If the sun often gets in your eyes during your work commute or you just do lots of driving, a sun visor extender is a worthwhile purchase. The last thing you want is for your eyes to suffer long-term damage, and sometimes your car’s visor doesn’t provide enough protection.
That said, there are some factors to consider when buying a visor extender, so we’ll discuss those, break down some of the best products available today, and show you how to find the right one for your needs. Let’s get started!
What to Look for in a Sun Visor Extender
Deciding which sun visor extender to buy can be more difficult than you think as there are several qualities to look for. You’ll want to consider how long the extender will last, how user-friendly and feature-rich it is as well as how effectively it protects you from the sun and improves your visibility while driving. We’ve taken all of these factors into account when choosing the products on our list.
Durability
There’s no point buying a visor extender if it won’t last you very long. You’ll want one that won’t break easily and is made of a material like acrylic, polycarbonate or polyurethane. Also, look for a visor extender that’s impact, temperature, and/or scratch-resistant.
Usability
We’ll discuss each visor extender’s overall user-friendliness. A good car visor extender fits your windshield/window, is easy to install, won’t fall off easily, can be put away when not in use, and is adjustable. Basically, you should get one that’s easy to use and makes your drives more comfortable, not more frustrating.
Effectiveness
Does the sun visor extender improve your view of the road and keep your skin and eyes safe? That’s what we’ll determine with this section of each review. You’ll want an extender that’ll stop you from squinting while you’re driving and reduce your risk of long-term health problems caused by lengthy, frequent exposure to sunlight.
Sun Visor Extender Types
It may surprise you to learn that there are actually two varieties of sun visor extenders. Thankfully, they’re easy to tell apart.
Visor-Mounted
These extenders attach to your vehicle’s visor by velcro, straps or screws. They either extend downward, to the side or both. Most sun visor extenders are visor-mounted.
Window-Mounted
These extenders attach to your car’s passenger and driver-side windows. They can be removed, reused and adjusted as needed. Additionally, they come in various sizes so they can cover just the space at eye level or the entire window.
Now that you know what to look for, here are our picks for the top sun visor extenders in 2020. If you’re looking to keep the sun out of your car when you’re not driving, be sure to check out our guides for buying sun shades for your windshield as well as your side windows.
Top 10 Best Sun Visor Extenders 2020
1. Best Overall Pick: SAILEAD Polarized Sun Visor Extender
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 12.6” x 5.5”
As far as all-around sun visor extenders go, the SAILEAD Polarized can’t be beaten. Its polarized surface does a great job reducing glare and improving visual clarity. It’s also highly adjustable, so you can make sure it’s at your eye level at all times. Once you factor in its remarkable durability and fast, easy installation process, you’ve got our top pick.
Durability
The SAILEAD Polarized Extender is built to last thanks to its polycarbonate construction. It ranks highly for its impact, temperature, and scratch-resistance, so it’ll serve you just as well in extreme winter and summer climates as it will during more moderate weather periods. You also won’t have to worry about delicately handling it all the time.
Usability
This extender is incredibly user-friendly due to its adjustability and easy installation. You can rotate it 360-degrees and change its distance from you by using the slider on the spring loader. Altering the extender’s orientation to match your eye level is a breeze. You can even install it with just one hand and fold it up out of view when you don’t need it.
Unfortunately, the SAILEAD Polarized Extender is only compatible with visors 5.1-8.2” wide, so fitting them onto larger visors can be an issue. The screen also has trouble staying in place during bumpy rides, meaning you might have to readjust it sometimes.
Effectiveness
The SAILEAD Polarized Extender knocks it out of the park here. As its name suggests, it has a polarized surface that blocks glare and improves visual clarity. You won’t have to squint or cover your eyes when you’re driving toward the sun or when light glares off of other cars’ bumpers, windows or headlights. It also blocks UV rays up to 100%, which will protect your eyes and skin over the long term.
Pros
- Reduces glare and blocks UV rays effectively
- Impact/temperature/scratch resistant
- Easy installation
- 360-degree adjustable
Cons
- Hard to fit on larger car visors
- Screen can be flimsy, especially on bumpy roads
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 14” x 3.25”
For those willing to drop some extra money to have the highest-quality sun visor extender, the Glare Guard Polarized is the only real option. Its high-quality polarized surface protects you from glare and UV rays. Between the extender’s great screen, its easy installation process, and the accessories that come with it, you have another top-tier choice. Its only serious drawback are its hinges as the screws in them can easily loosen and cause the extender to swing.
