DIY Tint Canada

Film chemistry

Ceramic vs. dyed window tint.

Dyed film costs less and looks the same on day one. Two summers later, one has held up and the other has turned purple. Here's the honest comparison.

Short answer

Ceramic tint rejects 50–70% of infrared heat, lasts 10+ years, and never fades purple. Dyed tint rejects 15–25%, lasts 3–5 years, and fades. Ceramic costs 2–3x more up front — pick it if you're keeping the car more than two summers.

Roll of dark ceramic window film partially unspooled
AttributeCeramicDyed
Heat rejection (IR)50–70%15–25%
UV block99%99% (fades over time)
Signal interferenceNoneNone
Colour stabilityNever fades purpleFades purple in 2–4 years
Scratch resistanceHighModerate
Lifespan10+ years3–5 years
Cost per window$$$$

Pick ceramic if…

  • You want the car to stay cool in summer.
  • You keep vehicles more than 3 years.
  • You care about signal-clean glass (GPS, cellular, LTE).
  • You never want to see purple film again.

Skip dyed if…

  • You're keeping the car more than 2 years.
  • You park in the sun most days.
  • You'd be annoyed if the film changed colour.

We don't sell dyed film — it's included here for context.

See ceramic prices for your car

Every kit we ship is ceramic. Pick your year, make and model.

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