Solar control film, for heat and glare
Film that reduces solar heat gain, screen glare, and UV through your existing glass, without making the space dark.
Solar control film addresses the three things large glass does badly in summer: it lets in heat, it throws glare across screens and work surfaces, and it passes UV that fades everything in the room. The film reflects and absorbs a portion of the solar energy before it enters, which lowers peak room temperature and reduces the load on air conditioning. Modern spectrally selective films do this while staying close to clear, so the space keeps its daylight and its view. The right specification depends on the orientation of the glass, since a west facing elevation has a very different problem from a north facing one.
Best for
- Offices and commercial spaces with large glass areas
- South and west facing rooms that overheat in the afternoon
- Workstations and screens affected by glare
- Spaces where air conditioning struggles or runs constantly in summer
- Retail and residential interiors where fading is a concern
What it solves
- Afternoon overheating in sun exposed rooms
- Glare on screens, boards, and work surfaces
- Fading of floors, furnishings, artwork, and merchandise
- Cooling costs and uneven temperature between rooms
- Hot spots near glass that make part of a space unusable
What to know
- Performance depends on glazing orientation and the full glass assembly, not the film alone. West and south elevations see the largest gains.
- Solar film can cut heat substantially without heavily darkening the space. The tradeoff is clarity versus total solar rejection, and it is a real choice, not a marketing distinction.
- 99% UV rejection applies across the range regardless of how light or dark the film is. UV protection does not require a dark film.
- On double glazed and low-E units, the existing assembly affects what film can be specified safely. We read the glass on site before recommending.
- For privacy in addition to solar control, see privacy window film. Reflective privacy films deliver both.
Product types to consider
Start here before the SKU level. These are the categories we use to narrow the right XPEL film.
Spectrally selective, high clarity
Rejects heat and infrared while keeping maximum natural light and a near clear appearance. Specified where the view and the daylight must stay intact.
Neutral tinted
More total solar rejection and stronger glare control, with visible darkening. Specified where comfort outweighs light transmission.
XPEL examples we specify
Published performance data from XPEL VISION. Exact results depend on glass, orientation, and the full glazing assembly.
Clear View Plus 70 (XVCVP70)
72% VLT, 55% total solar energy rejected, 94% IR rejection, 99% UV rejection, 20% glare reduction.
Heat control while the glass stays near clear. The specification when the view cannot change.
Daylight 28 (XVNDAY28)
25% VLT, 64% total solar energy rejected, 99% UV rejection, 74% glare reduction.
When heat and glare are the priority and some darkening is acceptable.
Best spaces
Get a film recommendation for your glass
Tell us the space, the orientation, and what you need the glass to do. We specify the film and quote the install.
Values from XPEL VISION published data, tested on 1/8 inch (3mm) glass. Nominal and for guidance. Exact results depend on the product specified and the glazing assembly.
