles for various reasons.
Reducing Glare and UV Radiation: By applying window tint, you can significantly decrease the glare from the sun, making it easier and safer to drive during bright conditions. Moreover, window tints can block harmful UV rays, which protects the passengers from skin damage and helps preserve your car’s interior by preventing fading and deterioration of upholstery.
Temperature Control: Tinted windows can reduce the greenhouse effect inside a car. This means your vehicle won’t heat up as much when parked in the sun, and your air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard to cool down the car, leading to better comfort and potentially better fuel efficiency.
Privacy and Style: Tinted windows offer an added layer of privacy as they make it harder for people to see inside your vehicle. Additionally, they can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your car, giving it a sleek and customized look.
DIY Installation: Window tint film can be a cost-effective, do-it-yourself project. Precut kits are available for specific vehicle models, simplifying the process. Alternatively, purchasing the film in rolls offers flexibility and the possibility of covering multiple vehicles or having extra material in case of mistakes during application.
Variety of Options: You can choose from a range of tint shades and materials to achieve the desired level of darkness and the look you want for your vehicle.
Legal Considerations: It’s crucial to be aware of and adhere to the window tint laws in your state. Tinting laws vary, with specific regulations on the allowable tint level (measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage) and which windows can be tinted. Failure to comply with these laws can result in fines and the need to remove the tint.
Removal Information: For states where window tinting is not allowed, or if you need to remove the old or damaged tint, methods and guides are available to do so effectively and inexpensively.
In summary, window tinting can offer numerous benefits, from protection against the sun to enhancing your car’s appearance. However, it’s important to consider legal restrictions and choose the right product for your needs and abilities if you decide to apply it yourself.
Best Window Tints For 2024
Nano ceramic front windshield tint film.
UV and Heat Blockage: 99% UV protection and over 85% infrared rejection substantially protect against harmful rays, reducing heat inside the vehicle for a more comfortable driving experience.
- Easy DIY Installation: The film is designed for user-friendly installation, ensuring a bubble-free and crease-free surface. Installation aids like videos and pictures can simplify the process, allowing you to achieve professional-looking results independently.
- Enhanced Privacy and Safety: The 80% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) allows 80% of light to pass through while offering privacy. The one-way visual effect ensures confidentiality, and the film’s strength can help hold shattered glass together in accidents, enhancing safety.
- Longevity and Quality: Made from nano ceramic and PET materials, this tint is built to last without fading, ensuring long-term durability and maintaining its vibrant appearance over time.
- No Signal Interference: The film won’t interfere with electronic signals since it’s free from metal components. This means no GPS, mobile phone signals, or integrated vehicle technology disruption, keeping you connected during your travels.
This product seems ideal for those looking to improve their driving comfort and privacy while ensuring an easy installation process and long-term durability. Remember to check your local laws regarding windshield tinting to ensure compliance.
Premium Nano Ceramic Car Window Tint Film (20% VLT)
Our premium nano-ceramic car window film offers a comprehensive range of convenient features to enhance vehicle functionality and aesthetics. Below is a breakdown of its main features:
- Ultimate Protection & Comfort: The film boasts high UV protection, blocking 99% of harmful rays. This is crucial for protecting the skin and eyes from UV damage. Its IR rejection rate of over 85% means it can significantly reduce heat buildup inside the car, leading to a cooler and more comfortable driving experience.
- Easy DIY Installation: The film is designed for user-friendly installation, which is an excellent advantage for those who prefer to do such tasks themselves. The promise of bubble-free and crease-free applications can be especially appealing, as these are common issues with DIY tint installations. The availability of instructional videos and pictures can further aid in making the installation process smoother.
- Enhanced Privacy & Safety: With a 20% VLT (Visible Light Transmission), the film allows only 20% of visible light to pass through, ensuring enhanced privacy. This level of tint is typically dark enough to prevent outsiders from quickly seeing into the vehicle while still allowing sufficient visibility for the driver. The safety aspect, where the tint helps hold shattered glass together in the event of an accident, is a significant additional benefit.
- Satisfying Longevity: Using nano ceramic and PET materials suggests durability and resistance to fading. This means the tint should maintain its effectiveness and appearance over a long period, an essential consideration for car owners looking to improve.
- No Signal Interference: The absence of metal components in the tint film is crucial for modern vehicles that rely heavily on electronic communication systems. This feature ensures that the tint will not interfere with GPS, mobile phone signals, or other integrated vehicle technologies, allowing for uninterrupted use of these systems.
