Which window tint rejects the most heat?
On LLumar’s numbers, the IRX nano-ceramic series. Its darkest shade, IRX 05, turns back the most total solar energy of any film on the sheet, and its 15% shade turns back the most infrared.
LLumar’s own performance data sheet labels the IRX series “For our best heat rejection.” Here are the films Brookswood Tint sells, ranked by total solar energy rejected:
| Rank | Film | TSER | IRER | SIRR | Light let through |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IRX 05 | 62% | 60% | 86% | 6% |
| 2 | IRX 15 | 59% | 61% | 88% | 20% |
| 3 | IRX 35 | 54% | 60% | 87% | 39% |
| 4 | IRX 50 | 50% | 60% | 87% | 54% |
| 5 | ATC 05 | 44% | 22% | 29% | 5% |
| 6 | AIR 80 | 43% | 60% | 86% | 77% |
| 7 | ATC 15 | 40% | 22% | 29% | 18% |
| 8 | ATC 35 | 35% | 22% | 29% | 38% |
| 9 | AIR 90 | 30% | 40% | 57% | 84% |
| 10 | ATC 50 | 28% | 22% | 28% | 60% |
All are measured to NFRC methods on single-pane 6 mm clear glass. The shop also lists a third AIR shade, but LLumar’s sheet only covers AIR 80 and AIR 90.
Which heat number should you compare?
Compare TSER for the whole picture and IRER for infrared, and be wary of anyone quoting only SIRR. Each one measures something different, and the gaps between them are large.
- TSER counts all the solar energy that doesn’t get into the car: infrared, visible light and UV together. It’s the broadest single heat figure.
- IRER covers solar infrared between 780 and 2,500 nm and also counts energy the film soaks up and gives off again. LLumar’s sheet calls it “a more complete measurement of heat experienced from solar infrared radiation.”
- SIRR counts infrared “not directly transmitted through glass.” It’s the biggest number on the sheet, which is why it turns up in advertising; IRX 15 scores 88% SIRR but 61% IRER.
When two shops quote heat figures for different films, check they’re quoting the same measure. The terms are defined in the glossary entries for TSER and IR rejection.
Does darker tint always reject more heat?
For total solar energy, yes within a series; for infrared, no. Darkness blocks visible light, which counts toward TSER, but ceramic infrared blocking doesn’t depend on shade.
Run down the IRX rows: TSER climbs from 50% at IRX 50 to 62% at IRX 05, while IRER stays between 59 and 61% at every shade. The extra rejection in the darker shades is visible light being stopped. The ATC rows show the same pattern at a lower level, with TSER rising from 28% to 44% and IRER flat at 22%.
That’s why the clear AIR 80 can match IRX on infrared: 60% IRER while passing 77% of the light. And it’s why the lightest IRX shade outdoes the darkest dyed film. IRX 50 lets through more than ten times as much light as ATC 05, yet rejects 50% of solar energy to ATC 05’s 44%.
How does ceramic compare with dyed tint for heat?
Ceramic wins on every heat measure at matching darkness. Dyed ATC’s case is price and look, not heat.
At a 35% shade, ATC rejects 35% of solar energy and 22% of infrared; IRX rejects 54% and 60%. LLumar’s CTX ceramic, which the shop has fitted for customers but doesn’t carry on its current menu, sits between the two, at 43 to 58% TSER and 47 to 50% IRER across its shades. Both ceramic films block over 99% of UV, and so does ATC. The side-by-side detail is on ceramic vs dyed window tint, and whether ceramic film delivers in real driving is answered on does ceramic tint really block heat.
How much of that heat rejection can you use on a BC car?
The rear half of the car’s glass. BC allows film on side windows behind the driver and on the back glass, at any darkness, and only a 75 mm strip at the top of the windshield.
MVAR s. 7.05(8) sets those limits, and the 2025 Vehicle Inspection Manual rejects aftermarket tint on side windows ahead of the driver’s seat back (item 13d) and windshield tint more than 75 mm below the top (item 12e). Clear AIR is no exception, however little it changes the look. Brookswood Tint will install windshield or front-door film if a customer asks for it, and first explains that it isn’t road-legal in BC and can bring a $109 ticket or a Notice & Order. For heat, that means the films in the table are working on the rear doors, quarter glass and back window.
Which film should you pick for heat?
Pick the series for heat, then the shade for privacy. Within IRX, every shade gives you about 60% infrared rejection, so the shade decision is mostly about how dark you want the rear of the car.
| What you want | Film |
|---|---|
| The most total heat rejection and full privacy | IRX 05 or IRX 15 |
| Strong heat rejection with a lighter, tinted look | IRX 35 or IRX 50 |
| Heat rejection with little visible change, including over factory privacy glass | AIR 80 |
| Dark look and UV protection at the lowest price | ATC |
Dyed ATC on the rear glass starts at $220 (sports coupe), $240 (sedan or pickup) and $260 (full-size SUV or wagon); IRX and AIR are quoted as upgrades on each package, with a lifetime warranty on film and workmanship. The two ceramic films are compared head to head on LLumar IRX vs LLumar AIR, and IRX on its own on the LLumar IRX film page. Ask for a ceramic price through the window tint quote form.
