State limits checked against statute text · 2026-10-13

15% window tint

15% window tint lets 15% of visible light through the film. By the statute numbers it meets the front side window limit in 0 of the 50 states and DC and is darker than allowed in 51; on a sedan's back side windows it is legal in 18. One catch: the limit is metered through film and glass together, and on the car a 15% film usually reads about 11 to 12%, so a film that only matches the number can meter under it.

Looks: Very dark: faces are not visible from outside in daylight.
Typical use: Back side and rear windows where the state sets no limit behind the driver.
Darker than allowed on front side windows in 51 jurisdictions, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas.

What 15% tint looks like

Selected

15% VLT

Very dark. 15% of visible light passes through; 85% is blocked.

Heat rejection depends on the film, not the shade: a 70% ceramic film can reject more heat than a 20% dyed film.
Legal minimums differ by state and by window. Check yours before you pick.

Check your state's tint law →Price tint for my car →

Where 15% tint is legal, state by state

Verdicts compare 15% with each state's statute number for passenger cars (sedans). "Legal" means it clears the limit even metered on darker factory glass (72%). *"Legal, at the limit" means it matches or just clears the number but can meter under it on darker glass, so have the installer meter your windows. Many states exempt SUVs and vans behind the driver, and most states with no limit behind the driver require outside mirrors on both sides; open a state for the statute, exemptions and tolerances.

15% window tint legality by state and window
State	Front sides	Back sides (sedans)	Rear window (sedans)
Alabama	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Alaska	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Arizona	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Arkansas	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Legal
California	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Colorado	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Connecticut	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit
Delaware	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
District of Columbia	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Florida	Darker than allowed	Legal, at the limit*	Legal, at the limit*
Georgia	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Hawaii	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Idaho	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Illinois	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Indiana	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	Darker than allowed
Iowa	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Kansas	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Kentucky	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Louisiana	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Legal, at the limit*
Maine	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Maryland	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Massachusetts	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Michigan	No film allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Minnesota	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Mississippi	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Missouri	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Montana	Darker than allowed	Legal, at the limit*	Legal, at the limit*
Nebraska	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Nevada	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
New Hampshire	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
New Jersey	No film allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
New Mexico	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
New York	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit
North Carolina	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
North Dakota	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Ohio	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Oklahoma	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Oregon	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Pennsylvania	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Rhode Island	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
South Carolina	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
South Dakota	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Tennessee	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Texas	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Utah	Darker than allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Vermont	No film allowed	No numeric limit	No numeric limit
Virginia	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Washington	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
West Virginia	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Wisconsin	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed
Wyoming	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed	Darker than allowed

Darkness is not heat rejection

The percentage only describes visible light. Most of the heat that warms a cabin is infrared, which a good ceramic film blocks at any shade. If the goal is a cooler car rather than privacy, a lighter ceramic film can beat a darker dyed one; see ceramic tint and compare published heat figures in the tint film comparer.

Frequently asked questions

Is 15% tint legal?

It depends on the state and the window. By the statute numbers, 15% meets the front side window limit in 0 of the 50 states and DC and is darker than allowed in 51. On back side windows of a sedan it is legal in 18; many states also exempt SUVs and vans behind the driver. The table on this page lists every state.

What does 15% tint mean?

The film lets 15% of visible light through on its own. Officers meter the film and the glass together, and factory side glass already blocks 20 to 28%, so a 15% film usually meters about 11 to 12% on the car.

How dark is 15% tint?

Very dark: faces are not visible from outside in daylight. Back side and rear windows where the state sets no limit behind the driver.

Does 15% tint block more heat than a lighter shade?

Only a little. Darkness is visible light; most of the heat you feel is infrared. A light ceramic film can reject more heat than a dark dyed one, so compare the film's total solar energy rejected (TSER), not the percentage.

Other shades

5% window tint 20% window tint 25% window tint 30% window tint 35% window tint 50% window tint 70% window tint

Window tint laws by state · VLT legality checker · Window tint cost by vehicle · Window tint prices & studios

Reference only, not legal advice. Statutes change and some states allow tolerances or vehicle-type exceptions; confirm on the state page before you install.