Table of Contents
- View The Best Window Tint Below
- 1. BDF NA05 Window Film
- 2. LEXEN All Windows PreCut Tint Kit
- 3. Mikomer Frosted Window Film
- 4. VELIMAX Static Cling Total Blackout Window Film
- 5. HooTown Window Tint
- 6. KESPEN One Way Window Film
- 7. WochiTV One Way Window Film
- 8. HIDBEA One Way Window Film
- 9. HIDBEA One Way Window Film, Non-Adhesive
- 10. BLACKGLASS IX Window Tint Film
- Window Tint Buyer’s Guide
Whether you’re thinking of style, practicality, or privacy, window tinting is a common modification that car owners often undertake. There are many reasons why people might want their windows tinted. The most common is you may want to reduce the amount of sunlight that comes through your window to make driving easier. You might want to be more comfortable and safer, but you may also want more privacy so that strangers cannot see into your car. More simply, you may just like the style and aesthetic that tinted windows give your car, and it may just be another in a long line of modifications that you find yourself doing.
No matter your reason for tinting though, we’ve all sifted through expensive professional tinting options, or seen the abysmal budget junk-yard jobs that sellers tote you for from sketchy-looking units in questionable looking industrial lots. We’ve thought ‘surely, there is a budget-friendly way of doing this, that won’t make my car look like it belongs on the scrap heap?’ Professional methods of tinting windows for cars seem unattainable, especially when it comes to things such as ceramic tint and high-quality vinyl.
That’s where DIY tint kits come in. With a bit of time, patience, and careful application of the right kit, you can get professional quality and clean-looking results. This is without spending extortionate amounts or waiting nervously in a dimly lit sitting area, hoping your car comes back to you in one piece.
View The Best Window Tint Below
1. BDF NA05 Window Film
This adhesive window film is extra dark. It has a silky black, super sleek finish, which is perfect for providing extra privacy against prying eyes. This makes it is perfect for families and also people with valuables that they need to leave in the car. This film also boasts impressive heat rejective properties. This will protect you and your passengers from potentially harmful UV rays, and will also keep your car cooler during the hot summer months, making your driving experience more pleasant.
The strong adhesive on this product makes it really long-lasting. It’s also easy to apply, and it comes with a DIY guide and free tools to make the fitting process as smooth and hassle-free as possible. For even easier installation, you simply need to use a liberal amount of soap and water to soak the adhesive side of the film. Remember to be careful and gentle with the material, as the high-performance wrap could become permanently wrinkled if you leave air pockets or creases between it and your car.
Pros:
+Deep silky black window tint for ultimate privacy and also amazing UV protection.
+Superb heat reflection to keep you cool and protect your skin (and also your car’s interior)
+Comes with everything you need for smooth and easy installation
+Strong adhesive that will last for many years to come
Why We Like It – This is one of the best tints for car windows available for ease of application, longevity, and UV protection. It’ll give you a sleek, refined look and provide you with many practical applications as well, so it’s a great modification to make to your car.
2. LEXEN All Windows PreCut Tint Kit
This is perhaps the best window tint option for customizability, as it’s completely make-and-model specific. This means that the tint will be perfectly cut to fit the windows of your car, giving you a seamless and professional fit without having to cut the film down to size or mess around trying to flatten and cut it against your paint. To make use of the customizable functionality, you will need to message the seller with your Model, Make, year, and body type. They will do all the work for you from that point on!
Included in the brilliant tinting kit are the front window tinting film and rear window tinting film, windshield, and rear windshield film, and a film for any quarter windows. Also included is a squeegee, so you can smooth out the tint film to eliminate air pockets and creases easily and effectively.
As well as the car specific customization, you can also specify the percentage of tint that you would like. You can rest assured that you’re buying a product that complies with state legislation on the amount of natural light required to be allowed through the windows.
Pros:
+Fully customizable and pre-cut window tinting film that is ready to apply straight away
+ Specific to your own window tinting needs, only order the window pieces you need
+Choose which percentage of tint you want for your style preferences and state regulation
+Optional extras such as brake light and tail light tint film are also available on request
Why We Like It – This is a personal and customizable option that allows you to decide which windows you want tinting. You’ll find levels to suit the look you’re going for, and comply with state law. The hassle is taken out of the installation as they’re pre-cut. This makes the process accessible to DIYers.
3. Mikomer Frosted Window Film
This window film allows a lot of light to come through but also provides complete view obscuration, so it isn’t suitable for tinting front windows or rear windscreens that you need full visibility out of. It could however be used on back windows for a unique look that provides amazing UV resistance and heat reflection to keep the interior cool. Alternatively, the perfect use for this product – and the perfect option for style-oriented modifiers that are after a retro and sleek look – is to use the film to frost out your tail lights or brake lights, adding a subtle modification to your ride.
