The Best Sun Visor Extenders: Get the Sun Out of Your Eyes

Tired of the sun shining in your eyes? These sun visor extenders give you more control and better visibility any time of day.

byHeather Fishel|
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BYHeather Fishel/ LAST UPDATED ON October 15, 2021

Whether you’re hitting the road early in the morning or as the sun starts to set, visibility can be a challenge. No matter which direction those rays are shining, the sun’s light can blind you or leave you squinting and uncomfortable as you struggle to see the road in front or to the side of you. And even if you aren’t driving, bright sunlight and harsh glare can leave passengers uncomfortable, too. There’s a simple solution, though: sun visor extenders. These handy products attach right to your existing sun visors or your windows to offer better coverage and visibility. With an extender, you can block out the sun from more positions, get more shade, and fight blinding glare better. And there are plenty of different styles available. Which ones are best? We’ve found the top sun visor extenders for you right here.

Best Overall
Glare Guard Polarized Car Visor Extender

Glare Guard Polarized Car Visor Extender

Summary

This adjustable visor extender connects easily to the installed visor in the vehicle by attaching directly with sturdy aluminum clamps, screws, and Velcro straps.

Pros
  • Polarizing technology adjusts light waves as they reflect off the windshield
  • Reduces harmful UV rays 
  • Powerful anti-glare and high-quality polarized acrylic film
Cons
  • Screws may loosen in intense heat, causing the visor to hang a bit lower 
  • You’ll still need sunglasses to help block out the light
  • May not fit all vehicles
Best Value

TFY Car Visor Sunshade Extender

Summary

This anti-glare visor has two retractable sliders that extend outwards and downwards to block UV rays from the side or windshield without blocking your vision.

Pros
  • Offers full coverage with no gaps for light to sneak through
  • Can be easily removed when not needed
  • Installs easily without special tools
Cons
  • The slides can be difficult to deploy and push back when driving 
  • May not last long
  • Corners chip easily
Honorable Mention

Sailead Polarized Sun Visor Extender

Summary

This visor extender is easy to install, attaching right to built-in visors and is made with polarizing technology from NASA to filter out the sun’s reflected light rays.

Pros
  • Can be rotated up to 360 degrees via swiveling and adjustments 
  • Made of durable polycarbonate material
  • Helps limit distractions like blinding glare and light reflections
Cons
  • Can be a bit clunky
  • May not fit properly in all types of cars 
  • The screws that attach the frame to your visor may loosen over time

Best Sun Visor Extender Reviews & Recommendations

The Glare Guard Polarized Car Visor Extender is almost effortless to use. It’s adjustable, feature-filled, and installs so easily you can remove it when it’s not needed. This sunshade visor extender connects to existing visors with aluminum clamps, screws, and Velcro, and you can adjust the glass pane in front of your eyes to achieve just the right sun-blocking angle. It’s covered in a high-quality polarized acrylic film to limit brightness; it can also adjust light waves as they reflect off the windshield, reducing harmful sun glare before it hits your eyes. This design makes it capable of withstanding up to 99.9 percent of harmful UVA and UVB rays. Another benefit of this sun visor extender is its weight; it’s just 12 ounces. 


Be aware that after driving in extended heat for a while, the screws may loosen, causing the visor to hang a bit low. While it does a great job of reducing the sun’s rays, you still need sunglasses to help block out the light. It may also not fit effectively in all types of vehicles.

Specs:

  • Made of plastic and metal
  • Coated with polarized acrylic film to reduce glare
  • Blocks up to 99.9 percent of UV rays
  • Attaches with aluminum clamps, screws, and Velcro
  • Adjustable
  • Can be removed and stowed

Pros:

  • Polarized coating reduces glare and blocks UVA and UVB rays
  • Lightweight and easy to move or remove
  • Durable installation, yet it’s easy to attach to existing visors

Cons:

  • Heat can cause screws to loosen over time
  • May not block all bright light
  • May not work in some vehicles, like RVs

The TFY Car Visor Sunshade Extender is a great option if you want to increase your existing visor’s coverage without making a significant investment. This affordable extender slips right into place and offers sun-blocking protection from the sides and the bottom of your existing visor. It’s made from opaque polyurethane and attaches to your existing visor with elastic bands. The opaque material effectively blocks harmful UV rays from blurring your vision and protects your face from sunburns. It fits a variety of car visors, and it’s easy to take off when you don't need it. This visor extender features two polycarbonate, retractable slides that extend 7.09 inches horizontally and 2.56 inches vertically. 


Unfortunately, the TFY extender is not the best quality, and the corners may start to chip after a short time. It may also be a bit challenging to engage or push back the slides when you are driving. You may have to stop to adjust them. Moreover, the slides may come loose with frequent use. 

