Tesla window tint: Model 3, Model Y and that glass roof.
A Tesla is a greenhouse on wheels: a full glass roof, a rear glass the size of a coffee table, and no headliner to soak up the heat. Ceramic window tint is the fix, because it rejects infrared without darkening the glass, which keeps the front windows legal in California and makes the roof livable in August. Here is what we install on Model 3 and Model Y, what it costs, and what to skip.
Why Teslas run hotter than they should
Tesla's roof glass is laminated and blocks UV well, but UV is not what heats a cabin; infrared is. The factory glass lets most of the infrared through, there is no headliner beneath it, and the rear glass on a Model 3 or Y is enormous. Add the Bay Area's habit of parking outside and you get a car that pre-conditions for ten minutes and is still warm. Every Model Y owner we have tinted says the same thing afterward: the climate system finally keeps up.
What we install
All three STEK lines fit a Tesla. The difference is heat rejection, not looks.
- SMART+ nano-ceramic is what we keep in stock and what most Teslas leave with: up to 60% total solar rejection, 55 to 63% infrared. It books any open day.
- NEX+ graphene ceramic is the top line: up to 64% total solar, 62 to 66% infrared. Worth it on a black or dark blue car that parks outside, or when the roof heat is the main complaint.
- ACTION+ nano-carbon is the value line, permanent color, moderate heat rejection. Fine for a garaged car where the look is the priority.
Full spec tables by shade are on the window tint page.
The usual Tesla package
- Rear side windows and rear glass: 20% is the most popular call, 35% if you want to see out clearly at night, 05% for full privacy. All legal in California.
- Front side windows: a 70-series ceramic film. It looks almost clear and cuts the infrared by about 60%. That is the only legal option in California, and it is the one that matters most for the driver.
- Glass roof: same shade as the rear, as an add-on. From outside the roof already looks dark; from inside the difference in heat is immediate.
- Windshield: the top strip above the AS-1 line is legal. A full windshield needs a medical exemption letter; details are in our California tint law guide.
Prices at the Oakland shop
| Package | ACTION+ | SMART+ | NEX+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model 3, sides + rear | $540 | $680 | $940 |
| Model Y, sides + rear | $670 | $840 | $1,200 |
| Front two windows only | $245 | $310 | $425 |
| Add-on: glass roof | $260 | $310 | $420 |
| Add-on: windshield | $230 | $270 | $360 |
SMART+ in 70, 20 and 05 is in stock. Other shades and lines are ordered per job, arrive in about three days, and need a deposit.
What Tesla owners ask us about
Cameras and Autopilot. The forward cameras sit behind the windshield above the AS-1 line in an untinted zone, and the side cameras are in the fenders and B-pillars. Tint on the side glass and roof does not touch them.
Phone key and connectivity. No metal in any of the three films, so Bluetooth, LTE and GPS are unaffected. Metallized film from a bargain shop is the product that causes those complaints.
The rear glass. It is one large curved piece and should be tinted as one piece, heat-shrunk to the curve. Two-piece rear glass with a seam is the mark of a shop in a hurry.
Pairing with PPF or ceramic coating. Most of our Tesla work is a Full Front PPF plus tint in the same visit; the film crew is the same and the car goes home once. Our Model Y PPF guide covers the paint side.
Bottom line
For a Model 3 or Model Y that parks outside anywhere in the East Bay or South Bay, SMART+ sides and rear plus the glass roof is the package that changes how the car feels. Add legal 70-series ceramic fronts and the driver gets the benefit too. Book Shop Service, then Window Tint, on the booking page, or text us the model and the color.
FAQ
How much does it cost to tint a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y?
At our Oakland shop: sides and rear in STEK ACTION+ carbon $540 (Model 3) or $670 (Model Y); SMART+ ceramic $680 or $840; NEX+ graphene ceramic $940 or $1,200. The glass roof is an add-on: $260 ACTION+, $310 SMART+, $420 NEX+. Front windows on their own are $245, $310 or $425. A windshield strip or a full windshield with a medical letter is $230 to $360.
Should I tint the glass roof on a Tesla?
If you feel the heat on your head or your rear passengers complain, yes. The factory roof glass blocks UV well but lets a lot of infrared through. A ceramic film on the roof cuts that by more than half and does not change the look from outside. It is the single upgrade Model Y owners notice most.
What tint is legal on Tesla front windows in California?
The same rule as any car: glass plus film must pass at least 70% of visible light, and the film must be near-clear. Tesla front glass is light enough that a 70-series ceramic film (SMART+ 70 or NEX+ 70) stays legal and still rejects around 60% of infrared. Dark fronts are not legal in California and we do not install them.
Does tint interfere with Tesla cameras, Autopilot or the phone key?
No. The cameras look through untinted areas of the windshield and the fender and pillar housings, not through the side glass, and none of the three STEK films contain metal, so Bluetooth phone key, LTE, GPS and Supercharger communication are unaffected.
Can you tint the Model 3 or Model Y rear glass in one piece?
Yes. The rear glass is large and curved, and it is where a good installer earns the money: the film is heat-shrunk to the curve and laid as a single piece. Ask any shop to confirm one-piece rear glass before you book.
How long does a Tesla tint take?
Sides and rear on a Model 3 about three hours; Model Y about three and a half. Add an hour for the glass roof. Drop off in the morning and it is done the same day. Leave the windows up for three days while the film cures.