ULTRASHIELD

Window Tint Percentages Explained

5%, 20%, 35%, 70% — what the numbers mean, what each shade actually looks like from inside and outside, and how to pick one you won't regret (or get ticketed for).

Updated July 2026

How the percentage works

Tint is measured in VLT — Visible Light Transmission: the percentage of visible light that passes through. The number runs backwards from what most people expect: lower number = darker film. 70% VLT lets 70% of light through (nearly clear); 5% lets a twentieth through (limo). And because your factory glass already blocks a few percent, the final measured darkness is always slightly darker than the film's rating — which is what a police tint meter reads.

Shade by shade

VLTThe lookBest for
70%Invisible — glass looks stockWindshields and strict states; pure heat/UV rejection with zero darkness
50%Barely-there smokeFront windows in stricter states; glare relief while staying clearly legal
35%Classic visible tint — you can still make eye contactThe most popular front-window shade where legal; clean OEM+ look
20%Dark — occupants visible only up closeRear privacy that still works at night; matches many factory privacy glasses
15%Very darkStrong privacy in back; common in hot southern states
5%Limo — effectively opaque from outsideShow cars, cargo areas; hard to live with at night

Darkness is not heat rejection

The single biggest tint misconception: people buy darkness expecting coolness. Visible light is only part of solar heat — much of it arrives as infrared, which darkness alone barely touches. A dyed 15% film can let most IR straight through while a nano-ceramic 70% film blocks the majority of it. SHADOW ceramic tint rejects heat and 99% of UV at every shade — so you choose darkness for looks and privacy, and let the ceramic layer handle comfort.

Pick your shade in three steps

  • 1. Start with your state's legal limit. Front windows are regulated everywhere; many states allow anything behind the driver. Look yours up in our state-by-state tint law guide — the fronts decide themselves in most states.
  • 2. Decide how you use the car at night. If you reverse out of dark driveways or parking garages daily, stay at 20% or lighter in back. If the rear glass is mostly cargo privacy, go darker.
  • 3. Match or contrast the factory look. SUVs with factory privacy glass usually pair 35% fronts with film over the rear glass for heat. Sedans most commonly run one shade all around behind the windshield.

Frequently asked questions

What tint percentage do most people get?+
35% on the front sides and 20% behind the driver is the most common street setup — visibly tinted but not limo-dark, and legal in a large number of states. Check your state's exact limits before committing.
Does darker tint mean more heat rejection?+
Not by itself. Darkness controls visible light; heat comes mostly from infrared. A 70% ceramic film can reject more total heat than a 5% dyed film. If comfort is the goal, film technology matters more than shade.
Is factory 'privacy glass' the same as tint?+
No. Factory rear glass is dyed in the glass itself — it darkens but barely rejects heat or UV. Adding ceramic film over privacy glass is common precisely because the factory dye does so little.
Can I see out of 5% tint at night?+
Barely — that's the honest answer. 5% ('limo') looks dramatic but makes reversing at night genuinely harder. Most drivers who daily their car land at 15–20% in back for the balance of privacy and usability.
Will tint interfere with phone signal or GPS?+
Metalized films can. Ceramic films like ULTRASHIELD SHADOW contain no metal layer, so 5G, GPS, radar detectors, and toll transponders work normally.

See the shades in person

An ULTRASHIELD certified installer can show you real SHADOW samples on glass, meter your state's legal limit, and register the warranty with CARFAX.

Find an installerCheck your state's laws