Free car tools
Window tint visualizer
Slide between 5% and 70% window tint on photos of real cars. Set front and rear shades separately and see how much light film and factory glass let through together.
How it works
Tint is sold by VLT, the percentage of visible light the film lets through. Lower is darker. Film goes on glass that is already slightly tinted, so the light that reaches you is film VLT × glass VLT. Factory clear glass typically lets through about 70–85%, and factory privacy glass about 15–30%. We use 80% and 20% as typical values and show the range. The picture darkens each traced window on a curve, because the eye doesn't see a 35% film as half as dark as a 70% one. It is an approximation, not a measurement.
References
A worked example
35% film on clear factory glass of about 80% lets through roughly 28% of light (25–30% across typical glass). That is far below the 70% that front side windows need in Great Britain. The same 35% film on rear privacy glass of about 20% lets through around 7%, close to the 4% you would get from 5% film on clear glass.
Quick reference
Light let through by film and factory glass together
| Film | On clear glass (80%) | On privacy glass (20%) |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | 4% | 1% |
| 15% | 12% | 3% |
| 20% | 16% | 4% |
| 35% | 28% | 7% |
| 50% | 40% | 10% |
| 70% | 56% | 14% |
Typical glass values. In Great Britain front side windows need at least 70% overall, so any film on them usually fails.
Explained in our guides
- UK car insurance: declaring wheels, wraps and other modificationsPrepare a clear modification list for your UK insurer, check acceptance and replacement cover separately, and understand why undeclared-change outcomes vary.
- How to preview car mods before you buy themAvoid expensive regrets: how to see wheels, colours, wraps and stance on your own car before spending, and how to check the parts will actually fit.
Questions
How accurate is the tint preview?
It shows relative darkness, not an exact match. Real film looks different in sun and shade, from different angles, and on glass of different colours. Use it to narrow down the shade, then look at film samples on your own car.
Why does my tinted window measure darker than the film?
Because the glass blocks some light too. A meter reads the glass and film together. 20% film on 80% glass reads about 16%, and the same film on privacy glass reads far lower.
Which windows does UK tint law cover?
In Great Britain, for vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985, the windscreen must let through at least 75% of light and the front side windows at least 70%. There are no rules for the rear side windows or rear windscreen.
Can I see tint on my own car?
Yes. Upload a photo in the BuildMyWhip studio, open Window tint and pick a shade. The render applies it to your car's windows.
Keep checking
The preview is an approximation. Check the law where you live, and ask your installer to meter the windows.
