Legal window tint percentages in Colorado

On a sedan in Colorado, the minimum legal VLT is 27% VLT or higher front side, 27% VLT or higher back side, and 27% VLT or higher rear window. On an SUV, van, or truck the rule is 27% VLT or higher front side, 27% VLT or higher back side, and 27% VLT or higher rear.

Remember: a lower VLT number means darker film. See our VLT explainer if this is new territory.

In Colorado, aftermarket film reflectivity is capped at 27 on front side windows and 27 on back side windows. Metallic films often exceed these caps; see our reflectivity guide.

Non-reflective tint is permitted on the top 4 inches of the windshield.

Read the full federal + state context in our windshield tint laws & AS-1 line guide.

Colorado offers a medical window-tint exemption for drivers with a qualifying medical condition. A physician certification is typically required. Applicants should confirm the current process with the Colorado DMV.

See the full process, qualifying conditions, application form, and renewal rules on our Colorado medical exemption page.

A single Visible Light Transmission (VLT) number, expressed as a percentage, is the gating specification in every state’s tint law. It is measured with a handheld light meter — typically by shining a calibrated visible-light source at one side of a tinted window and measuring the photon flux that reaches a sensor on the other side. The ratio, expressed as a percentage, is the VLT.

• 70% VLT — factory glass on most modern sedans and SUVs without aftermarket film. This is the federal windshield standard under FMVSS 205.
• 50% VLT — a light, medium-tone film. Slight privacy, decent UV rejection. Legal almost everywhere for front side windows.
• 35% VLT — the most popular compromise between privacy and visibility. Legal for front side windows in a majority of U.S. states.
• 20% VLT — noticeably dark. Usually legal only on back side and rear windows in states that do not allow “any darkness” rear.
• 15% VLT — very dark. Allowed on the rear in many states but rarely on front side.
• 5% VLT “limo” tint — the darkest common aftermarket product. Legal only on specific back and rear windows in most of the country.

Remember that total VLT through the window is the product of the film VLT and the glass VLT. A 35% VLT film installed on 70% VLT factory glass produces about 25% VLT total through the window. Enforcement officers measure the combined result, not the film rating on its own.

If a Colorado officer suspects a vehicle’s tint is illegal, the standard enforcement workflow is:

1. Observation. Dark tint is visible to trained officers from 20–50 feet. Common triggers are driver/passenger silhouettes being invisible and reflective mirror-finish film that bounces headlights.
2. Traffic stop. The officer requests license, registration, and insurance like any equipment stop.
3. VLT reading with a calibrated meter. The most common instruments are the Laser Labs Tint-Chek and the ENX-series meters. A properly-calibrated meter is accurate to ±2–3 percentage points.
4. Citation decision. If the reading is below the state minimum, the officer can issue a citation, a fix-it ticket (in some jurisdictions), or a warning, at their discretion.

Measurement tolerance matters. If a Colorado meter reads your front side window at 32% VLT with a state minimum of 35%, a ±3% industry tolerance could place the true value inside compliance. Raising this tolerance issue politely and requesting a second reading with a different meter is a legitimate path. See our reflectivity and VLT measurement guide and the state-specific Colorado meter tolerance page for more detail.

VLT selection is a three-way balance between legality, comfort, and aesthetics. For most Colorado drivers:

• Front side windows: install at or just above the state minimum (27% VLT or higher for sedans; 27% VLT or higher for SUVs). A 3–5% buffer above the minimum protects you from meter tolerance, film aging, and mild manufacturer variance.
• Back side windows: in Colorado, the rule for sedans is 27% VLT or higher and for SUVs is 27% VLT or higher. Most drivers install 20–35% for comfort and privacy without compromising night-time visibility.
• Rear window: 27% VLT or higher for sedans, 27% VLT or higher for SUVs — typically the darkest window a passenger vehicle can have. Consider the interaction with your backup camera and the remaining night-time rear visibility.
• Windshield eyebrow strip (the top 4–6 inches above the AS-1 line): allowed in most states including Colorado. Use a clear ceramic or non-reflective dark strip for glare control.

For film technology, see our deep dive: ceramic vs dyed vs carbon tint, and for heat rejection performance see best tint for heat rejection.

• Buying by film percentage alone. A “35% film” installed on already-tinted OEM privacy glass can easily end up at 18–25% total VLT. Always ask the installer to meter your windows before and after.
• Ignoring reflectivity. A state-compliant VLT with a metallic film that exceeds reflectivity caps is still illegal in Colorado. Confirm reflectivity specifications before install.
• Assuming an out-of-state install is grandfathered. If you move to Colorado with a vehicle tinted legally in another state, the Colorado rule applies from the day you register the vehicle here.
• Trusting online calculators over a real meter. Visual VLT estimators are marketing tools. Only a calibrated light meter produces a legally defensible reading.
• Skipping the post-install receipt. Keep the installer invoice showing the exact film brand, model, and rated VLT. It is the single most useful document if you are ever cited.

• Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-227
• Colorado DMV