Window tint

Cut heat, glare, and UV - legally.

Window tint is a thin film applied to your glass that reduces heat and glare and blocks UV; the darkness is measured as VLT (visible light transmittance) - a lower VLT number means a darker tint.

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An installer squeegeeing dark tint film onto a car's side window

What it protects against

Window tint, in plain terms

The everyday threats window tint is built to handle.

Cabin heat

Ceramic tint rejects a large share of solar heat.

Glare

Easier, safer driving in sun and at night.

UV rays

Blocks up to 99% of UV - protects skin and interior.

Interior fading

Keeps upholstery and dash from washing out.

Prying eyes

Darker rear glass adds privacy.

Shattering

Film helps hold glass together in an impact.

Choosing a tier

The three tiers of window tint

A dark window isn't the same as a cool one. Every tier gives you the shade, glare control, and 99%+ UV protection - the tiers differ in how much of the heat you actually feel they reject. Pick your darkness for the look, and the film tier for how cool it keeps you.

Standard (dyed)

Blocks the least heat

The entry film: the shade, glare control, and 99%+ UV any tint gives you, and a color-stable version carries a real warranty against fading. It rejects the least heat of the three, and lower-quality dyed films can fade or shift color over time - in Florida's heat, many owners step up to carbon or ceramic.

Carbon

A durable step up in heat rejection

A tougher film that rejects noticeably more heat than a standard dyed film, with the same shade options and 99%+ UV, and it never fades. It won't cut the heat like ceramic, but it holds up well and looks sharp.

Ceramic

Rejects the most heat

Same shade and look as the others, but it actually rejects the heat you feel - up to about 90-95% of infrared and 60-70% of total solar heat - so the cabin stays cooler and your A/C works less. Plus 99%+ UV.

Which tint keeps you cooler

Ceramic vs. carbon vs. standard

The three tint types most drivers choose between. Every quality tint blocks about 99% of UV at any shade - what really separates them is how much heat they reject. Darker is not cooler; the film type is.

Tint type comparison - heat, UV, and durability
Tint type	Heat rejected	Blocks UV	Fades?	Best for
Standard (dyed)The entry film. Gives the shade and 99%+ UV any tint does, but rejects the least heat - and lower-quality dyed films can fade or shift color over time.	Lowest	99%+	Can fade over time	Shade and a darker look on a budget
CarbonRejects noticeably more heat than a dyed film and never fades. It won't cut heat like ceramic, but it holds up well and looks sharp.	Moderate	99%+	No	A durable step up without ceramic pricing
CeramicRejects the most infrared and total solar heat (often around 60%+ TSER, and 90%+ infrared at the premium end), so the cabin stays cooler and the A/C works less.	Highest	99%+	No	Keeping the cabin coolest - Florida heat

"Heat rejected" is the film type's typical standing, not a single product number - the exact figure depends on the specific film. Type comparison referenced from Ceramic vs. dyed vs. carbon window tint - comparison guide. Current as of August 2026.

PPP verdict

Darker isn't cooler - the film type is. Shade (VLT) is about looks and privacy; how much heat you actually feel comes from the type of film, so a light ceramic can beat a dark dyed film. And watch the numbers: shops advertise "IR rejection," the big flattering figure - ask for TSER (total solar energy rejected), the honest whole-picture number. See your tint options →

See your options

Get matched with a vetted window tint shop

Window tint pricing depends on the film tier and how many windows your vehicle has, so the real number comes from a shop. Tell us what you drive - we'll show your options and connect you with a vetted installer for a quote.

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Quick answers

Common window tint questions

Does a darker tint block more heat?

No - shade and heat are two different things. At any given darkness, the film's type is what decides how much heat it rejects, not how dark it looks. Pick your darkness for the look, and the film tier - standard, carbon, or ceramic - for how cool it keeps you.

What do the heat-rejection numbers actually mean?

Watch for two different numbers. 'IR rejection' is the big figure shops advertise, often 80-90%, but it only measures infrared. 'Total solar energy rejected' (TSER) is the honest whole-picture number and is always lower, often 40-70%. Standard dyed film rejects the least, carbon more, ceramic the most. Ask any shop for the TSER, not just the IR number.

What does a tint warranty actually cover?

Most 'lifetime' tint warranties cover manufacturing defects - bubbling, peeling, cracking, and fading or color change - and a good color-stable film shouldn't do any of those. That is different from accidental damage; some shops offer a separate, optional warranty that covers scratches, tears, or glass breakage. Ask which one you are getting and get it in writing.

How dark can I legally tint my windows in Florida?

As of 2026, Florida requires front side windows to let in at least 28% of light and back side and rear windows at least 15%, and the windshield may only carry a non-reflective strip above the AS-1 line near the top. Limits differ by state and medical exemptions exist, so confirm the current law with your installer before choosing a shade.

Go deeper

Guides worth reading before you buy

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See if window tint is right for your vehicle.

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