Overall, this car window tint film seems a solid choice for those looking to enhance their vehicle’s comfort, privacy, and safety features. The DIY-friendly aspect and its long-lasting and high-quality material make it an appealing option for many car owners.
Mkbrother 2PLY 20% VLT
Mkbrother 2PLY 20% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) Window Film 30″ x 5″ is a quality product designed for automotive use, with several noteworthy features:
- Brand and Color: My brother is the brand, and the film’s color is charcoal, a popular choice for car window tints due to its sleek and neutral appearance.
- Size and Dimensions: The film is sized at 30 inches by 5 feet (30″L x 60″ W). This site can be suitable for covering the windows of various vehicle types, though it’s essential to measure the windows before purchasing to ensure the size is adequate.
- Installation Type: The peel-and-stick installation type indicates ease of application. This DIY-friendly feature is particularly beneficial for those who prefer to apply the tint themselves without professional assistance.
- Ultraviolet Light Protection: Like many quality automotive tints, it offers 99% UV rejection. This level of UV protection is crucial for safeguarding the vehicle’s interior from sun damage and protecting passengers from harmful UV rays.
- 2-Ply 1.5 Mil Thickness Film: The 2-ply 1.5 mil thickness suggests a good balance between durability and flexibility. Thicker films are generally more durable and offer better protection but can be more challenging to apply without professional equipment.
- 10-Year Limited Warranty: Including a 10-year limited warranty indicates the manufacturer’s confidence in the longevity and quality of the product. This warranty can provide the buyer peace of mind and assurance of quality.
- Film Shade: With a 20% VLT, this film is darker, allowing only 20% of visible light to pass through. This level of darkness is often chosen for significant privacy and glare reduction. However, it’s important to check local regulations regarding window tint VLT limits, as they vary by region.
Overall, the Mkbrother 2PLY 20% VLT window tint film seems to be a robust and user-friendly option for those looking to reduce UV exposure, enhance privacy, and improve the aesthetic appeal of their vehicle. The warranty and ease of installation are significant benefits that add to the attractiveness of this product.
RockRose 20% VLT Car Tint
RockRose 20% VLT Car Tint, 36″ x 25′, is a high-quality window film with several outstanding features:
- Material: The film is made of 2PLY Nano Ceramic Film Tint. Nano ceramic films are known for their superior heat rejection capabilities and durability. This type of material is often preferred for its effectiveness in blocking heat without interfering with electronic signals.
- Color and Size: The color is specified as 20 Percent, which likely refers to its light transmission level. The size of the film is quite large (36 “x25FT), making it suitable for multiple vehicle windows or larger vehicles.
- Product Dimensions: The film’s dimensions are 36 inches in width and 300 inches in length, which is substantial for extensive coverage.
- Visible Light Transmission (VLT): This film is relatively dark with a 20% VLT, allowing only 20% visible light. This level of tint provides significant privacy and glare reduction, but it’s essential to ensure it complies with local window tint laws.
- UV Rejection: The film boasts a 99% UV rejection rate, which protects the vehicle’s interior from fading and reduces the risk of skin damage from UV exposure.
- Infrared (IR) Rejection: It rejects up to 84% of infrared rays, which is beneficial for reducing heat buildup inside the car. This can enhance the comfort of passengers and improve the efficiency of the vehicle’s air conditioning system.
- Total Solar Energy Rejection: The film can reject up to 77% of total solar energy. This feature further contributes to maintaining a more relaxed interior and protecting against sun damage.
- Warranty: It comes with a 5-year limited warranty, which provides some assurance of the product’s quality and durability.
Overall, the RockRose 20% VLT Car Tint seems to be an excellent choice for those looking to reduce heat and UV exposure in their vehicle, enhance privacy, and improve comfort. Its nano ceramic composition and substantial size make it a potentially significant investment for car owners. However, checking local laws regarding window tinting is crucial to ensure compliance.
Gila® Heat Shield 20% VLT Automotive Window Tint
The Gila® Heat Shield 20% VLT Automotive Window Tint is designed for vehicle owners looking to enhance their car’s appearance and comfort. Here are its key features:
- Brand: Gila is known for producing a range of window films, and its automotive products are typically geared towards DIY enthusiasts.
- Color and Style: The color is described as “20% Rear Window Limo Black.” This suggests a dark tint, consistent with what is often seen on limousines. It provides a sleek and private appearance.
- Size and Dimensions: The film comes in strips measuring 6 inches by 26 inches (6″L x 312″ W). These dimensions suggest that the product is tailored for specific window shapes and sizes, particularly for smaller or more narrow windows or for customization needs.