This process is made easy by the way the product is designed. It is super easy to cut through with a craft or utility knife, which means you can shape it around the light and cut the film cleanly without damaging any surrounding features. The adhesive also sticks soundly and lasts a good few years. It isn’t prone to cracking or ripping. It’s really easy to clean too. Although it’s frosted, it’s untextured, so it won’t trap dirt within any folds or wrinkles.
Pros:
+ A great option for frosting out your rear lights or blinker lights to give a cool retro modified aspect
+ Really easy and effortless to cut so you can shape it to the object quickly and simply
+ Long-lasting and will stay solid and tear-free for many years
+ Lets through the legal limit of light, so it’s safe for window tinting as long as it’s not obstructing the view for the driver.
Why We Like It – This is a great option for adding a cool frosted tint to any lights to give you a little edge over the other cars around you. It also lasts a long time and is super simple and effortless to install. It also comes with a guide on how to apply it most effectively and seamlessly.
4. VELIMAX Static Cling Total Blackout Window Film
This window tint film is the best for light blocking with an incredible 100% tint that will block any light from seeping through the film. This is a fantastic option for a rear window tint, but it’s not legal for front or front side windows. This aside, it’s an amazing option for those of you looking to go beyond just window tinting and completely blackout the rear of your car. This window tinting film is also high quality and provides great heat control, keeping the interior very cool even in summer.
It’s reusable and non-adhesive, so if you want to take the window tint off, it won’t leave any unsightly and hard to remove residue or glue behind. It can easily be stored and re-applied at a later date. The secret to getting this film to stick is simply using soap and water to create a tight seal across your window that, once dry, won’t move until you want it to. The film will stick to the window by itself and stay put through bad weather, the car wash, long drives, and the winter when it’s out on your driveway.
Pros:
+100% blackout tint that will make for the best privacy tint for your car
+Reusable and easily removed so that the tint can be taken off your window and re-applied according to your
window tinting needs
+Strong application that will survive the car wash, and any and all-weather you can throw at it
+Great heat control for a comfortable ride in the summer
Why We Like It – This is one of the best options for a true privacy tint, and also incredible climate control when you apply the tint to your rear windows. This is a super durable and easy to apply non-adhesive window tint for cars that will last as long as you need it to, and can even be reused. It’ll make an at-home car job look easy.
5. HooTown Window Tint
This is a super neat one-way mirror style window tint that can make your car instantly more stylish, private and comfortable in one swoop. It’s a high-quality deep tint that gives you a full view of the outside, while not allowing strangers passing even the slightest glimpse through the window. This is a brilliant option for those of you who have children in the back, as it will allow them to enjoy the view without worrying about who’s looking in.
This window tint also has amazing heat and UV control, blocking up to 97% of UV rays from coming through your windows. This can help prevent skin damage in the long run and can also protect the upholstery of your car seats from fading and sun damage.
This is also a non-adhesive window tinting film, which means there will be no sticky glue residue. This means there’s no painstaking cleaning process should you ever decide to remove it from your window later on. The film is also really durable and has been professionally engineered to give you the best long-lasting and satisfying results.
Pros:
+Impressive UV and heat control giving you a comfortable driving climate
+UV reflective properties, when on the window, can help protect both your skin and the interior of your car
+No sticky residue left behind on your windows if you decide to remove the tint film
+ Great durability providing fantastic quality and longevity
Why We Like It – This is a great option for privacy and practical window tinting with the one-way style tint that it provides. It’s also useful for the fact that it doesn’t leave any sticky mess behind if you do decide to switch up the look of your car windows.
6. KESPEN One Way Window Film
This is another great window tint and is another one-way style tint film that will make for a sleek and professional-looking finish, providing amazing privacy and intrusion free driving and parking. The Kespen window tint blocks up to 95% of UV radiation: protecting you, your passengers, and your interior from any harm. It keeps glare and bright light at bay. The tint film also provides effective climate control as it reflects the heat from the sun away from the car.
It’s a straightforward window tint film to install as it’s smooth and easy to cut to size, as well as being self-adhesive with a glue-less design that won’t leave a nasty residue on your window. When applied to a smooth, clean window, the film should apply easily and firmly and stay put until you want to remove it yourself. At which point, the tinting car window will come away from your window smoothly and won’t leave anything unwanted behind in the process, making it user-friendly and perfect for at-home DIYers.
Pros:
+ Complete privacy tint for ultimate protection from prying eyes
+ Easy window tint to install and clean and simple and clean to remove should you wish to
+ Perfect for at-home application to any window at any time of the year
+ Powerful UV and heat protection and effective climate control
Why We Like It – This is a great window tinting option for even the most inexperienced of us when it comes to applying vinyl wrap or window tint. The application method is foolproof and easy. It can be done super quickly and efficiently, which adds to the overall practicality of this super product.
