Window tint percentages, explained
A tint percentage is visible light transmission (VLT): the share of light that passes through the window. Lower is darker. 5% is very dark; 70% looks almost clear. The chart below shows what each common shade looks like and how many of the 51 places we cover allow it, from state law checked against the statute.
Tint percentage chart
| Shade (VLT) | How it looks | Front side windows | Rear side windows (cars) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | Very dark. Hard to see into the car even up close; often called limo tint. | Not allowed in any of the 51 | Allowed in 16 of 51 |
| 15% | Dark. Faces inside are hard to make out in daylight. | Not allowed in any of the 51 | Allowed in 19 of 51 |
| 20% | Dark. A common choice for rear windows. | Allowed in 1 of 51 | Allowed in 24 of 51 |
| 25% | Medium-dark. Noticeable privacy, still some visibility in. | Allowed in 7 of 51 | Allowed in 28 of 51 |
| 30% | Medium. Clear tint look with moderate privacy. | Allowed in 14 of 51 | Allowed in 32 of 51 |
| 35% | Medium. The most common front side window limit. | Allowed in 34 of 51 | Allowed in 44 of 51 |
| 50% | Light. Cuts glare and heat with little change in look. | Allowed in 41 of 51 | Allowed in 48 of 51 |
| 70% | Very light. Close to factory glass; often used for heat-rejection film. | Allowed in 48 of 51 | Allowed in 51 of 51 |
“Allowed” means a car window measuring that VLT meets the state’s minimum. Most limits apply to glass plus film, so film rated at a shade measures darker on factory glass. Tolerances, vehicle class and windshield rules are on each state page. Front side counts leave out the places where front side film isn’t allowed at any shade.
Darkest legal front window tint, by state
20% VLT minimum (1 place)
24% VLT minimum (2 places)
27% VLT minimum (2 places)
28% VLT minimum (4 places)
30% VLT minimum (1 place)
32% VLT minimum (1 place)
33% VLT minimum (1 place)
35% VLT minimum (18 places)
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
70% VLT minimum (7 places)
Alaska, California, District of Columbia, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
Front side film not allowed (top strip or medical exemption only) (3 places)
See every state’s full limits (front, rear side, rear window, SUVs) →
Tint percentage questions
What do window tint percentages mean?
The percentage is visible light transmission (VLT): how much light passes through the window. Lower means darker. 5% lets through 5% of the light and is very dark; 70% lets through 70% and looks almost clear. Most state limits apply to the finished window, so film sold at 35% measures darker once it is on factory glass, which already blocks some light.
What is the most common legal front window tint?
35% VLT is the most common front side window minimum: 18 of the 51 places covered here use it.
Is 5% tint legal?
None of the 51 places covered here allow a car's front side windows to measure 5% VLT. 16 of them allow 5% on the rear side windows.
Is 20% tint legal?
A car's front side windows may measure 20% VLT in 1 of the 51 places covered here (New Mexico), and the rear side windows in 24. Tolerances, vehicle class and whether the limit covers glass plus film change the answer, so check the state page.
Is 35% tint legal?
A car's front side windows may measure 35% VLT in 34 of the 51 places covered here, and the rear side windows in 44. Tolerances, vehicle class and whether the limit covers glass plus film change the answer, so check the state page.
Does factory glass change the tint percentage?
Yes. Factory glass is not perfectly clear, so the finished window measures darker than the film's own rating. A shop measures the installed window with a tint meter; that reading, not the number on the film box, is what most state limits refer to.
General information, not legal advice. Counts come from SalesThumb’s statute-checked state pages (latest check 2026-09-28). Laws change and enforcement varies; confirm current requirements with the state before installing or buying film.