- Ultraviolet Light Protection: The product description indicates that this film does not provide UV protection. This is an important consideration for buyers looking for UV protection as a feature of window tinting.
- Darken Windows: With 80% light blocked (20% VLT), this tint is quite dark, allowing only 20% of visible light to pass through. This level of darkness is substantial for privacy and for reducing glare.
- Heat & Glare Blocking: The film is designed to help keep car interiors more relaxed and reduce glare. This can be particularly beneficial in sunny climates or during the summer months, making driving more comfortable.
- Scratch-Resistant: Using durable material and deep-dye technology indicates that the film is built to last and resist scratches, which is essential for maintaining its appearance over time.
- Easy DIY Installation: It is marketed as easy to install, especially with the Gila Complete Application Kit. This DIY-friendly aspect appeals to those who prefer to apply the tint themselves without professional help.
- Custom Sizing for Rear Windows: The product is specifically designed for rear window applications, suggesting that it can be used on various vehicle makes and models.
- Included Components: The package includes the window tint roll and installation instructions, which are helpful for DIY installation.
The Gila® Heat Shield 20% VLT Automotive Window Tint is a good option for those looking to darken their car windows for privacy and glare reduction. However, its lack of UV protection might be a drawback for some users. Its DIY-friendly nature and durability are key selling points, as is its customization potential for various vehicle types.
Which kinds of tint films are there? What type of window tint ought I to purchase?
All window tint films increase privacy and reduce glare by reducing the amount of visible light entering a car. The ones we suggest are all said to block up to 99% of UV rays, protecting your skin and lowering the risk of fading and internal material damage.
The most affordable tints are made using layers of dyes, with a polyester coating protecting the surface, a colored layer in the center, and an adhesive layer on the bottom. They are inexpensive and have a nice appearance, but they fade more rapidly and eventually acquire a reddish tint.
Tiny metallic particles are included in the tinting layer of metalized films to reflect more sunlight, lowering the heat entering the car and improving its resistance to fading. However, many drivers have stopped using this variety because of claims that the metallic particles might interfere with the electrical signals of phones, portable GPS navigators, and other in-car consumer gadgets.
For many drivers, a carbon window tint is a preferable substitute since it uses microscopic carbon particles instead of metal particles, which may interfere with digital signals. Similar heat-reflective qualities are present here, but electrical interference is impossible. In addition, many people like the matte-like finish, which is more durable than ordinary dyed films.
The priciest kind is ceramic film, which substitutes metal or carbon with ceramic particles that are as small as nanoscale. Compared to carbon films, it stops more heat and infrared radiation from entering the automobile and is very strong and long-lasting. Regretfully, the cost is also the highest.
Instead of visiting a specialist company, most car owners who read this will seek to tint their windows themselves. We focus on tinting materials that are suitable for the majority of do-it-yourselfers. While professional-grade tinting materials are also included, we’ve included certain less expensive, easier-to-install things that installers at a shop would not use since they don’t come in large quantities. Our selections are based on our window tinting experiences and reviews from other critics and end users. Additionally, our choices cover a wide range of tinting requirements.
Choosing the Best Ceramic Coatings for 2023
We use the following weighted measures to assess all window tinting films and products:
- Quality and durability of materials (35%)
- Price (20%)
- Ease of installation: (25%)
- Quantity to Price Ratio (10%)
- Tinting range (5%)
- Warranty/Return Policy (5%)
When choosing a window tint for your vehicle, it is crucial to understand the different types of tint films and their properties. Here’s a breakdown of the various types of tint films and factors to consider when selecting the right one for your needs:
Types of Window Tint Films
- Dyed Window Tint Films:
- Composition: Dye layers between an adhesive layer and a protective polyester coating.
- Pros: Economical, provides good privacy and glare reduction.
- Cons: Tends to fade over time, may develop a purplish hue, and lower heat rejection than other types.
- Metalized Window Tint Films:
- Composition: Contains metallic particles in the tint layer to reflect sunlight.
- Pros: Effective in reducing heat, durable, and resists fading well.
- Cons: Can interfere with electronic signals (GPS, phones, etc.), slightly more expensive than dyed films.
- Carbon Window Tint Films:
- Composition: Embedded with carbon particles.
- Pros: Good heat reduction, no electronic interference, matte finish, longer-lasting than dyed films.
- Cons: It can be more expensive than dyed or metalized films.
- Ceramic Window Tint Films:
- Composition: Utilizes nano-sized ceramic particles.
- Pros: Superior infrared and heat blocking, durable, no electronic interference, high-quality finish.
- Cons: Most expensive option.
