What does 80% tint mean?

80 percent tint means the window film allows 80 percent of visible light to pass through the glass, which is a very light tint that is almost clear. Tint percentage is measured as Visible Light Transmission or VLT, which is the percentage of visible light that transmits through the combined window and film. A lower percentage means darker tint because less light passes through, while a higher percentage means lighter tint. So 5 percent tint is very dark limo tint allowing only 5 percent light, 20 percent is dark, 35 percent is medium, 50 percent is light, and 80 percent is very light. 80 percent tint blocks only 20 percent of visible light, so it provides minimal privacy and from the outside it looks almost like clear glass, with only a slight hint of shade. However, even though it is light, high-quality 80 percent ceramic films can still provide significant benefits like blocking up to 99 percent of UV rays and substantial infrared heat rejection without darkening windows noticeably. In many states, 70 to 80 percent is the only tint legally allowed on windshields and front side windows, because it maintains excellent visibility day and night while still offering heat and UV protection. So 80 percent tint is essentially clear with protective benefits.