Automotive · Ceramic film
The heat-blocking film built for Texas summers. 3M™ Crystalline and Ceramic IR, HITEK Ceramic IR through Ceramic Ultra, installed at our shop or your driveway.
What is ceramic tint?
Ceramic window tint is a non-metal film filled with nano-sized ceramic particles that absorb and reject infrared heat while letting visible light through. It keeps a car noticeably cooler than dyed or carbon film at the same shade, blocks 99%+ of UV, won’t turn purple, and doesn’t interfere with phone, GPS, radio or key-fob signals. In Houston, it is the film we recommend most.
Darkness and heat rejection are different things. A dark dyed film absorbs heat and then radiates much of it back into the cabin. Ceramic film targets the infrared part of sunlight, which is the energy you feel as heat on your skin. That is why a legal 35% ceramic film on your front doors can feel cooler than a darker cheap film.
For Houston drivers, that matters twice: Texas limits how dark your front windows can be, and our summers are long. Ceramic gives you the comfort without pushing the shade past the legal line.
| Dyed | Carbon | Ceramic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat (infrared) rejection | Low | Moderate | High to very high |
| UV protection | Good | 99%+ | 99%+ |
| Fades or turns purple | Can over time | No | No |
| Signal interference | None | None | None |
| Look | Flat black | Matte, deep black | Clear, true-color view |
| Price | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
General comparison by film type. Exact numbers depend on the specific film line and shade.
More detail: Ceramic vs. carbon window tint.
Top tier · 3M
3M’s top automotive film. More than 200 layers of multilayer optical film in a film thinner than a Post-it® Note. 3M rates it at up to 60% total solar energy rejected and up to 97% infrared rejection, with light shades that keep a factory look.
Learn moreTop tier · HITEK
HITEK’s flagship nano-ceramic film: 96% IR rejection measured at 1025 nm, up to 71% TSER, 99% UV, in 5, 20, 35, 50 and 70%.
Learn morePremium · 3M
Non-metal ceramic film covered by 3M’s warranty against fading to purple for as long as you own the vehicle.
Learn moreDark look
A dyed base infused with nano-ceramic particles for a deep factory-black tone and 85% IR rejection, 5–35%.
Learn moreValue ceramic
Our entry ceramic at 75% IR rejection. Real heat control at the friendliest price, from $249.
Learn moreIn Houston, usually yes. You get much more heat rejection at the same shade, no purple fading, and no signal interference. If budget is tight, HITEK Ceramic IR gives you ceramic performance at our lowest price.
No. Ceramic and multilayer films reject infrared heat even in light shades. 3M Crystalline in its lighter shades rejects more heat than many dark films.
No. Ceramic films contain no metal, so they don’t block radio signals.
Quality ceramic film is built to last as long as you own the car. 3M warrants Crystalline and Ceramic IR against fading to purple for as long as you own the vehicle, and HITEK backs its ceramic lines with a lifetime warranty.
Texas limits windshield film to a strip above the AS-1 line or the top 5 inches. See our Texas tint law guide for details.
Get an instant price online any time, or call or text us. Shop hours: Mon–Sat 9 AM–8 PM, Sun 9 AM–7 PM at 2401 Fountain View Dr, Floor 1, Houston, TX 77057.