Durability
The Glare Guard Polarized Extender has its strengths and weaknesses here. On one hand, it’s made to be impact, temperature and scratch-resistant so it lasts longer. On the other hand, the hinge screws can sometimes loosen on their own, which makes the visor extender swing while you drive. The plastic pieces that attach the visor to the hinge are also weak, particularly at hot temperatures. One way to get around this is to carefully apply glue to the screws. However, in the worst-case scenario, the hinges can break entirely.
If you’d like a sun visor extender without these hinge problems that’s also impact, temperature and scratch resistant, consider the SAILEAD Polycarbonate.
Usability
Installing this visor extender takes less than a minute. Just clip it to your car’s built-in visor and attach the Velcro straps that come with it. Every purchase of this product also gives you a microfiber cleaning cloth and an instruction sheet.
Effectiveness
The Glare Guard Polarized Extender is made of a high-quality polarized film that blocks glare and up to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, so you can see more easily while driving and rest assured that your eyes and skin are protected. It provides this safety without excessively darkening your view, and the acrylic material in the visor keeps everything you see clear.
Pros
- Easily blocks UVA/UVB rays and glare
- Comes with accessories
- Easy installation
Cons
- Screws in the hinges can easily come loose
- Plastic hinge pieces are sometimes weak
3. Best Budget Pick: SAILEAD Sunshade Extender
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 12.2-21.6” x 5.1-8.2”
The SAILEAD Sunshade Extender offers a solid alternative to those who don’t want to break the bank on a sun visor extender. Like other visor extenders, it blocks glare and UV rays. It offers fast, easy installation and fits all built-in car visors wider than 4.7”. Its side and bottom panels can be adjusted at any time to suit your needs.
The downside is that the extender can weigh your car’s built-in visor down over time as it’s heavier than some other options. The side panel can also get in the way of the rearview mirror when it’s fully extended.
Durability
The SAILEAD Sunshade Extender is surprisingly durable given its low price. It should last you for at least a year thanks to its polyurethane and polycarbonate construction.
Usability
Making the SAILEAD Sunshade Extender attach comfortably likely won’t be an issue since it fits any car visor wider than 4.7”. It’s also easy to install and comes with instructions to do so.
The extender’s elastic straps help it fit snugly to your car’s built-in visor most of the time, though the product’s weight can cause problems. You may need to tighten the straps after some use or the extender can start to sag and drag the built-in visor down over time.
If you’re interested in an extender with adjustable side and bottom panels that won’t weigh your car’s built-in visor down, take a look at the TFY Car Visor.
Effectiveness
This visor extender does a great job blocking glare and UV rays, and you can adjust its bottom and side panels any time. The only real disadvantage to the adjustable panels is that the side visor can partially block the rearview mirror, especially if it’s fully extended.
Pros
- Great durability for such a low price
- Fits most car visors easily
- Adjustable side and bottom panels
Cons
- Side panel can block rear view mirror, especially if fully extended
- Heavy weight can make car visor sag over time if the extender isn’t properly secured
4. Best Window-Mounted: TuckVisor BLACKOUT Side Window Visor
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Window-Mounted
- Dimensions: 18” x 7.5”
Most sun visor extenders attach to a car’s built-in visor, but the TuckVisor offers a great alternative for those who want a window-mounted option. You just have to tuck it between the window and the trim, and you’re done. No installation is required, and you can remove or adjust it whenever you want. Better yet, it fits 90% of all vehicles and is made to last for years.
The only real downside is you may have to get used to seeing it in your peripheral vision while you drive.
Durability
The TuckVisor is made of opaque, thin, semi-rigid material and is made to last a lifetime. There have been no major issues reported regarding the product’s durability, so you won’t have to worry about buying a replacement for a long time.
Usability
User-friendliness is one of the TuckVisor’s greatest advantages. Unlike with some other visor supplements, you won’t have to worry about compatibility since it’s made to fit typically shaped vehicle windows. If your side window’s shape is different from that of other vehicles, you can use scissors to make any necessary alterations to the TuckVisor so it fits.
Just tuck it between the window and the trim while pressing it flat against the surface. You can move it around the top of your window and take it down as needed. You may need to remove it when you roll down the window.
Effectiveness
The TuckVisor blocks sunlight, heat and harmful UV rays with ease. It’s a great choice if you’re often irritated by sunlight that shines in your driver or passenger-side window just past the edge of your car’s built-in visor. However, you’ll have to get used to seeing it in your peripheral vision.
