If you decide to tint your car windows for looks or UV protection, it’s time to take a look at the costs.
In this guide I will look at all of the average costs depending on the type of car you have. These prices will be estimations for tinting services from a professional.
I will also look at the factors that adjust the costs, including how much you could save if you do it yourself.
How much does car window tinting cost?
You could spend from $50 to $1,000+ to tint your car windows or around $300 on average to tint your car windows.
The cost depends on the type of car you drive, what kind of window tint you want, and the location where it will be installed. It is much cheaper if you do it yourself, but it may not look as good in the end.
How Much Does It Cost to Tint Car Windows?
#1. Coupe.
The coupe usually costs the least to tint due to the smaller windows. If you wanted to tint only one window, you might pay $50.
To tint all the sides and rear window would probably range between $200 to $600. If you add in the windshield, expect another $100 to $300.
#2. Sedan.
The prices for your average sedan are going to be about the same as most coupes since the windows aren’t really that larger. There may be more windows or slightly larger ones than coupes. For one window, you might pay anything from $50 to $150.
To have all of the sides and rear window tinted might also be $200 to $600. While we add in the windshield the price would also go up from $100 to $300.
#3. Truck.
For car tinting prices, it all depends on how big your truck is and how many windows you want to tint. A standard cab truck would be anywhere from $150 to $450 for the sides and back.
An extended cab would run you between $200 and $550 to tint the same truck, while a crew cab could range from $250 to $600. The windshield could add another $150 to $300.
#4. SUV.
Tint prices for an SUV are a bit all over the place depending on the size of the SUV. A small crossover might be comparable in price with a coupe or sedan, while a large SUV will add a little more to the bill. Some large SUVs are comparable in size to a truck or van.
Generally, you will spend about $200 to $800 to have the sides and back window tinted. The windshield might cost $100 to $350 to have tinted in addition to the sides and back.
#5. Van.
If you have a larger passenger van, the cost for getting your van tinted can get a little expensive. Depending on the size of the van, getting the sides and back window tinted will range from about $250 to $1,000.
You may tint the windshield if it’s legal in your state, which might be an additional $150 to $350.
Factors Affecting Car Window Tinting Cost
#1. Vehicle Type.
Previously, you saw a breakdown of window tint cost by vehicle size. In general, smaller windows will cost you less to tint. The reason is, when a window is smaller, there is less material and less labor.
However, this isn’t always true. There are sometimes vehicles that are smaller, but just more difficult to tint.
For example, the Tesla Model 3 has a glass roof that can cost more to tint than a standard sunroof.
Sometimes, older vehicles can also add labor time if a plotter template is not available as that window will need to be hand-cut.
In some cases, the shop itself may not charge you extra for these issues but you will be waiting longer for your vehicle.
#2. Tint Type.
There are different types of tint that you can chose that are less expensive. For example, you can pay less for a dyed window film instead of using ceramic or carbon. However, dyed window film is not the same quality.
You are getting what you pay for in a tinted window with higher quality automotive film. At the top of the price range ceramic is what is used in most luxury automobiles.
Then there’s the brand of the automotive window tint to consider. Lots of brands are affordable, but again you pay for what you get.
After a couple of years, that window film you thought you were saving money on is going to fade or start to pull away from the window. At that point, you’ll find yourself back in the shop getting it done right.
Seriously, you are going to save the expense of tinting once now, and then get to spend that money again – does that really save you money overall?
It’s recommended to spend a little more on quality automotive window film from a reputable brand to save yourself the future trouble.
In addition, if you plan to sell your vehicle in a few years, you will probably get more for your vehicle offsetting the higher quality job.
#3. Removing Existing Tint.
Most people wouldn’t first think of what would need to be removed from the car windows. If there was factory tint, or if the property owner had previous tint work completed, removing that first would need to be resolved.
Some types of window tint could potentially be problematic due to all the glue and sticky materials that were used to apply them.
This will add to the time required by the technician to deal with the removal. If currently there is not window tint on the car, the process will be much easier for the workers as they will just have to clean the surface before applying the new tint.
#4. Installer/Location.
The location you take your car to for auto window tinting will greatly affect the cost. Doing it yourself could save a bit of money, however there are some downfalls to this we will touch on in a moment.
It’s worth taking the time to investigate your installers to determine who would be best. Not everyone installer will have the talent to be successful. During the interview process I would ask to see their previous work, in addition to getting contact references.
A larger shop you might pay for not only to tint the windows but also fund their overhead. A professional shop would have much more patience and sense of urgency not only to tint a vehicle but they wouldn’t only rely on a squirt bottle and a squeegee to do it.
They would have torches, specialized lighting, very sharp knives, and other specialty equipment that is critical to perform the task correctly so that there are no defects in the tint.
In addition to that, they will have people that administrate the business and a team of technicians to help tint your vehicle amber quickly as possible. This combination will give you assurance that your tinting will be a successful process, which is worth it.
DIY vs. Professional Car Window Tinting
You may feel tempted to go to your local auto parts store and buy a cheap window tint and do this yourself! After all, it is a pretty great advantage to be able to acquire a roll of tint for as cheap as $10.
If you’re cash strapped, we get it, and totally understand going this route, but is it the best option? It may feel great on the front end, but you most likely won’t be happy and may even find out that your tint doesn’t last at all. Just something to consider.
If you’re doing a DIY tint kit, it will still require some special tools and some base level of skill. It is most helpful if you have happened to have detailed vehicles before.
Only you will be concerned with making sure what you are applying is legal in your state. A professional shop would have already known this information.
You also run the risk of looking terrible when you are done. Quick bubbling and imperfections may ultimately give your vehicle’s appearance a worse look than before.
Along with that, you will want to think about frustration, or cursing, if you’re not used to tinting your vehicle’s windows, when you ultimately struggle through the job.
Also, you will want to factor in some extra for materials, because you may be throwing a fair amount of it away due to mistakes. Keep all this in mind when deciding whether you feel a professional shop is worth the extra cost.