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Reflective window film reduces heat, glare, and UV by
creating a mirror-like effect on the glass surface. There are two types:
metallic reflective film (like Silver 15), which has the same high level of
reflectivity on both the interior and exterior, and ceramic reflective film
(like ComforTech), which is dual reflective — engineered with higher
reflectivity on the exterior (where you want it for solar control) and lower
reflectivity on the interior (so your view out is clearer and the silver effect
inside is minimized). Both block heat effectively; the difference is how they
look and feel from inside your home.
When most people search for “reflective window film,” they picture a mirrored surface — the kind that turns your windows into one-way mirrors. That’s one option. But it’s not the only one, and for most homeowners, it’s not the best one.
Reflective film is really a performance category, not a single product. It describes window film that reflects solar energy away from your home — reducing heat, cutting glare, and blocking UV. What varies dramatically between products is what the film looks like from the inside.
This guide covers every reflective window film option Concord Window Film offers, explains the key difference between metallic and ceramic reflective film, and helps you choose the right option for your home.
Window film works by absorbing and reflecting solar energy before it passes through your glass. Reflective films are specifically engineered to bounce a significant portion of incoming solar radiation back outward — the same way a mirror reflects light.
The result is measurable: less heat entering your home, lower cooling costs, and significantly reduced glare. All of Concord’s reflective films also block 99% of UV rays, which protects furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading.
The key performance metrics to understand:
These are the key performance metrics that the International Window Film Association and the National Fenestration Rating Council – the third party agency that rates windows and window films – have determined are the most important.
Read more about the key window film performance metrics here.
We offer two types of reflective film at Concord Window Film: metallic and ceramic film. Both metallic and ceramic reflective films perform well for heat and glare control. The difference isn’t performance — it’s the interior experience.
| Metallic Reflective (Silver 15) | Ceramic Reflective (ComforTech) | |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Metallic / vacuum-sputtered coating | Ceramic nano-particles — no metal |
| Exterior Appearance | Bright silver mirror look | Lightly reflective / subtle sheen |
| Interior Appearance | Same interior and exterior reflectivity | Lower interior reflectivity from dual reflective technology |
| Privacy (daytime) | Strong one-way privacy | Depends on shade |
| Heat Rejection (TSER) | Very high (~79%) | Varies: High to Very High (69% - 82%) |
| UV Blocking | 99%+ | 99% + |
| Best for: | Maximum heat + privacy; mirror look OK | Heat + glare control with reduced interior reflectivity |
Concord Window Film offers four reflective options, including three ceramic shades and one maximum-reflectivity metallic film.
Our three darkest ComforTech Ceramic Series shades (25, 15 and 05) offer enough exterior reflectivity to be considered a reflective film or privacy film. One of the key benefits to a ceramic reflective window film is its dual reflective technology. This allows the exterior side of the film to have a higher reflectivity for strong solar control, while maintaining a lower interior reflectivity where you don’t want it.
ComforTech 25 is our lightest reflective film in our ceramic line.
ComforTech 25 lets in more natural light than the darker shades while still delivering significant heat and UV protection. It’s the best choice for rooms where natural light is important — sunrooms, kitchens, or north-facing windows — but where you still want to reduce heat and protect against fading.
| Performance Spec | ComforTech 25 |
|---|---|
| Visible Light Transmission | 23 |
| Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) | 69 |
| Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) | .31 |
| Total Solar Reflectance | 36 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Exterior | 40 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Interior | 17 |
ComforTech 15 is the most popular choice for people looking for a dark film with strong solar control for residential windows.
