35% window tint
A window measuring 35% VLT lets 35% of visible light through and blocks 65%. A car's front side windows may measure 35% in 34 of the 51 places we cover, and a sedan's rear side windows in 44.
How it looks: Medium. The most common front side window limit.
Where 35% is legal on front side windows
Allowed (34 of 51)
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming
Too dark (17; the state’s minimum in brackets)
Alaska (70%), California (70%), Delaware (50%), District of Columbia (70%), Iowa (50%), Michigan (no front film), Minnesota (50%), New Hampshire (70%), New Jersey (no front film), New York (70%), Ohio (50%), Oregon (50%), Pennsylvania (70%), Rhode Island (70%), Vermont (no front film), Virginia (50%), Wisconsin (50%)
Where 35% is legal on back windows
Sedan rear side windows: allowed (44 of 51)
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Sedan rear side windows: too dark (7)
Alaska (40%), District of Columbia (50%), Minnesota (50%), New York (70%), Oregon (50%), Pennsylvania (70%), Rhode Island (70%)
The rear windshield of a sedan may measure 35% in 44 of the 51 places, and an SUV, truck or van’s rear side windows in 44. Each state page has the full rules.
35% tint questions
What does 35% tint mean?
A window measuring 35% VLT lets 35% of visible light through and blocks 65%. How it looks: Medium. The most common front side window limit.
Is 35% tint legal on front windows?
In 34 of the 51 places covered here. The other 17 require a lighter front window or don't allow front side film.
Is 35% tint legal on back windows?
On a sedan, 44 of the 51 places allow the rear side windows to measure 35%, and 44 allow it on the rear windshield. On an SUV, truck or van, 44 places allow 35% on the rear side windows.
Is 35% tint dark?
How it looks: Medium. The most common front side window limit. Of the common shades, 30% is darker (it lets less light through) and 50% is lighter. The lower the number, the darker the tint.
Will 35% film measure 35% on my car?
Usually it measures darker. Factory glass already blocks some light, so 35% film on factory glass reads below 35% on a tint meter. Most state limits apply to that finished reading, so a shop checks the installed window, not the number on the film box.
General information, not legal advice. “Allowed” means a window measuring 35% meets the state’s minimum; tolerances and vehicle class can change the answer. 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.