A window tint percentage is the share of visible light the film lets through, so a lower number means a darker window. 5% tint is the darkest film commonly sold, 20% is dark, 35% is a medium shade, 50% is light and 70% is close to clear. In Arizona the percentage that matters most is the one on your front door glass, because the law limits it there and nowhere else on the side or back glass.
Key Takeaways
- Lower percentage, darker window. The number is visible light transmission (VLT): 20% tint passes 20% of visible light.
- Arizona front doors: 33%, plus or minus 3%. Rear side windows and back glass can be any darkness. Our Arizona window tint laws guide covers every window.
- The meter reads film and glass together. A 35% film on glass that passes 80% of light meters about 28%, which is too dark for the front doors.
- Darkness is not heat rejection. Ceramic film blocks infrared heat at any shade, so a legal front window can still run cool.
Window Tint Percentage Chart
Each step down in percentage cuts more light, adds privacy and makes the glass harder to see out of at night. This chart shows what each common shade is like and where it is legal in Arizona.
| Tint | Light passed | What it looks like | Arizona front doors | Arizona rear and back glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% (limo) | 5% | Close to blacked out from outside; the darkest view out at night | Not legal | Legal |
| 15% | 15% | Very dark; hard to see into the car in daylight | Not legal | Legal |
| 20% | 20% | Dark; the most popular privacy shade for rear windows | Not legal | Legal |
| 35% | 35% | Medium; visibly tinted with a clear view out | Only if the net reading on your glass is 30% or higher | Legal |
| 50% | 50% | Light; noticeable but subtle | Legal on most glass | Legal |
| 70% | 70% | Close to clear; chosen for heat and UV control without the dark look | Legal | Legal |
35% vs 20% vs 5% Tint: Which Should You Choose?
Choose by window, not by one number for the whole car. Most Phoenix drivers put a lighter, legal film on the front doors and a darker film behind the driver.
- 35% tint is the shade people picture for front doors, but it is often too dark once the factory glass is counted. It is a good rear shade for drivers who want a softer look.
- 20% tint gives real privacy on rear doors and back glass while keeping a usable view out of the back window at night.
- 5% tint is for maximum privacy on the rear: work trucks with tools in the cab, families with car seats, rideshare drivers. Backing up at night is harder, so it suits drivers who rely on a backup camera.
- 50% and 70% tint fit the front doors of cars with darker factory glass, and anyone who wants heat and UV protection without a tinted look.
Does Darker Tint Keep a Car Cooler?
Not by itself. Tint percentage measures visible light, while most of the heat from Phoenix sun arrives as infrared. A dark dyed film blocks light by being dark and does comparatively little about infrared, so a 5% dyed film can still let a cabin bake.
Ceramic IR film is built to reject infrared heat at any shade. That is why it is the film to choose for front doors held to Arizona's 33% limit, and why a 50% ceramic film can feel cooler than a darker dyed one. Our guide to ceramic tint vs. regular tint in Phoenix heat compares the film types.
Why the Percentage on the Box Is Not the Meter Reading
The film rating describes the film alone, and factory glass already blocks some light, so the two multiply. Net reading = glass reading × film rating.
| Film | On glass that passes 80% | Front door result in Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| 50% film | 40% net | Passes |
| 35% film | 28% net | Fails (below 30%) |
| 20% film | 16% net | Fails |
The figures are arithmetic, not readings from a specific vehicle. Glass varies by make and model, so we meter your front glass before choosing the front film. The full table for other glass readings is in our Arizona tint law guide.
The Most Common Tint Setup in Phoenix
- Front doors: a ceramic film that meters 30% or higher on your glass, often 50% film on darker factory glass or 35% on very clear glass.
- Rear doors and back glass: 20% or 5% in the same ceramic film, so the heat rejection matches front to back.
- Windshield: a top strip only, within the statute's measurement, never red or amber.
Every tint install at Impeccable Detail carries a lifetime warranty against discolor, peeling, bubbling and cracking. Our Phoenix window tint cost guide lists starting prices by vehicle and film.
Window Tint Percentage FAQ
Which is darker, 20% or 35% tint?
20% tint is darker. The percentage is how much visible light gets through, so 20% film passes less light than 35% film.
What is the darkest legal tint in Arizona?
On the front side windows, a net reading of 30% with film and glass together, which is the 33% limit minus the 3% tolerance. On the rear side windows and back glass there is no darkness limit, so 5% is legal there.
Is 35% tint legal in Arizona?
On the rear windows, yes. On the front doors it depends on your glass: a 35% film often meters below 30% once the factory glass is counted, which is too dark. Ask the installer what the front glass meters after film.
What tint percentage is best for heat?
The film type matters more than the percentage. A ceramic IR film rejects infrared heat at any shade, so a legal front window can still keep the cabin cooler than a darker dyed film.
Can you see out of 5% tint at night?
It is much harder than with lighter films, especially when backing up. That is why 5% is usually limited to the rear windows and paired with a backup camera.
Get a Window Tint Quote
Tell us the year, make and model. We will meter your front glass and quote a legal front with a darker rear, lifetime warranty included.
(480) 296-6311 Window Tinting in Phoenix Window Tinting in ScottsdaleLifetime tint warranty against discolor, peeling, bubbling and cracking. Impeccable Detail • 23015 N 15th Ave STE 106, Phoenix, AZ 85027 • Local shuttle and after-hours drop-off • Affirm and Afterpay financing • Locally owned since 2017