Pros
- No installation required
- Can be moved around the top of the window or removed as needed
- Great at protecting against sun, heat and UV rays coming in from side windows
Cons
- Could be distracting having it in your peripheral vision
- Must be removed when you roll down the window
5. Best Polycarbonate Lens: SAILEAD Polycarbonate
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 12.2-21.6” x 5.1-8.2”
The SAILEAD Polycarbonate shares many of the same great qualities as its manufacturer’s other products. These features include the polarized surface that fights glare and blocks UVA and UVB rays, its easy installation and resistance to impacts, scratches and extreme temperatures. It even fits nicely above your car’s visor when it’s not in use.
Durability
As its name suggests, this sun visor extender is made out of polycarbonate, so it’s built to last. It’s also impact, temperature and scratch-resistant, so you don’t have to worry too much about damaging it.
Usability
Like other SAILEAD products, the SAILEAD Polycarbonate takes little time or effort to install. It’s compatible with most cars, and the Velcro straps provide a strong grip for the extender. Finally, it fits nicely above the visor when you fold it up, meaning storage isn’t a concern.
The SAILEAD Polycarbonate’s only notable weakness in this area is that the velcro on the straps sometimes isn’t enough to give it the best fit on smaller visors.
Effectiveness
The extender’s polarized surface does a great job blocking glare and UVA/UVB rays while giving you a clear view of the road ahead. There’s also no gap between your car’s built-in visor and the extender, so you don’t have to worry about any beams of sunlight poking through and making you squint.
Pros
- Polycarbonate construction grants durability
- Blocks glare and UVA/UVB rays
- Easy to store above visor when not in use
Cons
- A bit hard to fit on smaller car visors
6. Best Basic Sun Visor Extender: Trillium Worldwide Sun Shield
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 11.75” x 4”
If saving money is your primary concern but you still want a reliable sun visor extender, then consider the Trillium Worldwide Sun Shield. Its durable polycarbonate screen blocks glare and over 90% of UVA and UVB rays. Plus, installation takes only seconds and you can easily fit it above your car’s built-in visor when it’s not in use.
On the other hand, the extender’s clips can seriously dig into your car’s built-in visor over time and leave deep marks. Additionally, the hinges can break from excessive stress. If you’d like an effective, easy-to-install visor without these issues, take a look at the SAILEAD Polycarbonate.
Durability
The Sun Shield’s shatterproof, polycarbonate screen scores it some points in this category, but the hinges have been known to break under stress. Make sure you don’t use too much force when adjusting the extender.
Usability
Installing the Sun Shield is simple: just clip it onto your car visor. It fits nicely above the visor when not in use, so storage isn’t an issue. The clips maintain a strong, secure grip on the visor which prevents it from moving, sagging, or falling off during bumpy drives. Unfortunately, the clips’ strength can also be a drawback since they can dig into your car visor and leave marks behind.
Effectiveness
The Sun Shield’s anti-glare screen keeps you safe from incoming sunlight and blocks over 90% of UVA and UVB rays. Just make sure that you can see clearly through it once you set it up.
Pros
- Installation takes seconds
- Blocks glare and UVA/UVB rays
- Stays in place during bumpy rides
Cons
- Clips can cut into your car’s built-in visor
- Hinges can break easily
7. Easy to Install: TFY Sunshade Extender
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 12.2-19.29” x 5.12-7.68”
If aesthetics aren’t one of your concerns and you only care about a car visor extender’s functionality, then the TFY Sunshade Extender is a good choice. It’ll protect you from glare and UV rays like other extenders will, and installation is fast and easy.
The product’s downsides are that it isn’t the prettiest choice, and sometimes it can get worn down quickly. The sliding panels sometimes aren’t that easy to manage either, so you should get them in the position you want before you start driving. The SAILEAD Sunshade Extender is a better choice if you want a product with more durability and larger sliding panels.
Durability
The TFY Sunshade Extender has a joint polyurethane/polycarbonate build, but its edges do show noticeable wear over time. You won’t have to worry about buying a replacement too soon after purchasing this extender, but it’s also not the most durable option.
Usability
Installing the extender is simple, and it fits snugly above the car visor when it’s folded up. Just make sure you adjust the side and bottom panels so they’re where you want them before you start driving since they can be hard to manipulate and you always want your eyes on the road.
Effectiveness
The TFY Sunshade Extender does a great job blocking UV rays and sun glare so you can drive without distractions. Its bottom and side panels don’t extend as far as those of comparable products, however.
Pros
- Quick installation, no tools required
- Blocks glare and UV rays
- Fits above car’s built-in visor when not in use
Cons
- Not the most aesthetically pleasing choice
- The material chips away easily
- Bottom and side panels are shorter than the ones on other sun visor extenders
8. Best Two-Panel Sun Visor Extender: Lebogner Sun Visor
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 11.75” x 5.25”
In addition to holding a place as the final budget option on our list, the Lebogner Sun Visor has a design unlike most other extenders. It has two anti-glare panels, a grey one for daytime use and a yellow one for nighttime use. The panels block more than 90% of UV rays, and installation couldn’t be simpler! Just clip the Lebogner onto your car visor.
