Types of Window Film and What Each One Is For

Most window film calls start with a problem, not a product: a conference room everyone can see into, an office that cooks in the afternoon or morning sun, a storefront that just got smashed. Sometimes it is not a problem at all, just glass that should look better. Each goal has its own film. Here is what each type does, where it goes and what it is not for.

First, the Glass

Before any film, we look at the glass. Single-pane, tempered, insulated double-pane, tinted and low-E glass each handle heat differently, and each can only take certain films, especially solar and heat-rejecting films. Here in Colorado, the higher elevation narrows the safe choices even more. The wrong film on the wrong glass can crack it from heat stress, and that happens more than people think. So we come out and meter the glass before we recommend anything.

Privacy and Frosted Film

What it does: blurs the view through the glass and still lets light through. Frost, gradient and etched-look films are the common choices.

Where it goes: conference rooms, glass-walled offices, exam and treatment rooms, restrooms and lobbies.

Good to know: it doesn't have to cover the whole pane. A band at eye level gives privacy where people sit and stand and keeps the room open above and below.

Not for: blocking light or a view completely. That is blackout film.

See samples

Decorative and Branded Film

What it does: adds design to glass. Privacy films like dusted crystal can be cut into patterns and used as a decorative element, and past that there are thousands of decorative films: water drops, stained glass, paper and fabric textures, gradients, cut logos and printed graphics.

Where it goes: glass walls, doors and partitions, reception areas and storefronts. The high-end looks show up most in upscale offices.

Good to know: it still gives privacy, and the same films make the distraction markings that keep people from walking into a glass wall.

Not for: heat, glare or security on its own.

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Colored and Dichroic Film

What it does: puts color on the glass. Colored solar films wash a room in bold color while still cutting heat. Dichroic film shifts color as you move and as the light changes through the day, throwing color across floors and walls.

Where it goes: storefronts, lobbies, restaurants and cafes, feature walls and anywhere the glass is meant to be noticed.

Not for: privacy. You can still see through most of it.

See samples

Blackout Film

What it does: blocks the view and the light completely.

Where it goes: glass that ends up behind a new wall, back-of-house windows, and spaces where the rules say no one can see in.

Good to know: blackout film soaks up a lot of heat, so the glass matters. Single-pane annealed glass (standard glass that is not tempered) usually is not a good candidate because of thermal stress. Tempered glass usually takes it fine, and we do a lot of blackout on tempered glass. On double-pane windows, film on the outside surface is usually OK; on the inside it gets trickier because heat builds up between the panes. Either way, we check the glass first.

Not for: rooms where you still want daylight. Use privacy or frosted film there.

See samples

Solar Control Film and Commercial Tint

What it does: cuts heat, glare and fading and evens out the hot and cold spots in a room.

Where it goes: any side of the building, but it earns its keep most on south and west glass, and sometimes east.

Good to know: there is a look for every building. XPEL's VISION Clear View line goes on nearly clear: Clear View Plus 70 lets through 72% of visible light while rejecting 94% of infrared heat and 99% of UV, by XPEL's published specs. Darker options come in shades of gray and bronze. Dark films on large or insulated glass can add heat stress, so we meter the glass and check it against the manufacturer's film-to-glass guidelines before we recommend anything.

Not for: privacy at night. Once it is darker outside than in, people can see in.

See samples

Security and Safety Film

What it does: a thick, clear polyester film bonded to the glass. When the glass breaks, the film holds the pieces together, so they don't fall out or fly. That cuts injuries from broken glass and turns a smash-and-grab that takes seconds into a fight with the glass that takes minutes, long enough for police or security to respond.

Where it goes: storefronts, schools, churches, banks, government buildings, and any ground-floor or entry glass that is easy to reach.

Good to know:

• Thickness matters. Security films come in thicknesses measured in mils (thousandths of an inch). XPEL's VISION line runs 4, 8 and 14 mil, plus a 7 mil exterior film. Thicker film takes more force; we size it to the pane and the risk.
• The edge matters more. On its own, film holds the broken glass together. Anchored to the frame with wet glazing, it keeps the glass in the opening. Doors get a ZSecure attachment instead. More in our guide, What Is Wet Glazing, and Why Security Film Needs It.
• It does more than stop break-ins. It holds glass together after accidents and impacts, and helps in storms when debris hits the glass.
• It can do two jobs. Some security films have solar control built in, so one film cuts heat and strengthens the glass.
• Tested to safety standards. Safety films are impact-tested to standards like ANSI Z97.1 and CPSC 16 CFR 1201.

Not for: stopping bullets. It is not bulletproof.

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Anti-Graffiti Film

What it does: a clear, sacrificial layer over glass and mirrors. When someone scratches or tags it, we peel it off and replace the film, not the glass. That can save hundreds or thousands of dollars in damage to storefronts, display cases and mirrors.

Where it goes: storefront glass, display cases, restroom and elevator mirrors and anywhere that gets tagged. We install a lot of it in downtown areas.

Good to know: many jobs only cover the bottom six feet of glass, where most tags land; some get the whole pane. Plan on replacing the film about every six months.

Not for: break-ins. That is security film.

See samples

Need More Than One Film?

Plenty of buildings need more than one film: security film on the entry glass, privacy in the conference rooms, solar film on the west side. Tell us what you want in each spot and we will match the film to it. Film looks different on every building and in every light, so pictures on a screen can mislead. We come out in person with samples on your actual windows, and for exterior glass we meter it so we only offer choices that are safe for that glass.

Quick Questions

Will window film make the office dark?

Not if it is picked right. Light, clear-looking solar films cut heat and glare without making a room feel dim.

Can window film damage my windows?

The wrong film on the wrong glass can. We check your glass against the manufacturer's film-to-glass guidelines first.

How long does window film last?

Interior commercial films last for years. Exterior films face the weather and wear sooner. Each film carries its own manufacturer warranty. Cure times, inspection and care are all in our window film guide (PDF).

Can film be removed later?

Yes. With the right process it comes off clean, which makes it a good fit for tenant changes and rebrands.

What Do You Have in Mind?

Not every window film job is about fixing something. A lot of it is about how the space looks, and we can help design it and get you where you want to go. Send us a few photos of the glass and tell us what you have in mind. Request a quote