Shade guide
Window tint shades explained — which VLT should you choose?
VLT means Visible Light Transmission — the percentage of light that passes through your window. Lower number = darker tint. A 5% VLT film is nearly black; 50% is barely noticeable. In Canada, rear side windows and the back glass can be any darkness in most provinces, provided both side mirrors work. Front side windows are heavily restricted — most provinces require 70% VLT or more, which means no aftermarket film. Choose your shade for the rear; leave the front alone.
See what each shade looks like
Tap a shade. The rear windows darken. The front window doesn't — that is the legal reality in most of Canada, not a bug.
Front window shown clear on purpose — most Canadian provinces prohibit aftermarket film there.
Light through
20%
Nickname
Dark
Night driving
OK
High privacy
The default rear choice. Strong privacy, strong heat rejection, still workable at night. What most people picture when they say “tinted windows.” Not legal on front sides.
None of the four shades above are legal on front side windows in most Canadian provinces. Tint the rear.
The four shades
5% — "Limo"
Rear windows only. Almost total privacy, darkest possible look. Night visibility is genuinely poor — reversing in an unlit parking lot is hard. Common on cargo vans and rear glass where privacy matters more than visibility.
- Privacy
- Maximum
- Night driving
- Difficult
- Legal front?
- No — nowhere in Canada
20% — "Dark"
★ Most popularThe default rear choice. Strong privacy, strong heat rejection, still workable at night. This is what most people picture when they say “tinted windows.”
- Privacy
- High
- Night driving
- Fine
- Legal front?
- No
35% — "Medium"
Rear windows. Still not legal up front. Visibly tinted, easy to see out at night. Common misconception: people believe 35% is "the legal limit." It isn’t. Most provinces require 70% VLT on front sides — 35% film is roughly half that. This confusion comes from US state laws, where 35% is often the front limit. Canada is stricter.
- Legal front?
- No
50% — "Light"
Subtle. Heat rejection without the dark look. Barely reads as tinted. With ceramic film you still get 99% UV block and serious heat rejection — the benefit is thermal, not visual.
- Legal front?
- Still no in most provinces (70% VLT required), but it’s the closest.
Can I tint my front side windows in Canada?
Almost certainly not.
Most provinces require 70% VLT or higher on the windows beside the driver. Because factory glass already sits around 70–85% VLT, adding any film at all typically pushes you below the limit. In practice: no aftermarket front tint.
Ontario
No specific VLT number. The Highway Traffic Act s.73(3) prohibits film that "substantially obscures the interior of the motor vehicle when viewed from outside" — an officer’s judgment call. Aftermarket windshield film is banned outright on vehicles manufactured after 1 January 2017.
British Columbia
The strictest in the country — restrictions apply to all windows, not just the front.
Quebec & Alberta
Front tinting effectively not permitted. 70% VLT thresholds mean any aftermarket film pushes factory glass out of spec.
What we recommend
Tint the rear. Leave the fronts factory. You get the heat rejection, the UV block, and the privacy where it matters — without the ticket.
Last reviewed July 2026. General information, not legal advice. Confirm with your provincial authority before installing. See tint laws by province.
Rear windows: where you're free
Rear side windows and back glass have no VLT restriction in most provinces, provided both external side mirrors are functional. This is where your shade choice actually matters. Pick for privacy, heat, and night visibility — not for the law.
Shade ≠ heat rejection
A dark dyed film can reject less heat than a light ceramic film. Darkness and heat rejection are different properties. Dyed film gets dark by absorbing visible light — which does little for infrared heat. Ceramic film rejects infrared regardless of how dark it looks.
A 50% ceramic can outperform a 20% dyed film on heat — while staying far closer to legal.
We only sell ceramic. Why that matters →
How to choose
Windows: rear only (recommended), rear + back glass, or back glass only. Then pick a shade by what you care about most.
| What matters most | Pick |
|---|---|
| Privacy first | 5% or 20% |
| Heat, don't care about looks | 35% or 50% ceramic |
| The classic tinted look | 20% ★ |
| Subtle, factory-looking | 50% |
| Drive at night a lot | Avoid 5%. Go 20% or lighter. |
Shade FAQ
Is 35% tint legal in Canada?
On rear side windows and back glass, yes in most provinces. On front side windows, no — most provinces require 70% VLT or higher. The belief that 35% is “the legal limit” comes from US state laws; Canadian rules are stricter.
What's the darkest legal tint in Canada?
On rear side windows and back glass, there is generally no darkness limit in most provinces, as long as both external side mirrors are functional. On front side windows, most provinces require 70% VLT or more, which effectively means no aftermarket film.
Does darker tint block more heat?
Not necessarily. Heat rejection depends on the film's construction, not its darkness. A light ceramic film can reject more heat than a dark dyed film, because ceramic rejects infrared regardless of how dark it looks.
Can I tint my windshield?
No. Ontario bans aftermarket windshield film on vehicles manufactured after 1 January 2017, and most provinces prohibit it or allow only a narrow strip at the top.
What VLT should I get for privacy?
20% is the most popular choice — strong privacy while still workable at night. 5% gives near-total privacy but makes reversing in unlit lots genuinely difficult.
Will 50% tint do anything?
With ceramic film, yes — 99% UV block and significant heat rejection, without looking tinted. The benefit is thermal, not visual.
Ready to pick pieces for your car?
Every kit is ceramic, precut for your factory glass, and shipped from Canada. Choose the shade — we'll cut it.