On the other hand, the Lebogner’s distinctive composition does have its drawbacks. Whenever you want to use one panel, you have to move the other one out of the way, which can be somewhat inconvenient. The grey visor also isn’t as effective as other visors at blocking glare during the day.
Durability
The Lebogner is made with longevity in mind, boasting a construction of shatterproof material that’s intended to last for years.
Usability
The extender is compatible with most vehicles due to its simple installation. You just clip the Lebogner to your car’s visor and you’re ready to go!
The downside is that dealing with two panels all the time can be difficult since you have to make sure that whenever you use one panel, the other isn’t in the way. You might have to remove one of the panels sometimes to make the Lebogner easier to handle. Alternatively, you could take it down and flip it over. The extender also doesn’t come with instructions on how to address these issues.
Effectiveness
Both of the Lebogner’s panels block over 90% of UV rays and are made to reduce glare. Unfortunately, the grey panel meant for daytime use isn’t as glare resistant as it could be, so you might have to wear sunglasses while driving on sunny days.
Pros
- Easy installation and compatible with most vehicles
- Shatterproof material enhances durability
- Blocks over 90% of UV rays
Cons
- Doesn’t come with instructions
- Grey panel (the one used during the day) isn’t as effective as it could be
- Can be awkward to always manage two panels
9. Best 2-Pack: TFY Car Visor
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 12.2-19.29” x 5.12-7.68”
The TFY Car Visor shares many of the same strengths as the other TFY product on our list, the TFY Sunshade Extender, as well as some of its weaknesses. It offers an easy, no-tools-required installation and effectively blocks glare and UV rays. It also tucks nicely away above the visor when it’s not being used.
On the downside, the polycarbonate sliders can be difficult to push and pull. You’ll have to manipulate them slowly and gently so that they don’t get stuck, so you should get the extender set up the way you want before you start driving. Like the other TFY product we’ve discussed, the TFY Car Visor isn’t all that good-looking either.
Durability
The TFY Car Visor is made of polyurethane and has polycarbonate sliders. Like its fellow TFY products, it’ll last you for a while, but there are more durable options available.
Usability
The TFY Car Visor is mostly user-friendly with its no-tools-required installation process and ability to fit above your car’s built-in visor when you’re not using it. The extender’s only significant disadvantage in this category is that it can be hard to move the sliders in and out as they might get stuck. You’ll want to set the extender up before you start driving.
Effectiveness
The extender is great at blocking glare and UV rays, so you can count on it to make your drives safer and less stressful.
Pros
- Fast, easy installation
- Easy to store when not in use
- Blocks glare and UV rays
Cons
- Sliders can be frustrating to extend and retract
- Not the prettiest sun visor extender
10. Best for Nighttime: Eyes Security Sun Visor Extender
Editor’s Rating:
Quick Facts:
- Type: Visor-Mounted
- Dimensions: 12.7” x 4.7”
Rounding off our list is one last mid-range option, the Eyes Security Sun Visor Extender. It has two screens, one dark gray shield meant for daytime use and one yellow shield meant for nighttime use. The gray shield blocks 97.4% of UV rays and resists glare. The installation process is simple since you just clip the extender onto the car’s built-in visor. The adjustable clip also provides a sizable compatibility range for the product as well.
On the other hand, the daytime shield often isn’t as strong as it should be, possibly because the material for both shields is pretty thin. You should also exercise caution when using the product since the shields can easily get scratched or cracked.
Durability
The Eyes Security Sun Visor Extender has a joint polypropylene and thermoplastic rubber composition, and it’s heat-resistant. The problem is that the screens are easy to crack or scratch, so be careful when you adjust the extender or bring anything near it.
Usability
The installation process is quite easy: just clip the extender onto your car’s built-in visor. The clip’s adjustment range of 4.5-7.5” grants it compatibility with most vehicles. Unfortunately, the product doesn’t come with any instructions, so finding solutions to any problems you encounter with the product’s use can be difficult.
Effectiveness
The dark gray shield has its pluses and minuses. It blocks 97.4% of UV light, but it also isn’t as good at blocking sunlight and glare as other extenders on our list. The yellow night shield is great at reducing glare from streetlights and headlights, however.
