The Short Answer
A light nano-ceramic film on the windshield cuts the infrared heat coming through the largest piece of glass in front of you. XPEL XR Black rejects up to 85% of infrared heat and XR Plus up to 96%, and both block 99% of UV. At Autograff a windshield is $180 in XR Black or $250 in XR Plus on most cars, and $299 or $399 on a Tesla Model 3, Model Y or Model S.
What the film does not do is make the windshield dark. It is chosen for heat, not for privacy, and it keeps the view ahead clear.
Why the Windshield Matters for Heat
On most cars the windshield is the biggest single piece of glass, and it is laid back at a steep angle, so the sun hits it for most of the day. That heat lands on the dashboard, the steering wheel and your hands and arms. Side windows only see the sun from one side at a time. The windshield sees it almost every time you drive.
That is why many owners who already tinted their side windows still feel the heat on a summer afternoon in the Valley, and why a nearly clear windshield film still makes a difference.
What the Heat Numbers Mean
Sunlight carries energy in three parts: UV, visible light and infrared. Infrared is the part you feel as heat on your skin. The figures XPEL publishes for XR Black and XR Plus are infrared rejection, so they describe how much of that heat-on-skin part the film stops.
- Infrared. Up to 85% with XR Black and up to 96% with XR Plus. This is the part you notice most on your arms and face.
- UV. 99% with both films. UV is what fades the dashboard and burns skin.
- Visible light. A light windshield film lets most of it through, because you need to see the road. Visible light also carries some energy, so the total heat entering the car drops by less than the infrared number alone.
In short, the infrared figure is the honest measure of what you will feel, and it does not depend on shade. XPEL infrared rejection is the same whether you choose 5% or 70%, which is how a light film can do most of the work.
| Spec | XR Black | XR Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Film type | Nano-ceramic | Nano-ceramic |
| Infrared heat rejection | Up to 85% | Up to 96% |
| UV blocked | 99% | 99% |
| Windshield, most cars | $180 | $250 |
| Windshield, Tesla Model 3, Y, S | $299 | $399 |
| Windshield, Rivian R1S, R1T, R2 | $299 | $399 |
| Windshield, Tesla Model X, Cybertruck | $729 | $899 |
Prices are before sales tax. The Model X and Cybertruck windshields are much larger pieces of glass, which is why they cost more.
XR Black or XR Plus on the Windshield
Since the windshield lets in the most sun, some owners choose XR Plus there and XR Black on the side windows. On most cars the step up is $70, and on a Model Y it is $100. If the car is parked outside at work or you drive across the Valley in the afternoon, the extra infrared rejection is easy to feel. If the car lives in a garage and most of your driving is early or late, XR Black covers it well. Our XR Black vs XR Plus guide compares the two films in detail.
We do not put Prime CS on a windshield. Customers who choose Prime CS for the side windows get the windshield in XR Black, for clear visibility.
Signals, Sensors and Glare
XR Black and XR Plus contain no metal, so phone, GPS and key fob signals work normally. The film also cuts glare from low sun, which is useful on east-west streets in the morning and late afternoon.
Windshield Tint vs Windshield Protection Film
These are two different products. Windshield tint is a heat film applied to the inside of the glass. Windshield protection film is a clear film made for the outside of the glass that helps against chips and pitting from highway debris. At Autograff it is $600. Some owners do both, one for heat and one for protection.
California Rules
California rules for the windshield are strict. A non-reflective strip is allowed on the top 4 inches, and the rest of the windshield has its own limits. Read our guide to California window tint laws before you decide, and ask us about the shade when you book.
How to Book
A windshield fits easily into the same visit as the side windows, and it adds time that we confirm when you book. See every film and window price on our automotive window tint page, or the full Tesla price list on our Tesla window tint page. Every install is done inside our North Hollywood studio and is covered by the XPEL lifetime warranty.