20% vs 35% Window Tint: Which Shade Should You Choose?
The percentage on a tint shade is visible light transmission (VLT): how much visible light passes through the glass and film. That makes 20% tint darker than 35% tint. This guide explains what the numbers mean, how each shade looks and drives, why film type matters more than darkness for heat and what Michigan's tint statute says.
By Elite Auto Lab. Film and care details come from our window tint page. Outside points come from Madico, a window film maker, Consumer Reports (July 2023) and the Skin Cancer Foundation (July 2026), each linked where used. This isn't legal advice.
What do 20% and 35% window tint mean?
The percentage is visible light transmission (VLT), the share of visible light that passes through. 20% tint lets 20% of visible light through and 35% lets 35% through, so 20% is the darker shade. Madico's guide describes very dark film as passing only 5% to 10% of visible light and near-clear film as passing 90% or more.
| Shade (VLT) | Looks like | What it's like to drive with |
|---|---|---|
| 5% | Very dark, often called limo tint | Strongest privacy and the hardest to see out of at night |
| 20% | Dark | Strong privacy and glare reduction; dimmer view at night |
| 35% | Medium | Noticeable tint with a clearer view out, especially at night |
| 50% | Light | A subtle shade with a clear view |
| 70% | Very light | Barely visible; mostly heat and UV rejection |
The last two columns are general descriptions of how each shade looks, not measurements. Ask to see a shade against your own glass before you decide.
Is 20% tint darker than 35%?
Yes. A lower percentage means less visible light gets through, so 20% is darker than 35%.
Some glass is already tinted. Factory privacy glass on many SUVs and trucks darkens the rear windows before any film goes on, and film over it is darker still. As a rough rule the percentages multiply: 35% film over glass that passes about 20% of light leaves about 7%. Tell us your year, make and model and we'll account for the glass you have.
Which is better, 20% or 35% tint?
Neither is better for everyone: 20% gives more privacy and glare reduction, and 35% is easier to see through, especially at night. Consumer Reports notes that darker windows make night driving harder, so pick the shade that fits how and when you drive.
- Choose 20% if privacy matters most, you want a darker look and you mostly drive in daylight.
- Choose 35% if you drive often at night or on dark roads, you want a clearer view out or you prefer a subtler look.
- Go lighter if you're torn. You give up a little privacy but keep a clearer view out at night.
Does darker tint block more heat?
Not necessarily. Heat rejection depends mostly on the film type, so a lighter ceramic film can outperform a darker dyed film. Consumer Reports' auto technician says ceramic can give strong protection without a darker tint.
Madico's guide shows why: total solar energy rejected (TSER) combines visible light, infrared and UV, so VLT, the 20% or 35% on the shade card, is only one piece of it. Our ceramic vs regular tint guide compares the film types.
UV is different again. The Skin Cancer Foundation, interviewing a technical consultant for the International Window Film Association, says darker tint doesn't block UV any better than clear UV film does. Our ceramic film is rated for 99% UV rejection.
Is 35% tint legal in Michigan?
Michigan's tint statute, MCL 257.709, sets no darkness percentage. It limits film on the windshield and the front driver and passenger windows to a strip along the top edge, and it exempts nonreflective tint on the rear side windows and rear window.
The 35% that appears in the statute is a limit on solar reflectance for rear windows, where nonreflective tint is exempt, which is a different measurement from the VLT percentage on a shade card. Because the statute limits front-window film to a strip, the choice between 20% and 35% matters most on the rear side windows and rear window.
This isn't legal advice. Our Michigan window tint laws guide goes window by window, and we go over what's allowed on your vehicle when you choose your film.
How do I choose a tint percentage?
Start with how you drive and what you want from the film, then choose the film type, then the shade. We talk through heat reduction, darkness, privacy and appearance with you when you pick your film.
- Decide what matters most: privacy, night visibility, heat reduction or looks.
- Pick the film: carbon or ceramic. Ceramic is our premium film and the one we recommend for most drivers.
- Check the glass: if your vehicle has factory privacy glass, the film's percentage stacks on top of it.
- Check what's allowed: Michigan treats the windshield, front windows and rear windows differently.
- See the shade: ask to see it against your glass before you commit.
What affects the price of 20% vs 35% tint?
Your price depends on your vehicle, the film you choose, how many windows you tint and whether old tint has to come off. We give every customer a free, personalized quote for their exact vehicle and film.
Our window tint cost guide for Michigan shows typical price ranges and what moves them.
How do I get window tint in Madison Heights?
Request a free quote or call (248) 881-8204 with your year, make and model and the shade you're considering. We're at 436 E 14 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071, open Mon–Fri 10:00 AM–6:00 PM and Sat 10:00 AM–3:00 PM, and closed Sunday.
See the films, the install process and the warranty on our window tint page, and how long window tint takes and lasts if you're planning the day. We tint for drivers across Metro Detroit: Madison Heights, Troy, Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, Warren, Detroit, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills and Novi.
Not sure which shade fits your vehicle? Tell us the year, make and model and how you drive, and we'll recommend a film and shade.