Pros
- Great at blocking UV rays
- Wide compatibility range
- Easy installation
Cons
- No instructions provided
- Screens can get scratched and/or cracked easily
- Gray daytime visor not as effective as it could be
Your Guide to Sun Visor Extenders
A good sun visor extender can make your car trips much more comfortable and safe, which is why it’s a shame that so many drivers choose to go without them and suffer from the harsh sun. Read on for a discussion about the benefits a sun visor extender can provide as well as some suggestions on how to find the best one for your needs.
Sun Visor Extenders Help Keep You Healthy and Comfortable
Let’s face it: having the sun in your eyes during your daily work commute is the worst. Not only is it annoying, but it’s unsafe and harmful to your eyes and skin in the long term.
For one thing, bright sunlight and glare can obstruct your view of the road, which increases your risk of getting into an accident. Additionally, long-term overexposure to UV rays from the sun presents serious health risks, which we’ll discuss in more detail shortly.
Luckily, many of the products we talked about on our list can reduce glare and block UV rays, like the SAILEAD Polarized Sun Visor Extender or the Glare Guard Polarized Car Visor Extender, among others.
Sun visor extenders also reduce eye strain since you won’t have to squint and stare so intently when the sun is facing you. Not to mention, being able to clearly see the road at all times makes driving less stressful. Any way you look at it, sun visor extenders are a worthwhile investment.
How to Find the Right Sun Visor Extender for You
The first step to determining which extender you should buy is to choose between window-mounted and visor-mounted.
If the sun is usually off to one side during your drives, then choose a window-mounted extender like the TuckVisor BLACKOUT Side Window Visor. If the sun is front of you even some of the time, you should get a visor-mounted extender since they can alternate between covering the windshield or side window.
For visor-mounted extenders, you have to choose whether you want an option with a size-adjustable screen and if you want it to be transparent or opaque.
Usually, non-adjustable extenders are transparent, and they’re a good choice if they’re large enough to cover the area you need. The first two choices on our list fit these requirements as do the Lebogner Sun Visor and the Eyes Security Sun Visor Extender.
On the other hand, size-adjustable extenders tend to be opaque. As long as you can still see the road while using them, they’re a great choice, especially since you can alter the area they cover as needed. The SAILEAD Sunshade Extender is a fine example. The SAILEAD Polycarbonate is an exception to this trend as the bottom slider is transparent, so you can get the benefits of an adjustable visor extender while maintaining a clear view of the road.
FAQ
What Are UV Rays and Why Are They Bad?
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are a product of ultraviolet radiation, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation produced by the sun and a variety of human-made devices. While UV rays do have some health benefits, such as helping the human body produce Vitamin D, they pose several severe health risks.
Most notably, overexposure to UV rays can increase your risk of skin cancer, whether they came from the sun or a human-made source like tanning beds/booths. Other possible health issues include sunburn, premature skin aging, impaired vision, and a weakened immune system.
If you want to know more about UV rays, you can see what the CDC has to say. For a specific discussion on the health risks they pose, check out this article.
What’s the Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays?
You may have noticed throughout this guide that we sometimes made the distinction between UVA and UVB rays, and you might wonder what distinguishes them from each other. The differences between the two types of rays are shown in how much energy they have and how much of a health risk they present.
UVA rays have less energy than UVB rays, but they represent most of the UV radiation on Earth since they’re not absorbed by the ozone layer. UVB rays are stronger and present a more immediate health threat since they cause sunburns and most skin cancers. Thankfully, the ozone layer absorbs most UVB radiation, but some does reach Earth’s surface.
There’s also UVC rays, but the ozone layer blocks them from approaching Earth’s surface at all, so you only need to worry about those coming from human-made sources of UV radiation.
Given that you’re far more likely to encounter UVA and UVB rays, it’s important that you seek out a sun visor extender that’s made to block them.
What Are the Benefits of Polarized Film/Lenses?
Polarized film/lenses serve to reduce sun glare, improve visual clarity and reduce their user’s eye strain. They’re chemically treated to stop some light from passing through them, which means everything you see looks darker, crisper and more detailed. As a result, your eyes are less tired after hours of staring at surfaces that produce glare like car windows or bumpers.
However, there are situations when polarized film/lenses shouldn’t be used. They make it harder for you to see LCD screens like cell phones, ATMs and dashboard controls. You also shouldn’t use them at night or in other low-light situations since polarized lenses already darken your vision somewhat.
For more information, read the AAO’s post on the topic. You can also read this article which discusses how they differ from UV-protected lenses and offers some alternatives to polarized lenses.
Don’t Let the Sun Bother You Anymore
Driving with the sun constantly in your eyes can be unpleasant and, in the long term, harmful. Luckily, there are lots of great sun visor extenders available that help make your drives safer and more comfortable. You just have to find one that works for you. Drive safe!
Source: Tools - autoquarterly.com
