Ceramic tint or regular tint: is ceramic worth it?

Window tint is sold by shade, like 20% or 35%. But shade only tells you how dark the film looks. It says nothing about how much heat the film blocks, how long it lasts, or if it will turn purple in two summers. That comes down to what the film is made of.

Dyed film

Dyed film is the cheapest option. It darkens the glass with dye.

• Heat: it mostly blocks visible light, not much of the infrared that you feel as heat.
• Lifespan: the dye breaks down in sunlight. That's where purple, faded tint comes from.
• Look: fine when new, but it ages badly.

Metallic film

Metallic film uses metal particles to reflect heat. It works, but the metal can interfere with phone signal, GPS, radio, and keyless entry, and it can look shiny. It's much less common now.

Ceramic film

Ceramic film uses nano-ceramic particles that block infrared heat without metal.

• Heat: much better heat rejection than dyed film at the same shade. You can feel it on your arm and on the seats.
• Lifespan: color-stable. It won't fade or turn purple.
• Signal: metal-free, so your phone, GPS, and connected car features work normally.
• Clarity: clear optics, which matters at night.

Why it matters more in Michigan

Michigan only allows film on the top 4 inches of the front side windows, so the rear glass has to do most of the work. A ceramic film on the back half of the car keeps the cabin noticeably cooler even with clear front windows. Read the full breakdown of Michigan tint law.

What we install

We only install ceramic film, from HITEK:

• HITEK Ceramic Black: strong heat rejection and a deep, factory-matched black. Our everyday recommendation.
• HITEK Ceramic Ultra: HITEK's flagship, with maximum heat rejection and ultra-clear optics.

See our window tint page for the films we install.

Is ceramic worth it?

If you're keeping the car more than a year or two, yes. Dyed film is cheaper up front, but you'll likely pay to remove and replace it when it fades. Ceramic is a one-time job that performs better the whole time.

Common questions

Is ceramic tint better than regular tint? Yes. Ceramic blocks much more heat at the same shade, won't fade or turn purple, and won't interfere with electronics.

Does ceramic tint interfere with phone signal? No. Ceramic film is metal-free, so phone, GPS, and keyless entry work normally.

Why does tint turn purple? Cheap dyed film breaks down in sunlight and the dye changes color. Ceramic film is color-stable.