Block out heat and damaging UV rays with one of these editor-recommended picks.
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Outdoor parking can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s interior, thanks to heat and ultraviolet rays from the sun. Prolonged exposure causes materials to break down over time, leading to discoloration, dryness, cracking, or stickiness to plastics.
A car sun shade is the answer to preventing this kind of damage when your vehicle is parked on the street or a shadeless lot. In addition to protecting the interior, they also help keep the car cool (well, cooler), which means less time you have to spend blasting hot air until the a/c kicks in. Read on for our recommendations on the best options out there, plus advice to consider before you shop.
For more automotive interior products, check out our picks for interior carpet cleaners, cup holder adapters, and car floor mats.
The Best Car Sun Shades
- Best Overall: A1 Shades Car Sun Shade
- Best Budget: EzyShade Reflective Two-Piece Sun Shade
- Best Accordion-Style: Dash Designs Retractable Windshield Sun Shade
- Best for Passenger Windows: Enovoe Car Window Sun Shade
- Best for Trucks: Magnelex Car Windshield Sunshade
What to Consider
Material and Design
Most car shades have one dark fabric side, faces the inside of the vehicle, and a shiny reflective side, which faces out. The frame of the shade is usually lightweight aluminum, rigid enough to hold its place inside the windshield but flexible enough to be folded down for storage. Some shades even have an umbrella mechanism for collapsing or expanding with just a few clicks.
In addition to opaque sun shades made to be installed while parked, there are also semi-transparent sun shades made to cover side windows and shield passengers from UV rays while you’re driving. This type of shade is particularly useful for those with small children in the back seat or for ride-share drivers.
Dimensions
One of the most important factors when searching for a shade is going to be the size and shape. Some models provide sizing details on how a shade fits a particular vehicle, while others only give generalized height and width dimensions. You’ll want something to give complete coverage of the windshield without falling down or being too cramped, so make sure you measure your windshield to ensure you’re purchasing the correct size.
Pieces in Set
Car sun shades can come in one large piece or a two-piece set. A two-piece set gives you more flexibility for full coverage, but the fit won’t be as snug as a single shade. A pack may also include additional pieces to cover the side windows and rear windshield, or a carrying bag so you’ll easily be able to keep the shade stowed and safe in your car for when a sunny day strikes.
How We Selected
As an automotive writer, I’ve spent over six years reviewing cars and automotive products, including interior accessories like sun shades. I also regularly use sun shades like these in my personal vehicle. In looking at options for this story, I considered product material, design, shade size, and number of pieces in the set, among other factors. I chose the best sun shades across a variety of categories to suit a wide range of needs and budgets.
Pros
One piece, with seven sizes available- Compact storage with bag included
Cons
- Awkward storage procedure
This one-piece car sun shade is available in seven different sizes—the most of any we cover—to give you a custom fit for a variety of cars, trucks, and SUVs. At the smallest size listed, this shade is about 59 inches wide by 21 inches tall, and 69 inches wide by 39 inches tall at the largest. There’s also roughly 9 inches of slack in the center for narrower windshields. Along with the size range, we appreciate the manufacturer’s easy-to-read size chart.
The shade folds in half and twists into a compact package to stow in the included storage bag. Performing this operation inside a car may be too unwieldy, however, so we recommend collapsing it outside.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 59 x 21 in. (S) to 69 x 39 in. (L) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 5 oz |
| Pieces in Set | 1 |
Pros
- Three sizes available
- Adjustable coverage
Cons
- Looser fit than one-piece shade
This simple kit comes with two rounded rectangular shades, with three sizes available to suit everything from smaller coupes to larger SUVs. For narrower windshields, the pieces easily overlap, which gives a degree of adjustability.
To install, the semi-rigid sides of each shade are simply pushed into the windshield frame, then the factory sun visors can flip down for additional support. Before you disembark, you can twist them into a compact size and zip them into the included carrier bag.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 29 x 23.5 in. (S); 31 x 28 in. (M); 36 x 32.5 in. (L) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7 to 9 oz |
| Pieces in Set | 3 (bag included) |
Pros
- Adjustable size
- Compact and inconspicuous
Cons
- Hard to get a perfect fit
This product uses an accordion-style polyester material, much like a cellular shade. That also lends it a great degree of adjustability, as you can stretch the shade to your desired width. The only drawback is that you have to adjust the size every time you install the shade.
The full height of the fabric measures 25 inches, and it weighs less than a pound. Installation is a snap, with double-sided tape to mount it to the passenger side, and it connects to a hook that’s mounted on the driver’s side. When not in use, the shade stores inside the casing, so it’s fairly inconspicuous.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 25 in. high, up to 44 in. wide |
|---|---|
| Weight | 15.2 oz |
| Pieces in Set | 1 |
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Pros
- Semi-transparent
- Static-cling installation
Cons
- Prevents window from rolling down
Perfect for parents or ride-share drivers, this shade is meant to live on side windows instead of the main windshield, left in place while you’re driving. The mesh fabric filter eliminates sunlight glare and blocks a claimed 90 percent of UV rays while still allowing a good amount of outward visibility.
The medium-size car sun shade comes in either a two- or a four-pack, for more coverage options. Larger versions are also available to suit bigger sedans and SUVs. The only caveat is that you can’t roll down the window while the shade is stuck to it.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 21 x 14 in. to 25 x 16 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 4.6 to 9 oz |
| Pieces in Set | 2 to 4 |
Pros
- Wide coverage
- Steering wheel cover included
Cons
- Size may hinder storage
This extra-large shade offers 65.7 by 36.4 inches of coverage for use in pickup trucks and SUVs. It features a reflective silver polyester outer layer to fully block both UV and heat. It can also fold in half for storage, but the large size may make that process more difficult.
There’s a storage bag included, along with a bonus steering wheel cover, which can help keep the vehicle’s controls at a safe temperature while parked in the heat.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 65.7 x 36.4 in. |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.5 oz |
| Pieces in Set | 3 (bag and steering wheel cover included) |
Pros
- Ten-layer insulation
- Three sizes available
Cons
- Non-adjustable fit
This collapsible umbrella-style sun shade boasts superior performance thanks to ten layers of material dedicated to blocking UVA, UVB, infrared heat, and all visible light.
The folding mechanism comes in three sizes, and each has a notch cut out to accommodate the rearview mirror. Once collapsed, the shade slots into the included carrying bag, and the package is small enough to be stowed away in a glovebox or door pocket. The handlebar of the umbrella mechanism is also flexible to stop it being obstructed by vehicles with high dashboards.
Key Specs
| Dimensions | 53 x 26 in. (S); 57 x 32 in. (M); 61 x 33 in. (L) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 to 1.28 lb |
| Pieces in Set | 2 (bag included) |
Talon Homer
Talon Homer is a writer and photographer out of South Carolina who was born with a love of cars, gaming, and advanced technology. He’s been featured in Car and Driver Magazine, Popular Mechanics and The Drive, covering consumer reporting, custom engineering projects, and transportation tech. If he’s not at the keyboard, he’s probably snapping photos at a race track or playing too much Halo.
