Window Tint Percentages Explained

Visible light transmission (VLT) describes the fraction of visible light passing through the material being tested. Specify whether a value refers to film alone or the installed glass-plus-film combination. Lower VLT means less visible light passes through.

A visual scale, not a visibility test

These illustrative swatches compare numbers. A screen cannot reproduce real film, viewing conditions or night-time visibility.

5% VLT

5% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

15% VLT

15% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

20% VLT

20% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

25% VLT

25% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

35% VLT

35% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

50% VLT

50% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

70% VLT

70% visible-light transmission for the material measured.

Why 35% film can measure darker

Approximate combined VLT = glass VLT × film VLT ÷ 100. With 80% glass and 35% film, the estimate is 28%. Do not assume your glass is 80%; obtain its specification or measure it. The estimate does not replace a calibrated measurement of the installed combination.

Choose by the rule and the product specification

No universal percentage is legal for every window or vehicle. Windshield strips, whole windshields and front-side glass may have different rules. VLT also does not measure total solar heat rejection or UV rejection; compare those separate metrics on product documentation.

Use the measured-VLT checker · Find state sources · Compare film specifications