7. WochiTV One Way Window Film
This is another fantastic one-way complete privacy window tint film, this time from WochiTV, who are well received by reviewers with their all-around great tint products. The easy to apply window tint has superior UV and heat blocking properties that will block up to 97% of UV rays, offering you market-leading protection. It will also help protect the interior of your car from fading. Alongside the impressive UV rating, the window tint also boasts a 10% VLT rating, which means it effectively reduces glare making for improved visibility.
Not only does the tint provide effective UV blocking, but it will also block 90% of infra-red light from coming through the window. This provides efficient heat control, keeping the car cool in summer and ensuring a pleasant and comfortable environment.
This thermal insulation carries through to winter, where the 0.15mm thick window tint will provide an insulating layer on top of your glass. The tint has a long-lasting static cling with no messy adhesive backing and can be applied to the window simply and strongly with soap and water.
Pros:
+Thermal protection for all-around climate control in both winter and summer climates
+No sticky adhesive backing so won’t leave residue on your glass and won’t release harmful chemicals
+One-way mirror style window tint for ultimate privacy
+Highly recommended by a multitude of buyers – one of the best-reviewed tint products on our list
Why We Like It – This is a highly recommended product by consumers and provides a clean and seamless solution for home window tinting. It will provide a hassle-free and fast modification that’s easily reversed if the need ever arises.
8. HIDBEA One Way Window Film
This is an awesome one-way window tint solution from a well established and highly trusted brand. It strives to bring the best customer satisfaction it can to any buyer by maintaining an effective product for any home or outdoor window tinting uses. The product boasts high UV protection with the rejection percentage at 97% and also provides great heat reflection and infrared reflection at 85%. It’s easily applicable to any window with a powerful and long-lasting adhesive.
Alongside the great product, with Hidbea you also get amazing customer service and product support. This includes not only their 24-hour helpline, where you can ask any question about the installation or further use of the product you buy but also their two years after service support.
They will send you a free replacement for any underperforming product or accidental damage that may occur. Not only do they provide these two great services, but you also have access to online technical guidance, making installation of your window tint as easy as possible.
Pros:
+ Really effective one-way window tint that will deliver on privacy and protection
+ High UV and heat protection with great overall statistics that make this a true market-leading tint product
+ Strong adhesive ensures a long-lasting and durable modification and no bubbles on the window
+ Brilliant ongoing and accessible customer support from the window tint company
Why We Like It – The customer care for this product doesn’t stop at the purchasing. If you buy this window tint, you will be looked after throughout the whole process and for a long time afterward, too. This means that you can easily resolve any issues you encounter without any stress.
9. HIDBEA One Way Window Film, Non-Adhesive
This is another amazing product from Hidbea. This time as a non-adhesive option for those who want the flexibility of removing their window tint with little to no hassle and no residue left behind. It sticks to any smooth window through static adhesion that will provide secure fitment and staying ability while making it easy to reverse if you ever decide to change up the look of your car.
It boasts the same fantastic capabilities as its adhesive window tinting counterpart with 97% UV rejection and 85% Infrared reflection, providing protection for you and your car. As well as its exciting technical credentials, you also get the same amazing customer service and continued care and support as you do with the other Hidbea window tint. You can rest easy knowing you’re sourcing from a reputable, genuine, and well-received company with quality guarantees and immediate support available should you want it.
Pros:
+ Trustworthy and reliable company that will continue to support you after you purchase your tint.
+Impressive technical statistics offering all-around protection in a lightweight window tinting film
+High level of privacy provided by the window tint
+Seamless and bubble-free finish when applied correctly to the window
Why We Like It – This is an awesome window tinting product for those of you who are enticed by Hidbea’s engaging and impressive customer support credentials, but who may need or want a non-adhesive, easily reversible option for their window tinting.
10. BLACKGLASS IX Window Tint Film
This is a professional thickness and quality automotive-specific window tinting film that has some great credentials. It is a 2-ply self-adhesive laminated window tinting film that will apply smoothly onto any flat glass surface. The roll included provides more than enough tint film to cover every window on your car, and it’s offered in varying visible light transmission percentages for customizable window tinting, with 95% UV rejection across the board. It’s engineered with industry-standard optical characteristics for the highest quality window tinting film.
Blackglass’s window tint is long-lasting and durable and is scratch resistant to sustain the clean and smooth look it provides. The film itself is produced in an optical lab facility to ensure the highest standards are being maintained, and professionals widely use it for premium window tinting.
The application is smooth and easy, with it being self-adhesive. The product is also heat-shrinkable, so you can make the finish even smoother by using a heat gun or hairdryer to obtain the best fit you possibly can from the DIY tint. This is one of the best window tinting products.
Pros:
+Proffessional grade, well-engineered product for anyone who wants their windows tinted.
