Few upgrades change the overall look and comfort of your car more than window tint. Motorists around the globe realize a variety of other benefits from adding a layer of tint film to car windows. Here are some of the reasons you may want to install a window tinting product:
- Improve the look of your vehicle
- Increase interior privacy
- Maintain a cooler interior temperature during hot summer months
- checkPrevent dangerous UV rays from damaging your vehicle’s interior or your skin
- checkContain shattering glass during an accident
- checkReduce interior glare
While you may have fully committed to installing window tint on your vehicle, you may have difficulty finding the best product. That’s understandable, as the market is flooded with inferior window tint film. That’s where we come in. Read on to see which window tinting products we think are the best.
What You Need To Know About Window Tinting Film
Before you can choose the best window tint for your vehicle, you must know about the three types of tinting film: dyed film, metallic film and ceramic film. While all types of film install similarly, they each have some pros and cons.
Dyed Film
This film consists of a dyed layer sandwiched between two adhesive ones.
PROS
- Usually the most affordable window tinting option
- Includes the darkest possible tints
- Allows radio waves to pass through
- Reduces glare from sun and artificial light
CONS
- Bubbles often appear during installation
- Tint separation is common when exposed to high temperatures
- May fade and change colors
- Allows some heat and UV rays to pass through
Metallic Film
This four-layer film has a metallic look.
PROS
- Effective at reducing heat and UV rays
- Holds up to a variety of weather and road conditions
- Resists fading
CONS
- More expensive than dyed window film
- Interferes with radio and cellular signals
Ceramic Film
This tinting film uses ceramic particles to shade the inside of a vehicle.
PROS
- Does not interfere with digital signals
- Helps maintain a cool interior temperature
- Reduces glare from natural and artificial light
- Resists fading
- Effectively blocks most UV rays
CONS
- Looks vary based on tint manufacturer
- Most expensive window tinting option
The right window tint for your vehicle likely depends on your tinting goals and budget. Because we weren’t working with a budget, we endeavored to find the best window tint on the market today. Before we get to our rankings, though, let us explain how we put together our list.
How We Developed Our List
We take our obligation to provide you with reliable information seriously. In our effort to be accurate, we gave each window tint on our list a rating on a five-point scale. While we didn’t work from a rubric, we considered the following criteria when developing our list:
- Look – Window tint must improve the overall appearance of your vehicle. Therefore, we considered how tint looks after installation and over time.
- Functionality – Window tint should block heat and UV rays. Whenever possible, we provided you with the percentage of UV rays each window tint deflects.
- Installation – Whether you plan a DIY job or intend to leave your window tint project to the pros, you need a good idea of how installation works.
- checkAffordability – Even though you don’t mind spending money on your car, you don’t want to break the bank. For that reason, we evaluated the price of each window tint on our list.
Finally, we read through dozens of consumer reviews about each type of window tint. To avoid leading you astray, we threw out the outlier reviews. Instead, we focused on the mainstream ones, trying to alert you to benefits and drawbacks of every product on our list.
Top 5 Best Window Tint Products
Product |
Image |
Rating |
Price |
|---|---|---|---|
T-view T2bk3536 Window Tint |
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Lexen Professional Window Tint Film ROLL |
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LEXEN Pre-Cut Complete Tint Kit |
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FILMGOO One Way Window Film |
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Gila Heat Shield Window Tinting Film |
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The Clear Winner: T-view T2bk3536 Window Tint
- International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age...
- Resists Bubbling and Pealing
- Pliable for Easy Attachment to Curved Surfaces
While it is the most expensive window tint film on our list and one of the most expensive on the market, MotoshieldPro Nano ceramic window tint is the clear winner in our estimation. In fact, this ceramic film is significantly better than competing brands, such as 3M or SunTek.
Since MotoshieldPro is made from ceramic, you don’t have to worry about digital signal interference. Your smartphone, GPS, radio and other devices should work perfectly fine with this window tinting. Even better, since MotoshieldPro comes in dark hues, you choose the precise tint you want for your vehicle.
This MotoshieldPro product reduces by glare by as much as 55%. It also boasts a shading coefficient of 0.54 while deflecting 99% of harmful UV rays. Even better, MotoshieldPro film holds up well over time, resisting fading.
PROS
- Helps in glare reduction.
- Reject 99% of UV and IR rays.
- Reject 60% of the total solar energy.
- Works as a safety film.
CONS
- It’s not much darker like 20% or 5% tint.
The Runner-Up: Lexen Professional Window Tint Film ROLL
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The second film on our list, SolarKing Nano ceramic window tint, is a very good product. We didn’t rank this one at the top of our survey as it only provides a light shade effect after application. Still, the SolarKing product blocks most of the sun’s UV rays. It also keeps the inside of your vehicle cool and comfortable.
