Tint Calculator

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Window Tint & VLT Calculator

Visible Light Transmission (VLT) Estimator

Standard car glass is ~70-80%
Lower number = Darker film

Calculation Results

Total Surface Area: sq. ft.

Total Material Needed (incl. 15% waste): sq. ft.

Estimated Material Cost: $

Final Combined VLT:

Note: Check local laws to ensure this net VLT is legal for your vehicle/location.

Window Tinting: Everything You Need to Know

Choosing the right window tint involves balancing aesthetics, privacy, and legal compliance. Our Tint Calculator helps you determine how much film you need and calculates the final VLT (Visible Light Transmission) percentage when applying film to factory-colored glass.

What is VLT?

Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is the measurement of how much light passes through a window. The lower the percentage, the darker the tint. For example:

  • 5% VLT: "Limo tint" – extremely dark, very difficult to see through at night.
  • 20% VLT: Common for rear windows on SUVs and trucks.
  • 35% VLT: A popular legal limit for front side windows in many regions.
  • 70%+: Often used for UV protection without significantly darkening the glass.

The "Net VLT" Rule

Many vehicle owners forget that factory glass is rarely 100% clear. Most automotive glass has a factory VLT of roughly 70% to 80%. When you apply a 35% film to 70% glass, the resulting darkness is much lower than 35%.

The Formula: (Glass VLT / 100) × (Film VLT / 100) = Total VLT.

Why Use a Tint Calculator?

  1. Material Planning: Avoid running out of film by accounting for the height, width, and quantity of windows, plus a 15% buffer for trimming and mistakes.
  2. Cost Estimation: Budget accurately for your project by inputting the price per square foot of ceramic, carbon, or dyed film.
  3. Legal Safety: Ensure your combined VLT doesn't drop below your state's legal requirements to avoid "fix-it" tickets and failed inspections.

Common Window Dimensions (Reference)

Window Type Typical Width Typical Height
Sedan Front Door 32″ – 40″ 18″ – 24″
Rear Windshield 45″ – 60″ 20″ – 30″
Residential Window 24″ – 48″ 36″ – 60″
function calculateTint() { // Get Inputs var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tintWidth').value); var height = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tintHeight').value); var qty = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tintQty').value); var pricePerSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tintPrice').value); var glassVlt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('glassVlt').value); var filmVlt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('filmVlt').value); // Validation if (isNaN(width) || isNaN(height) || isNaN(qty) || width <= 0 || height <= 0 || qty <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for dimensions and quantity."); return; } // Area Calculations var singleAreaSqIn = width * height; var totalAreaSqFt = (singleAreaSqIn / 144) * qty; var bufferArea = totalAreaSqFt * 1.15; // 15% waste factor // Cost var totalCost = isNaN(pricePerSqFt) ? 0 : (bufferArea * pricePerSqFt); // VLT Calculations // Formula: (G_vlt / 100) * (F_vlt / 100) * 100 var netVlt = (glassVlt / 100) * (filmVlt / 100) * 100; // Display Results document.getElementById('resArea').innerText = totalAreaSqFt.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('resTotalArea').innerText = bufferArea.toFixed(2); document.getElementById('resCost').innerText = totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('resVlt').innerText = netVlt.toFixed(1) + "%"; document.getElementById('tintResult').style.display = 'block'; }

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