Carbon Vs. Ceramic Window Tinting
Wondering which type of window tinting is right for your car? Ceramic is the best option for practical purposes—but carbon is cheaper and looks nicer.
Written by Patrick Price
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Trying to decide between carbon and ceramic window tinting for your car? Carbon tinting is a better choice if you’re on a tight budget or are mainly concerned with cosmetics. Ceramic is more expensive and less visually appealing—but much better at protecting your car’s interior and regulating temperature.
Tinting your car’s windows can be a nice way to increase your privacy while driving. If you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, it can also be a great way to minimize the direct sunlight you get.
That said, some states have laws banning certain types of vehicle window tinting, but every state’s laws regarding tinting are different. For the most part, though, you’ll usually be fine as long as your tinting isn’t reflective. Fortunately, neither of the most common types, carbon tinting and ceramic tinting, typically come in reflective varieties, so they are generally allowed.
To help break down whether carbon tinting or ceramic tinting is better for your car,
Jerry
, the trustworthy super app
for saving money on car insurance, has put together this handy car repair
guide. What is window tinting?
Window tinting is the process of applying a thin laminate film is applied to your car’s windows. Typically, this is done to minimize UV penetration, reduce heat, prevent damage to the car’s interior, protect the window from scratches and debris, increase privacy, add aesthetic value, or all of the above.
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What type of window tinting options are there?
There are several
window tinting
methods available as aftermarket vehicle modifications. In this article, however, we will be focusing on the two most popular and most effective tinting methods: carbon tinting and ceramic tinting. Carbon tinting
Carbon tinting is the more affordable of the two options. Depending on the rates your mechanic charges, you’ll usually pay between $100 and $400 for a carbon tinting job.
Like any window tinting, carbon tinting also helps to protect your car from harmful UV rays and prevents window scratches. It also repels water, dirt, and other debris.
Apart from its relative affordability and practical benefits, carbon tinting also comes in a wider variety of colors so you can tailor it to your car’s color scheme. Plus, its matte finish gives it a more attractive visual style overall than ceramic tinting.
MORE: How to tint car windows
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Ceramic tinting
While ceramic may not be as flashy or offer reflective privacy options, it has significantly better practical advantages. But those practical benefits come at a cost. Ceramic tinting generally runs between $800 and $900.
Every functional benefit offered by carbon tinting is also offered by ceramic tinting but to an even greater degree. Ceramic is more effective at preventing scratches, diffusing UV rays, and repelling water/dirt. This is because ceramic tints, as the name suggests, contain particles of ceramic—which has exceptional thermal properties, making ceramic ideal for regulating temperature and reflecting damaging UV rays.
Ceramic tinting's resistance to scratches is also a result of ceramic’s chemical makeup—it is one of the hardest classes of material on earth, so it tends to break long before it would scratch. In a thin film form, though, it’s very unlikely to break either. Basically, anything carbon can do, ceramic can do better.
On top of that, ceramic also has incredible heat-rejection properties that will keep your car’s interior nice and cool even on the hottest days—which carbon tinting does not do.
The cherry on top of the ceramic is its longevity. Most tinting options can only last up to about five years—and that’s with ideal conditions and a fair amount of luck. Ceramic tinting breezes past that five-year mark and, in some cases, has been known to last up to20 years or more.
MORE: How to remove window tint from car windows
How to save money on your car insurance
Whether you decide to go with carbon or ceramic tinting, there’s going to be a pretty hefty price tag. You can save some extra money to help pay for window tinting by reducing your
car insurance
expenses using Jerry
—the automated insurance broker and policy comparison super app! In just 45 seconds, Jerry will gather and compare quotes from 55+ of the nation’s top name-brand insurance providers. After evaluating these quotes based on quality and price, Jerry will forward to very best ones directly to your phone.
Once pick a policy that you like, Jerry will handle the hassle of getting it set up and even cancel your old coverage for you! Jerry is so effective that drivers who use it save an average of $800+ a year!
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FAQs
How much do carbon and ceramic tinting cost?
The cost of tinting will vary from one auto shop to the next. In general, though, carbon tinting costs between $100 and $400, while ceramic costs between $800 and $900.
Is carbon or ceramic tinting better?
It depends on your priorities. Carbon is cheaper and looks better, but it’s far less effective at protecting your window and interior from heat, sun, and other damages.
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