This film offers 90% infrared rejection and 48% solar energy rejection. You also get effective anti-glare properties with this tinting option. Of course, if you want a dark tint, this product isn’t right for you.
The clear benefit of choosing SolarKing film is its cost. Priced significantly lower than MotoShieldPro ceramic window tint, SolarKing looks great without costing a small fortune. You also get enhanced shatter protection and digital signal passthrough with the product.
PROS
- Reject 99% of UV and IR rays.
- Reject 60% of the total solar energy.
- Works as a safety film.
CONS
- It’s not much darker like 20% or 5% tint.
LEXEN Pre-Cut Complete Tint Kit
No products found.
If installation convenience was our only criteria, the LEXEN pre-cut complete tint kit would top our survey. The manufacturers of this product use sophisticated computer software to pre-cut tint panels that fit your vehicle perfectly. You simply notify the company of the year, make, model and body style of your vehicle.
While it is the most convenient product we surveyed, LEXEN holds its own in other categories as well. With this tint, you get decent interior temperature control. You also get a non-reflective, scratch-resistant finish. Even better, LEXEN blocks up to 99% of UV rays from entering your car, truck or SUV.
Since this film comes pre-cut, we expected the company to service every vehicle imaginable, but it doesn’t. That being said, the selection and overall look of this product are impressive. In fact, we think LEXEN film virtually ties with the SolarKing offering.
PROS
- Helps in glare reduction.
- Reject 99% of UV and IR rays.
- Reject 60% of the total solar energy.
- Works as a safety film.
CONS
- It’s not much darker like 20% or 5% tint.
FILMGOO One Way Window Film
- 【HEAT CONTROL AND ENERGY SAVING 】FILMGOO one way Window film Blocking out 85% of infrared rays, 10% of VLT means...
- 【ADVANCED UV BLOCKING PROTECTION】UV solvents added at the bottom, FILMGOO window reflective film effectively blocks...
- 【STATIC CLING WINDOW TINT NON ADHESIVE】Our window tint coverings are glue free design,no chemical release, easy to...
While the top three products on our list are ceramic, we want to mention what we conclude is the best metallic film in the industry. Black Magic is a metallic film that installs easily and looks great. Because it is metallic, though, you can expect it to interfere with the signals from your electronic devices. While that isn’t unique to Black Magic, it is a major drawback in our estimation.
Nonetheless, if you want the cool, metallic look, Black Magic is a standout. This film offers exceptional heat reduction and UV protection. It also protects you and your passengers from shattered glass. Made in China, this product also ships quickly.
PROS
- Helps in glare reduction.
- Reject 99% of UV and IR rays.
- Reject 60% of the total solar energy.
- Works as a safety film.
CONS
- It’s not much darker like 20% or 5% tint.
Gila Heat Shield Window Tinting Film
- DARKEN WINDOWS & BLOCK HEAT: Upgrade your style and keep your drive cool with 65% light blocked
- INCREASED VISIBILITY: Reduces glare, helping you see better and drive safer
- SCRATCH-RESISTANT: Durable material uses deep-dye technology that lasts
The last entry on our list is Gila Heat Shield window tinting film. A dyed film, this product is the most affordable one on our list. However, because it is dyed, Gila Heat Shield tends to fade over time. It may also take on an undesirable purplish hue if you live where temperatures tend to soar. Note, too, that some reviewers report faltering quality with Gila Heat Shield window tinting. Therefore, before installing this product, you probably want to ask for a sample.
Bearing that in mind, if you want a dark window tint, Gila Heat Shield is a good option. This product doesn’t deflect as many UV rays as those on the top of our list, but it does keep your car’s interior cool. It also provides exceptional privacy. Finally, this product works exceptionally well on curved windows.
PROS
- Helps in glare reduction.
- Reject 99% of UV and IR rays.
- Reject 60% of the total solar energy.
- Works as a safety film.
CONS
- It’s not much darker like 20% or 5% tint.
While these are the five best window tinting options, they certainly aren’t the only ones on the market. In fact, there are thousands of window tint films available for purchase. Once you set your budget, use our list as a guide to find the right one for you.
Buyer’s Guide
Your vehicle is probably one of your most significant investments. As such, you don’t want to install any window tint that destroys value or looks terrible. Before you begin to shop, you must cross one important hurdle: legality.
Because laws vary between jurisdictions, you must check with your state to determine how dark you can legally tint your windows. Remember, many states outlaw window tinting that is excessively dark. In fact, AAA notes that most states prohibit tinting that blocks more than 35% of light transmission. Violating these laws could earn you an expensive ticket. In some places, it may even result in your vehicle being impounded.
Applying tinting film to your vehicle’s windows is one of the best ways to protect its interior from heat and UV rays. It is also a ready solution for improving the overall appearance of your machine. With a bit of research, you can likely choose the best window tint for your car, truck or SUV.
Last update on 2023-04-15 at 07:41 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API