Hate getting into a hot car? These are the 12 best car sun shades to use this summer | CNN Underscored (2024)

Tunnacliffe says this reflective polyester option is the best windshield car shade. He calls it "a highly versatile, convenient and effective option," and praises its ease of use. "It is simple to install and can be quickly folded and stored in a compact pouch," he says, "making it much more convenient than traditional accordion-style sun shades, which can be quite bulky."

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For a custom windshield shade designed to fit your car perfectly, try Covercraft. “It provides excellent UV protection and fits well for various models, ensuring your vehicle stays cool and protected​,” says Paul Knoll, a marketing director at AmericanTrucks. The selection on Amazon is a bit limited, but the brand’s site allows you to enter your exact make and model for more options.

This highly rated windshield sun shade is made of five thick layers of aluminum and fabric, making it effective at protecting against the sun’s damaging UV rays. It even comes in fun statement colors, like Blue and Pink.

Tunnacliffe recommends this double-layered mesh sun shade for side windows. “It offers high-grade protection against UV rays while also stretching to accommodate most car windows,” he says. “Its dense spandex mesh reduces heat while also allowing the windows to be rolled down, letting cool breezes in to increase passenger comfort.”

WeatherTech’s full vehicle kits come with sun shades for the windshield, rear window and side window, so you don’t have to worry about buying each shade separately. “The Weathertech side-window shades are effective and easy to install,” Knoll says, “providing comprehensive coverage and protection.”

Tunnacliffe recommends this rear-window sun shade for its versatility. “It has the advantage of being able to stretch to fit both passenger windows and rear windows without compromising its effectiveness,” he says. “It features five powerful magnets that attach to the inside of the car, allowing users to easily maximize coverage and customize the shade to fit windows of varying shapes.”

This set of mesh sun shades for back windows and the rear windshield are made from an adhesive material that allows you to simply press them against the glass to stick them to the windows.

Families taking young children on road trips might want something more exciting to keep them entertained in their car seats. “For little ones,” Knoll says, “there are even special shades with fun characters and extra protection from the sun’s rays.” This one has the alphabet on it, but other options include animals, dinosaurs and maps.

“Reflective sun shades are designed to redirect the sun’s UV rays in order to minimize heat buildup within the vehicle,” Tunnacliffe says. Reviewers praise Kinder Fluff’s windshield shade for its coverage, flexibility and lightweight fabrication. It folds easily when not in use, and its compact storage bag allows you to stash it in an armrest compartment, side door panel or under your seat.

In addition to making cars more comfortable for drivers and passengers, reflective sun shades “also protect critical interior components like leather and hard plastic, which can absorb high amounts of heat, leading to degradation in the long term,” Tunnacliffe adds. This one is made of reflective polyester and comes with a steering wheel cover too.

“Mesh sun shades are a popular option for car windows,” Tunnacliffe says. “Whereas reflective sun shades are often attached to the windshield and used while the car is parked, mesh sun shades attach to the side and rear windows and can be used while the car is in motion.” This one clings on to the window by itself —no suction cups or adhesive needed.

Tunnacliffe says to look for mesh sun shades made of high-density polyester mesh, which reduces glare and heat from the sun while also allowing air to flow into the car. “This makes them highly effective at maintaining passenger comfort.” The Britax window shades also provide UPF 30 protection but are still sheer enough to see through the window.