+A strong, well-established window tint brand that has been trading to professionals
+Really hard-wearing window tint with scratch-resistant properties
+Smooth and stress-free application for a simple DIY window tinting job with professional results
+Impressive UV rejection statistics and industry-standard infrared reflection
Why We Like It – This is a professional tint option that also has a premium finish and feels great once applied. It’s well-reviewed and received and has also been used regularly for car window tinting by industry professionals, which proves the ability and quality of the window tint.
Window Tint Buyer’s Guide
With all this in mind, you will hopefully now be able to start thinking about getting your windows tinted, and be finding it easier to imagine being able to tint your windows yourself from the comfort of your driveway. But which product is the best window tint for you and your needs? That’s a hard question to answer, but we hope our useful buyer’s guide, where we answer some frequent questions about window tint options, may guide you on the way to making a choice that suits your wants and needs.
How dark should I tint my windows?
There are several ways to come to a decision on this subject, the first and most important being the window tinting laws where you live. Make sure you have researched and know the tinting laws around you, so you understand what’s safe and legal for your car. You will often find that a common theme across states is that your rear side and rear windscreen can have a tint as dark as you like, even a complete blackout tint. This means it’s common to decide to have a full privacy window tint in the back, and a lighter tint, often of 75% in the front of the car.
It’s important, even if you are within the law, to consider your limits and safety. Make sure you are comfortable driving with the tint you have chosen and that it does not obstruct your vision, focus, or ability to drive. Try not to compromise safety for style. The best window tint may not be the darkest or ‘coolest’ but may just be the safest option that still meets your window tinting requirements.
Aside from these points, it’s ultimately a matter of personal taste and needs as to how dark you get your windows tinted. A light window tint may suit those who just want some anti-glare properties. Still, a full privacy one-way window tint may suit those who need privacy or more effective climate control or who want to protect their interior from fading due to the direct sunlight and UV radiation.
What kinds of window tint films are there, and how do I apply them?
There are two main types of adhesion within the world of window tint products, and the best window tint type for you is based on how permanent you’re comfortable with the product being.
The first type is a self-adhesive window tinting film that adheres via a sticky back glue to the glass on your car. This is easy to apply as you can simply peel and stick the vinyl to the window using a scraper and a spray bottle and not have to worry about slipping or movement as you’re applying.
The drawback of this method is that if you want to remove the window tinting film after a while of use, you will be left with a sticky residue that’s hard to remove and will require a fair amount of work to do so. However, if you’re not planning on removing the tint, then the permanency of the sticky adhesive is a great bonus as it helps ensure tint longevity.
The other common type of window tinting film is a static adhesive film that applies directly to the glass without the need for glue. To apply this type of window tinting product, you will need to soak the adhesive side of the vinyl film and the side of your window with soapy water. After doing this you need to carefully apply the vinyl tint and smooth any bubbles or creases with a squeegee or scraper.
The issue with this method is that the tint may slide around during application, making the process harder and frustrating. However, the ability to remove the tint without leaving any messy residue behind more than makes up for any application hassle if you do need to remove it, as it won’t leave any damage or clean up job.
UV, IR, VLT, TSE, what does it all mean?
There’s a fair amount of technical jargon and abbreviation when it comes to tinting products, and it can be hard to unpick them if you’re unfamiliar, so here is what the most common ones mean:
UV: the UV % or UV rejection % is how much of the UV radiation the tint blocks from entering your vehicle. Most good tints will be well into the 90s with this figure, and not one product on our list drops below that. UV can cause damage to your skin and your car interior, so this is an important number to consider when deciding on the best tint for you.
IR: Infrared rejection, or infrared reflection. This is the amount of heat that the tint reflects and is an important factor in the climate control abilities of a tint film. You want to look for one that reads in the late ’80s or higher when it comes to this stat. All our top 10 products boast this figure.
VLT: visible light transmission. This is the tinting percentage. It refers to how much light you can see with the naked eye when looking through the window with the tint on. The lower the number, the darker the tinting, so you want to make sure you’re within the legal limits when it comes to this, with full blackout being somewhere generally around 8% and legal front tint being somewhere around 75%
TSE: total solar energy rejection. This refers to the combined efficiency of the tint when it comes to rejecting solar radiation of all kinds and is a professional measure of capability,
Conclusion
Overall, finding the best window tint for your car can seem to be an overwhelming process, and the application itself may have also seemed daunting at first thought. Hopefully, this article will help you not only with the process of choosing the highest quality and best tint but also it will have encouraged you to feel confident in doing an at-home tint for your car.
Hopefully, you’ll have alleviated the need to get your windows tinted for an extortionate price. You’ll now be able to do a quality and impressive job from the comfort of your car, somewhere you can be completely in control of the process and outcome. You can also customize the finish to your liking and personal style.