Choosing the Right Window Tint
When selecting a window tint, consider the following factors based on your needs and preferences:
- Quality and Durability: If longevity and quality are your primary concerns, ceramic and carbon films are superior choices.
- Price: If budget is a significant factor, dyed films are the most economical, but remember they may fade faster.
- Ease of Installation: Choose films that are easier to handle and come with clear instructions for DIY installations. Dyed and some carbon films can be more user-friendly.
- Quantity to Price Ratio: Consider how much tint you get for the price, especially if you have a larger vehicle or multiple vehicles to tint.
- Tinting Range: Ensure the film provides the level of darkness (VLT%) you desire and complies with local tinting laws.
- Warranty/Return Policy: A good warranty or return policy can provide peace of mind, especially for expensive films like ceramic tints.
- Heat and UV Rejection: If reducing heat and blocking UV rays are priorities, ceramic and carbon tints are the best choices.
- Signal Interference: Avoid metalized tints if you rely heavily on in-car electronics and GPS systems.
- Aesthetic Preference: The appearance of the tint (e.g., matte finish of carbon tints) can be a deciding factor for some.
FAQs
What Do the Tint Numbers Mean?
The visual light transmission (VLT) percentage for each kind of window tint may vary from 5 to 70. Less visible light enters the car, and the lower the number. For instance, a film with a VLT percentage of 70 is a lighter shade that lets 70% of the light into the car while blocking just 30% of the outside light.
On the other hand, a VLT of 5 is often seen in limousines as it is very dark, letting in just 5% of the light. (The VLT range for standard sunglasses is 15–25.) In most states, the front side windows may only have a 30% to 50% VLT tint. There is a decent graphic simulation of the various VLT percentages on the website tinting-laws.com.
Is Tinting the Windows of My Car Legal?
However, each state has regulations regarding window tinting; before purchasing, you should verify your state’s requirements on this AAA website. While most jurisdictions let you tint a five- or six-inch strip at the top (or down to the windshield’s so-called AS1 line), no state permits you to tint your whole windshield. Different rules apply to side windows and rear windows.
Tinted windows are another tactic used by police to justify a stop. In an attempt to discover a more significant infraction, the motorist is pulled over for what seems to be a minor infraction (tinted windows, an air freshener hanging from the mirror, and an out-of-service tail light).
Remember that the total light transmission of the factory-tinted windows and the tint you add will be measured. We’ve heard comments from customers who, presumably for this reason, purchased tint that complied with state regulations, yet their car’s inspection failed. In addition to the AAA website mentioned above, windowtintlaws.us has some helpful information regarding tinting and an excellent summary of the laws in each state (but be prepared to filter through the commercials).
Can I Install Window Tint Myself?
Installing window tints is generally not difficult, but it does call for a few equipment, a clean workspace, and plenty of patience. Precut kits, trimmed to match your automobile model, are the simplest to install. You must measure the windows and cut the roll of film to the correct size by yourself.
After cutting, most products are applied to windows using a soap-and-water solution to spritz the inside, situating the film, and then utilizing a squeegee to smooth it out. Even while many products include a squeegee, having a decent basic installation kit—which you can acquire for less than $20—helps.
We advise you to review the installation instructions from various firms on their websites before trying. Additionally, many installation videos are accessible via YouTube or business websites.
For first-timers, compound curved glass—such as rear windows that bend in two directions—can provide the most obstacle. To get the film to fit correctly, several firms suggest shrinking it using a heat gun. Many helpful YouTube videos demonstrate how to accomplish this, including this one. About $30 to $50 for an installation kit is the approximate cost of a decent heat gun. Some businesses advise placing it in horizontal strips despite the possibility that the tint may show seams.
What’s the Best Window Tint to Reduce Heat?
Tints that are metalized or ceramic will both significantly reduce heat, but ceramic tints work better. Nanoscale carbon particles are used in ceramic tint films to reject heat. Carbon film filters roughly 50% of the sun’s heat and is nonmetal, so it won’t interfere with your radio or smartphone reception as a metalized film may. Additionally, these tint films are known to be somewhat more resilient than other varieties.
What is the lifespan of window tints?
Depending on the kind of movie. The essential colored window tint film’s pigments and dyes will eventually degrade when exposed to UV light, claims Gila Film Products. The manufacturer predicts they will last three to four years with appropriate installation and upkeep before starting to fade. However, a lot depends on your travel conditions and the direct sunlight the automobile receives.
Films with higher solar reflectance, including those made of carbon or ceramic particles, have a longer lifespan—typically five to ten years.