Window tint
How long does window tint take?
Most cars are tinted in under three hours. Here is the clock by vehicle class, and what adds time.
- 5 · 45 Google reviews
- Wailuku, HI
Short answer
Window tint takes 1.5 to 2 hours on a sedan or compact SUV, 2 to 2.5 hours on a truck or mid-size SUV, and 2.5 to 3.5 hours on a full-size three-row SUV. Windshield film adds 30 to 45 minutes and removing old tint adds 30 to 60 minutes. The film then cures for 3 to 5 days with the windows up.
Key takeaways
- A sedan with four doors and back glass is done in about two hours at Offshore.
- Full-size three-row SUVs are the longest tint job, up to 3.5 hours, because of the cargo glass and quarter windows.
- Old tint removal is the biggest add-on, 30 to 60 minutes, because the adhesive has to come off the defroster lines intact; mainland cars with front tint too dark for Hawaii usually need it.
- You do not have to wait at the shop; drop off at 430 Hookahi St in Wailuku and the shop calls or texts when it is ready.
- Curing takes 3 to 5 days, so leave the windows up and expect a little haze early on.
How it works
- 01Book
Request a quote or call (808) 707-7064. Tint is usually same-day with a morning drop-off; the shop opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays.
- 02Drop off
No need to wait. Go to work or run errands in Kahului; the shop is about 8 minutes away in Wailuku.
- 03Prep and cut
Glass cleaned, film plotted and cut for your vehicle, then shrunk to the curve of each pane.
- 04Install
Film applied wet, squeegeed and trimmed, 1.5 to 3.5 hours depending on the vehicle.
- 05Pickup
Quality check under lights, then a call or text. Keep the windows up for 3 to 5 days.
What's specific to this vehicle
- Sedans
- Four doors plus back glass, 1.5 to 2 hours. This is the fastest common tint job.
- Trucks
- 2 to 2.5 hours. A rear sliding window adds 15 to 30 minutes because the film has to be worked around the sliding mechanism.
- Compact and mid-size SUVs
- Compact SUVs run 1.5 to 2 hours; mid-size with quarter glass 2 to 2.5 hours.
- Full-size three-row SUVs
- 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Two cargo panes, quarters, four doors and a large back glass make it the biggest job on this list.
- Tesla
- Model 3 and Model Y carry large rear glass, so plan on 2.5 to 3 hours rather than the sedan range. Eligible roof glass is a separate add-on.
- Windshield film
- Adds 30 to 45 minutes. The film has to work around the mirror mount and any sensors, and only V10 and V16 ceramic tiers are offered on windshields.
Window tint prices
The same catalog the Tint Lab and your quote use: catalog hours × $100/hr + 4.712000000000001% tax, included below. A 50% deposit holds the slot.
| Glass | V6 Comfort | V10 Ceramic IR | V16 Ceramic IR MAX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan / truck: 4 doors + back glass | $260.73 | $344.50 | $417.80 |
| Sedan / crossover: 4 doors + quarters + back glass | $302.62 | $365.44 | $459.69 |
| SUV: 4 doors + 2 cargo + back glass | $382.20 | $449.21 | $522.51 |
| Truck: 2 doors + back glass | $193.72 | $281.68 | $344.50 |
| + Windshield | — | $314.12 | $418.74 |
| + Brow | $57.58 | $94.23 | $146.59 |
Timeline
- Drop-off
Quick walk-around, the film tier and coverage are confirmed, the front windows are metered, and you leave the car at 430 Hookahi St.
- Prep
Ammonia-free clean of every pane. Old tint, if any, comes off here (adds 30 to 60 minutes).
- Film cut
Film is computer-cut to your exact glass pattern, then heat-shrunk to the curved panes.
- Install
Each pane is installed wet, squeegeed flat and trimmed. Sedans finish around the two-hour mark, three-row SUVs closer to 3.5.
- Pickup
Quality check, a call or text to you, the Hawaii tint certificate, and care notes: windows up for 3 to 5 days.
- Days 2 to 4
Moisture under the film evaporates. Haze and small water pockets clear on their own; do not press on them.
The clock, by vehicle
The honest answer to “how long does window tint take” is that it depends on how many panes you have and how curved they are, not on the film. At Offshore, window tint on a sedan with four doors and a back glass runs 1.5 to 2 hours. A truck is 2 to 2.5 hours. A compact SUV sits with the sedans, a mid-size SUV with the trucks, and a full-size three-row SUV is the long job at 2.5 to 3.5 hours.
The film tier changes the price, not the clock. V6 Comfort, V10 Ceramic IR and V16 Ceramic IR MAX all go on the same way, and the tint estimator on the window tint page prices your exact coverage and tier, with Hawaii GET included, before you book.
What adds time
Old tint is the one that catches people. Purple, bubbled film from a previous owner, or front film from the mainland that reads darker than Hawaii’s 35% limit, has to come off, and the adhesive has to be lifted off the rear defroster grid without breaking a line. Budget 30 to 60 minutes. A windshield adds 30 to 45 minutes because the film has to be cut around the mirror mount and any sensors, and it is only offered on the V10 and V16 ceramic tiers. Trucks with a rear sliding window add 15 to 30 minutes, since the slider and the fixed panes are done separately.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y deserve a note. The large rear glass takes longer to shrink than an ordinary back window, so plan on 2.5 to 3 hours, and read the Tesla Model Y tint page if that is your car.
While you wait, and after
You do not have to wait. Drop the car at 430 Hookahi St in Wailuku, go to work or run errands in Kahului, and the shop calls or texts you when it has passed the final quality check. You leave with the tint certificate Hawaii law requires; keep it in the vehicle.
Curing is the part people forget. The film is installed wet and the last of that moisture evaporates through the film over 3 to 5 days. Keep the windows up the whole time. A light haze or a few small water pockets in the first days are normal; they clear without help, and pressing on them makes things worse, not better.
If you need the car back fastest, book a morning slot for a sedan or compact SUV with no removal. That is the job behind tint in 2 hours. The quote form takes a minute and the tint estimator shows the price before you book.
Questions
How long does window tint take for a sedan?
About 1.5 to 2 hours for four doors and back glass. Add the windshield and plan on 2 to 3 hours.
How long does tint take on an SUV or truck?
Trucks and mid-size SUVs take 2 to 2.5 hours. Full-size three-row SUVs take 2.5 to 3.5 hours because of the extra cargo and quarter glass.
How long does window tint take to cure?
3 to 5 days in warm weather. Leave the windows up for that period; haze and small water pockets under the film are normal and disappear as the moisture evaporates.
Can I wait at the shop?
You can, but most people drop off and leave. The shop is in Wailuku, a few minutes from Kahului, and calls or texts when the car is ready.
Does removing old tint add time?
Yes, 30 to 60 minutes. The old film and its adhesive come off carefully so the rear defroster lines stay intact. A car shipped from the mainland with front tint too dark for Hawaii usually needs the fronts removed and redone.
What is the fastest tint option?
A sedan or compact SUV with four doors and back glass, no removal, booked for a morning drop-off. That is routinely a two-hour job, and the reason Offshore offers tint in about 2 hours.
Get my pricePriced for your vehicle in the shop, before you book.
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