It delivers excellent heat and glare reduction with great daytime privacy — enough that passersby can’t easily see in, but without the full mirror effect of Silver 15. The interior view stays true to color.
| Performance Spec | ComforTech 15 |
|---|---|
| Visible Light Transmission | 15 |
| Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) | 75 |
| Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) | .25 |
| Total Solar Reflectance | 44 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Exterior | 47 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Interior | 21 |
ComforTech 05 is the darkest shade in the ceramic series, offering the strongest heat and glare reduction with the most privacy. From the outside it appears as a dark, reflective surface. From inside, the view remains clear with a neutral charcoal tone — no silver cast.
| Performance Spec | ComforTech 05 |
|---|---|
| Visible Light Transmission | 7 |
| Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) | 82 |
| Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) | .18 |
| Total Solar Reflectance | 54 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Exterior | 65 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Interior | 14 |
Silver 15 is a traditional metallic reflective film that creates a one-way mirror effect during daylight hours.
It offers excellent daytime privacy and among the highest heat rejection of any film we carry at a lower cost than ceramic film. The trade-off: the interior reflectivity is the same as the exterior reflectivity so you will have a silver mirror look inside at night.
| Performance Spec | Silver 15 Reflective |
|---|---|
| Visible Light Transmission | 15 |
| Total Solar Energy Rejected (TSER) | 79 |
| Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) | .21 |
| Total Solar Reflectance | 54 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Exterior | 62 |
| Visible Light Reflectance Interior | 62 |
| Film | VLT | TSER | SHGC | Ext. Reflectivity | Int. Reflectivity | UV Block | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ComforTech 25 | 23 | 69 | .31 | 40 | 17 | 99 | Balance light & heat control; good privacy |
| ComforTech 15 | 15 | 75 | .25 | 47 | 21 | 99 | Strong heat, glare + excellent privacy |
| ComforTech 05 | 7 | 82 | .18 | 65 | 14 | 99 | Max heat, glare + privacy |
| Silver 15 Reflective | 16 | 79 | .21 | 62 | 62 | 99 | Max privacy + mirror aesthetic |
Choosing a window film is a trade-off between the solar control performance of the film and howmuch light you want to come through the windows. The right window film for you, is therefore dependant on your personal preferences and aesthetic.
We offer the chart below as a starting point for choosing your film and encourage everyone to order our Window Film Sample Kit to see the film your own space before committing.
| If your priority is: | Best Choice: | Why: |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum heat rejection | ComforTech 05 or Silver 15 Reflective | Both offer the highest TSER in our lineup. ComforTech 05’s dual-reflective design reduces interior reflectivity; Silver 15’s uniform metallic coating adds the full mirror effect inside. |
| Signficant Heat Rejection | ComforTech 15 | Strong performance, excellent privacy, reduced interior reflectivity. Our most popular dark residential choice. |
| Neutral interior look (no silver cast) | Any ComforTech shade (05, 15, or 25) | Dual-reflective ceramic construction keeps the interior reflectivity low. |
| Budget-conscious solar control and daytime privacy | Silver 15 Reflective | Creates a strong one-way mirror during daylight hours. Note: privacy reverses at night when interior is brighter. |
| Preserving natural light while blocking heat | ComforTech 25 | Highest VLT in the ceramic series — lets in the most natural light while still providing privacy and reducing heat. |
| Protecting furniture and floors from fading | Any film in this guide | All four options block 99% of UV rays — the primary cause (40%) of interior fading, while reducing heat and visible light. |
“Reflective window film” describes a whole category — not one product.
If you are looking for a lower cost film and are OK with an interior mirror look and maximum daytime privacy, Silver 15 is your answer.
If you want high heat and glare performance with less interior reflectivity and a clearer view from inside, ComforTech’s dual-reflective ceramic series is the better fit.
Both block 99% of UV and significantly outperform untreated glass.
Order a window film sample kit and see the film in your own space before you buy. This is the best way to determine which film and shade is right for you!
Our sample kit comes with 5″ x 7″ pieces of all five shades of our ComforTech Ceramic Series window film along with our Matte White Privacy and Silver 15 Reflective films. The kit costs $5 but comes with a coupon code for $5 off your first film purchase!
