What tint percentage should I get?
BEAK Automotive · Updated November 8, 2026
The short answer
For most drivers, 35% is the best all-round shade: clearly tinted and private in daylight, but still easy to see out of at night. Go lighter (50% or 70%) on the front doors if your state's limit is strict or you drive a lot at night, and darker (15% or 5%) on the rear windows if you want privacy. The number is the share of light the film lets through, so a lower number is darker.
What each shade looks like
| Shade | Looks like | Night driving | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% Clear | Barely tinted | No real change | Front doors in strict states; heat and UV without the dark look |
| 50% Light | A light smoke | Easy | Front doors where 35% isn't allowed |
| 35% Classic | Clearly tinted, some privacy | Easy for most drivers | The most popular all-round choice |
| 15% Dark | Hard to see in from outside | Noticeably darker | Rear doors and back glass |
| 5% Limo | Very dark, strong privacy | Hard, especially reversing | Rear windows only in most states |
Darker doesn't mean cooler
With ceramic film, most of the heat it stops is infrared, which it blocks at about the same rate whatever the shade. A 50% ceramic film keeps the car nearly as cool as a 5% one. So pick the shade for looks, privacy and the law, not for heat.
Your glass already has some tint
Car glass blocks some light before any film goes on, and many SUVs and trucks have dark factory privacy glass behind the front doors. The shade you end up with is the film and the glass together: 35% film on glass that lets 80% through reads about 28% on a tint meter. If your state's front-door limit is close to the shade you want, go one step lighter.
A common setup
- Front doors: 35% (or 50% where the limit is stricter).
- Rear doors and back glass: 15% for privacy, or 35% to match the fronts.
- Already have factory privacy glass in the back? Tint just the front doors to match.
The honest downsides
- Tint laws are set by each state and change; check yours before choosing a shade for the front doors.
- Very dark rear tint makes reversing and parking harder at night, especially without a backup camera.
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