When it comes to choosing the right window tint for your car, home or office, there are a lot of factors to consider. The shade or darkness of the tint is one of the most important decisions. While dark tints can provide more protection and privacy, they also reduce visibility and may not be legal in your area. Lighter tints allow more light in but provide less shading. Finding the right balance depends on your specific needs and situation.
Why Do You Want Window Tint?
Before choosing a shade, first consider why you want window tint in the first place. Common reasons include:
– Reducing glare – Glare from sunlight can make it hard to see and cause eye strain. Tint cuts down on glare.
– Lowering heat – Tint blocks solar radiation to keep your car or home cooler. The darker the tint, the more heat it blocks.
– Increasing privacy – Darker tint makes it harder to see inside. This provides privacy and security.
– Protecting furnishings – UV rays can fade carpets, furniture and art. A good tint protects belongings from sun damage.
– Skin protection – UV rays are linked to skin cancer and aging. Tint screens out harmful rays.
– Aesthetics – Many people simply like the sleek, polished look of tinted windows.
Consider which reasons are most important to determine how dark you want to go with the tint.
Light, Medium or Dark – What Are the Options?
Window tint darkness is measured by VLT (visible light transmission). The percentage refers to how much exterior light passes through the tinted window. The lower the VLT, the darker the tint. Options include:
| VLT % | Level of Tint |
|---|---|
| 75-60% VLT | Light tint |
| 35-45% VLT | Medium tint |
| 5-15% VLT | Dark limo tint |
Light Tint
Light tints allow 70% of light transmission or more. This level offers minimal glare reduction and heat protection. It won’t noticeably change the look of windows. People can still easily see inside. Light tint is mostly for UV protection or a very subtle darkened look.
Medium Tint
Medium shade tint transmits between 35-45% of light. It cuts glare significantly and blocks some solar heat gain. Medium tint provides moderate privacy, with outsiders still able to see vague shapes and movement inside. This is a popular choice for an everyday tint that balances performance with light allowances.
Dark Tint
Limousine or dark tint allows only 5-15% light transmission. This dramatically reduces glare and keeps interiors much cooler. Dark tint provides near total privacy. People can’t see inside, providing security, stealth and UV protection. The dark look also makes a bold styling statement. But beware, most states limit the allowable VLT percentage on front driver and passenger windows.
What is Legal?
Window tint laws vary by state. Nearly all states prohibit excessively dark tint on front driver and passenger windows since it can obstruct the driver’s view. Common legal limits for front windows are:
– 70% VLT and higher – Allowed in all states
– 50-70% VLT – Allowed in most states
– Less than 50% VLT – Often prohibited on front windows
Rear and backseat windows generally allow darker tints. Common legal limits are:
– 15-35% VLT – Allowed in most states
– Less than 15% VLT – Allowed in some states, prohibited in others
A reputable professional tint shop can walk you through the laws. Having illegal tint can result in tickets or orders to remove it. It’s better to stay within regulations.
Which Type of Tint is Best?
In addition to darkness level, window tints come in different material types. Each has pros and cons:
| Tint Type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Dyed (non-reflective) | Good UV protection Unnoticeable look |
Lower heat rejection Can fade over time |
| Metallized (reflective) | Great heat rejection Very dark finishes available |
Some UV protection Obvious mirrored look |
| Ceramic (non-reflective) | Blocks UV and heat High clarity |
More expensive Difficult installation |
| Carbon (non-reflective) | Great heat rejection Minimal glare |
Less UV protection Darker appearance |
For overall performance, non-reflective nano-ceramic tint is best. It offers good visibility, heat blocking and UV protection. But it also carries a higher price tag. For a budget option, dyed films provide decent UV blocking at lighter shades. Reflective metallized tint works well for dark limo finishes.
How Does Tint Appear on Different Window Types?
Glass composition affects the look of tinted windows. On some windows, the same VLT% tint may appear slightly lighter or darker.
Clear Glass
Used on most modern vehicles. Provides a relatively neutral tint appearance. A 30% VLT film will look close to its rated visible light transmission level.
Green Glass
Found on older vehicles. Has a greenish color and higher iron content. Tint films will look slightly darker on green glass than the rated VLT. A darker tint may be needed to match the appearance of clear glass.
Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is required on side and rear vehicle windows for safety. It’s thicker than normal glass. The same tint film often looks slightly lighter on tempered vs. non-tempered glass. Go a shade darker if matching untempered glass.
Insulated Glass
Double or triple pane windows have a layer of gas or air between panes to improve insulation. Some light scatter occurs, so the same tint may appear slightly lighter. Use a VLT 5-10% darker to achieve the same look.
How to Choose Tint Color
Window tint comes in a spectrum of colors. This depends on the dyes and materials used in the tint. Basic options include:
| Tint Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Charcoal | Neutral grey color, doesn’t noticeably change glass appearance |
| Black | Deeper grey-black color, most popular choice |
| Bronze | Has a brownish hue, great for matching bronze-tinted glass |
| Silver | Mirrored reflectance, only for metallized tint |
| Blue | Has a cool bluish tone |
| Green | Subtly enhances the green tint of older glass |
The most common tint colors are charcoal and black. They provide an inconspicuous light grey or smoke grey appearance. If your car or building has green-tinted glass, a charcoal or green film blend best. Silver reflective tint gives an obvious mirrored look. Bronze, blue or green tints add subtle hints of color.
How Dark Can You Go?
If heat blocking and privacy are top concerns, the temptation may be to go as dark as possible with limo tint. But several factors limit how dark window tint should be:
– Laws – Check your state regulations on allowable VLT for front and rear windows. Illegal tint risks fines.
– Driving Safety – Excessively dark tint reduces visibility, especially at night. Lighter tint is safer.
– Warranties – Most films limit lifetime coverage to tints of 20% VLT and higher. Darker voids the warranty.
– Eye Strain – Heavily tinted interiors cause eyes to work harder to see. Lighter tint reduces glare while allowing visibility.
– Resale Value – Extreme limo tint may turn off potential buyers down the road. Keep to moderate darkness levels.
For residential use, 15-25% VLT strikes a good balance between darkness, heat reduction and visibility. On vehicles, 35% VLT is ideal for driver windows and 15-20% on rear windows.
Conclusion
Choosing the right tint involves balancing light transmission, appearance, performance and legal compliance. For most applications, a medium charcoal or black non-reflective tint with 35-45% VLT is ideal. This provides decent glare reduction and privacy while allowing enough light for visibility. Heavier limo tint may be an option for rear windows if local laws permit. A skilled professional tinter will evaluate your specific needs, windows and climate to recommend the perfect shade of tint film.
