We install 3M film only, but we know people shop around. This page puts the main automotive window film brands side by side using the numbers each manufacturer publishes on its own spec sheets. Where a brand doesn’t publish a number, we say so instead of guessing.
Read this before the table
Tint brands measure heat rejection in different ways, so the headline numbers in their ads can’t be compared directly. Three things make the biggest difference.
Which infrared number you’re looking at
Many brands advertise infrared rejection measured at a single wavelength, and that always produces a high number. 3M measures its infrared rejection at 900 to 1000 nm on the film by itself, before it goes on glass, which is where its 95% to 98% claims for Crystalline and 78% to 95% for Ceramic IR come from. XPEL measures XR Plus at 1025 nm on 3 mm glass and gets 92% to 96%. Those single-wavelength figures can’t be lined up against each other.
For a fairer comparison, the table below uses IRER (infrared energy rejected) across the full infrared range of 780 to 2500 nm. IRER counts the heat the film absorbs and then gives off into the cabin, so it comes out lower than the advertised figures. Some brands, including LLumar, FormulaOne, SunTek and Johnson, also publish SIRR (selective infrared rejection over 780 to 2500 nm). SIRR leaves out the re-radiated heat, so it lands between IRER and the single-wavelength claims.
TSER
TSER means total solar energy rejected. It counts visible light, UV and infrared together. A film with 60% TSER keeps out 60% of the sun’s energy hitting the glass. It’s the closest single number to how much cooler the car will feel.
The test glass
Most brands test on 6 mm clear glass. XPEL tests on 3 mm glass, which generally produces higher numbers. Rayno and KAVACA don’t say what glass they test on.
Flagship ceramic and multilayer films
Ranges run from the lightest to the darkest shade each maker offers. All figures come from the manufacturers’ product bulletins and spec sheets.
| Film | Technology | IRER (780–2500 nm) | UV blocked | TSER range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3M Crystalline | Multilayer | 48–70% | 99% | 33–68% |
| 3M Ceramic IR | Nano-ceramic | 58–63% | 99.2–99.9% | 41–63% |
| XPEL XR Plus | Nano-ceramic | 67–70%* | 99% | 52–71%* |
| LLumar IRX | Ceramic | 59–61% | 99% or more | 50–62% |
| FormulaOne Pinnacle | Multilayer ceramic | 59–62% | 99% or more | 50–64% |
| FormulaOne Stratos | Nano-ceramic hybrid | 65–67% | 99% or more | 49–65% |
| SunTek CIR | Ceramic | 58–60% | 97–99% | 42–62% |
| Rayno Phantom S9 | Carbon-ceramic | Not published† | 99.9% | 53–70% |
| KAVACA Ceramic IR | Nano-ceramic | Not published† | 99% | Not published† |
| Johnson InsulatIR | Nano-ceramic | 43–64% | 99% | 31–56% |
* XPEL data is measured on 3 mm glass, not 6 mm, with a stated tolerance of plus or minus 3%. † The manufacturer doesn’t publish full-spectrum IRER data or a standard test method.
The spread between the top films is small. Most of the flagship ceramics land within a few points of each other on IRER and TSER. At that level, the quality of the install matters as much as the brand.
Shades each film comes in
The darkest shade of a film usually posts its best heat numbers, so always compare two films at the same shade. These are the shades each maker lists, given as VLT (the percentage of visible light that gets through).
- 3M Colour Stable: 5, 20, 35, 50 and 70.
- 3M Ceramic IR: 8, 15, 20, 35, 50 and 70.
- 3M Crystalline: 40, 50, 60, 70 and 90.
- XPEL XR Plus and XR Black: 5, 15, 25, 35, 50 and 70.
- XPEL XR Blue: 70 and 80, made for windshields.
- LLumar IRX and FormulaOne Stratos: 5, 15, 20, 35, 50 and 70.
- FormulaOne Pinnacle: 15, 30, 50 and 70.
- SunTek CIR: 5, 15, 25, 35, 50, 70 and 80.
- Rayno Phantom S5, S7 and S9: 5, 15, 20, 30, 35, 50 and 70.
- Johnson InsulatIR: 5, 15, 20, 35 and 50.
Crystalline stops at 40 because it’s built to keep heat out while staying light. If you want a dark look on the rear windows, Ceramic IR or Colour Stable goes darker.
Entry-level and carbon films
Below the flagship tier, brands publish much less data. XPEL doesn’t publish infrared or TSER figures for PRIME CS Black. LLumar doesn’t publish detailed figures for ATC or CTX. Johnson doesn’t publish exact figures for Marathon or Ray-Guard. SunTek publishes 63% infrared rejection and 52% TSER for its CXP carbon film at the darkest shade.
3M publishes the numbers for Colour Stable, its carbon film, shade by shade. You can see them on our Colour Stable page.
The basic film types
Every brand’s lineup is built from a few kinds of film. The type matters more than the brand name.
- Dyed film gets its colour from dye. It’s the cheapest kind, it keeps out little heat, and the dye fades to purple over time. We explain why on our page about tint turning purple.
- Metallized film uses metal particles to reflect heat. It can interfere with phone, GPS and radio signals, and it often has a shiny look.
- Carbon film uses carbon particles. It doesn’t fade to purple and doesn’t block signals.
- Ceramic film uses ceramic particles to keep out more infrared heat without metal.
- Multilayer film stacks many very thin layers to block infrared while letting visible light through. 3M Crystalline is built this way, with over 200 layers according to 3M.
For a longer explanation, read our guide to window tint types.
Why we install 3M
We’re a 3M Certified Pro Dealer, and we chose to carry one brand and know it well. 3M’s three films cover the needs we see every day. Colour Stable is the budget choice for privacy and a dark look. Ceramic IR keeps out a lot more heat for a moderate step up in price. Crystalline keeps out the most heat while staying light. Working with one brand also means the film on every window of your vehicle matches.
That’s our choice, and the table above shows other brands make good film too. If you’re comparing quotes from shops that use different brands, ask each shop for the exact product line and shade, then compare the spec sheets at the same shade.
Our 3M prices are listed on one page. See the price list.