what shade are solar eclipse glasses
Solar eclipse glasses aren’t described by a “color shade” like sunglasses, but by a shade number , and they’re extremely dark—far darker than normal eyewear.
Quick Scoop: What Shade Are Solar Eclipse Glasses?
- Safe solar eclipse glasses are typically equivalent to welding shade 14 (or at least shade 12+, with shade 14 most commonly recommended).
- They block about 99.999% of visible light and essentially all harmful UV and IR, so the Sun looks like a small, bright disk on a very dark background.
- To your eyes, the lenses look almost completely black/opaque indoors; you usually can’t see anything through them except the Sun or very bright light sources.
How That Compares to Regular Sunglasses
- Regular sunglasses are only around 3–5 “stops” of dimming , nowhere near safe for staring at the Sun.
- Eclipse glasses (shade 14 level) are more like 12–16 “stops” of dimming, which is why they feel like looking through a nearly solid black sheet.
Mini FAQ
- So what “shade” should I look for?
- Look for products that state they meet ISO 12312‑2 for direct solar viewing, or welding filters labeled shade 14 for DIY setups.
- Are they tinted green, orange, or something else?
- Many certified eclipse viewers use a black/silver polymer that shows the Sun as orange or yellowish, while some welding lenses are deep green —either is fine as long as they meet the safety standard.
- If I can see normal room details through them, are they safe?
- No. Proper eclipse glasses should be so dark that you can only see very bright sources like the Sun.
TL;DR: When people ask “what shade are solar eclipse glasses,” the practical answer is: they’re about welding shade 14–level darkness , appearing almost pitch black to your eyes and certified under ISO 12312‑2 for safe solar viewing.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.