Can You Tint Skylights? Glass vs Plastic Domes Explained
Yes, you can tint skylights, as long as they’re glass and the inside of the glass can be reached safely. Film on a glass skylight works the same way as on a window, and because skylights face the sky, the difference in heat and glare is often bigger. Plastic domes and tubular skylights are a different story, and it’s worth knowing why before you get a quote.
Why skylights cause so much heat and glare
A skylight faces straight up, so it gets direct sun for much of the day, including the harsh midday sun that walls and eaves would normally block. A small skylight can let in a surprising amount of heat. A large one, or a row of roof glazing, can make a room uncomfortable all summer.
Common problems include:
- Rooms that overheat in the middle of the day
- Harsh glare and hot spots directly under the skylight
- Faded floors, rugs and furniture in a patch below it
- Kitchens and living areas that need the air conditioner running constantly
- Heat loss through the glass on winter nights
Which skylights can be tinted?
Glass skylights: usually yes
Flat or pitched glass skylights, roof windows and glass roof panels can usually be tinted. The film goes on the inside surface, the same as a normal window.
We still check the glass first. Skylights are often laminated or double glazed for safety, and these need the right film choice. Read can you tint double glazed windows? for more on why.
Plastic domes: usually no
Many older skylights are acrylic or polycarbonate domes. Most window films are designed and warranted for glass only. Plastic can expand and contract more than glass, scratch easily during installation and release gases over time, which can cause the film to bubble, haze or peel. If you have a plastic dome, replacing it with a glass or tinted unit is usually a better fix.
Tubular skylights: no
Tubular skylights have a small dome on the roof and a diffuser on the ceiling. There’s no practical way to apply window film to them, and they let in much less heat than a normal skylight anyway.
Hard-to-reach skylights
If the glass is at the top of a deep light well or over a stairwell, access is the main question. Sometimes a platform or scaffold is needed. In some cases, film can be applied to the outside of the glass instead, if the roof can be accessed safely. See when window film can go on the outside of the glass.
Choosing a film for a skylight
Skylights are there to bring in light, so most people don’t want them dark. The aim is usually to cut heat and glare while keeping as much daylight as possible.
Official Solar Gard figures on 6mm clear glass:
| Film | Visible light in | Heat rejected | Glare cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramic CX 60 | 61% | 40% | 31% |
| Ceramic CX 50 | 50% | 48% | 44% |
| LX 40 | 40% | 61% | 55% |
| Ceramic CX 35 | 37% | 58% | 58% |
| TrueVue 30 | 31% | 61% | 65% |
| Silver 20 | 16% | 77% | 82% |
Bright rooms like kitchens and hallways
A light ceramic film like CX 50 or CX 60 keeps the space bright while cutting heat, glare and UV.
Living areas that overheat
A medium film like CX 35 or LX 40 balances heat rejection and light.
Very hot roof glazing
For large glass roofs and sunrooms that are unbearable in summer, a reflective film like Silver 20 rejects 77% of solar heat. It will darken the space noticeably.
All of these films block more than 99% of UV, which protects floors and furniture below. See does window tint stop fading?
What about winter?
Skylights lose a lot of heat on cold nights because warm air rises and collects against the glass. A Low-E film like Ecolux reflects heat back into the room and also rejects summer heat. Read does Low-E window film keep heat in during winter?
Safety: working overhead
Tinting a skylight means working above head height, often over stairs, a kitchen bench or a void. Professional installers use proper platforms or scaffold and protect the area below from water, which is used during installation. This is not a job to attempt from a ladder on a stair landing.
It’s also harder to get a clean result overhead. Water and dust drop down, and the film has to be handled without creasing. That’s why skylight jobs take longer than a window of the same size.
How much does it cost to tint a skylight?
Most residential tinting in Sydney costs around $100 to $400 per square metre. Skylights usually sit at the higher end of that range because of access, setup time and the extra care needed overhead. If scaffold is needed, that adds to the cost. Send us a photo and the size of the skylight and we can tell you what’s involved. See how much window tinting costs in Sydney.
Signs your skylight film needs replacing
If your skylight already has film, look for:
- Bubbling or blistering
- Peeling at the edges
- A purple or brown colour
- Cracking or a crazed look
Old film on a skylight cops more sun than any window, so it ages faster. Removing it is fiddly overhead work. Read window tint removal: cost and when it’s needed.
Skylights in kitchens and bathrooms
Kitchens and bathrooms are where most skylights are found, and both have their own needs. In kitchens, the patch of sun from a skylight often lands on a benchtop or dining table, which gets hot and causes glare. A light ceramic film usually fixes this without making the kitchen darker. In bathrooms, skylights can add humidity and condensation challenges, so the glass should be dry and clean before film is applied, and the room should be well ventilated afterwards.
The bottom line
Can you tint skylights? Yes, if they’re glass and can be reached safely. Because skylights get direct sun most of the day, film often makes a bigger difference than on normal windows. A light ceramic film keeps the room bright while cutting heat, glare and UV. Plastic domes and tubular skylights aren’t suitable for standard window film.
As a Solar Gard Authorised Dealer, we tint glass skylights and roof glazing across Sydney with the manufacturer’s warranty. See our heat reduction window film page, or send a photo and sizes through the free quote form.