Specs:
  • Made from polyurethane and polycarbonate
  • Attaches via elastic bands
  • Blocks UV rays
  • Features two retractable sliders

Pros:

  • No tools required for installation
  • Extends your visor both lengthwise and widthwise
  • Protects against UV rays and potential sun woes

Cons:

  • May not be very durable over the long term
  • Corners can chip with wear and tear
  • Slides can be tricky to adjust while you’re behind the wheel

If you’re searching for a sun visor extender that’ll work in hot, sunny weather just as well as cold, snowy (and still sunny) weather, the Sailead Polarized Sun Visor Extender is just what you need. This high-quality option is strong and durable, and its polarized nature makes it fantastic for the blinding light that reflects off snow and other materials. It uses a polarizing technology from NASA to filter out the sun’s rays, and it’s made from durable polycarbonate that’s 60 times stronger than glass, 20 times stronger than TAC polarized lenses, and 10 times stronger than resin. Plus, it’s resistant to scratches, temperature changes, and impacts. This extender attaches to your built-in visor and can be rotated up to 360 degrees to meet your eye level. 


However, it is a bit clunky and can be seen by others from a distance outside of the vehicle. Another issue is that it may not fit properly in all types of cars. Vehicles with smaller or thinner visors may find it difficult to effectively fit the extender on the visor.

Specs:
  • Made of polycarbonate
  • Rotates 360 degrees
  • Height adjustable
  • Polarized with NASA technology
  • Blocks 100 percent of UV rays
  • Impact-, temperature-, and scratch-resistant

Pros:

  • Offers protection against potential damage
  • Can block reflections, glare, and more
  • Handles temperature swings or changes without issue

Cons:

  • Sizing is a bit clunky to some drivers
  • May not fit all existing visors, especially thinner or smaller ones
  • Screws may loosen over time but can be tightened easily

Give both you and your passenger protection from the sun’s glare with the Wanpool Anti-Glade Anti-Dazzle Vehicle Visor Sunshade, which includes two extenders for one price. Each visor comes with two straps and an oval-shaped visor. To install the sunshade, it’s simple: Just wrap the straps around your visor, and then secure the visor panel to the straps. The visors measure 14.09 x 5.91 x 0.39 inches. What’s nice about this pair of extenders is that you can wrap the straps around any part of the visor in your car. This lets you customize how the extender blocks the sun. You can make them extend out to the side or vertically to block the sun when it’s at an extreme angle during sunrise and sunset.


Unfortunately, the straps on these extenders are wide and will block the use of your visor mirror. It also has an awkward method of storage where you slide the panel behind the strap. This means you can’t quickly flip the extender down when you need it. 

Specs:

  • Includes two sun visor extenders
  • Secures in place with two straps
  • No tools required for installation
  • Ideal for low-angle sunlight

Pros:

  • Installation is almost effortless
  • Offers good value with extenders for both the driver and passenger
  • Simple to use while you’re on the road

Cons:

  • Straps are wide and can prevent you from using the visor mirrors
  • Storage solution for the visor is a bit awkward when you don’t need to use it

If you're looking for a sun visor extender that offers a near-perfect fit, consider the Visormates Side Window Sun Visor Extenders. They come in several sizes so you can choose the right option for your vehicle. These extenders are made from durable OEM-quality plastic for dependability. They’re simple to install and easy to use with a two-strap system and rectangular-shaped board. And because they’re so straightforward, these extenders won’t leave you struggling on the road. Whether you drive a small passenger car or a large truck, these extenders (which come in a set of two) can be moved anywhere easily – and they slide out without any difficulty.


The downside of these extenders is that they feel flimsy. They can also fall out of place if you don’t securely install them. The straps can also block your ability to use the mirror on the visor.

Specs:

  • Includes two extenders
  • Made of plastic
  • Available in three sizes
  • Available in multiple colors and color combinations
  • Installs with two wide straps

Pros:

  • Plastic material holds up well to wear and tear
  • Two visors means you can cover both driver and passenger
  • Size selection gives you plenty of versatile options

Cons:

  • Extenders can feel a bit flimsy to some
  • May fall off your visor if not strapped in correctly
  • Width of straps may prevent you from using visor mirrors

If you don’t want to struggle when you’re trying to avoid glare, reflections, and bright sunlight, you’ve got to consider the Trillium Worldwide Glare Vis’r Sun Shield. This extender is designed to flip down when you need it, shielding your eyes while keeping the visibility clear. It flips up when you don’t need it. And that makes it easy to work with while you’re driving. Made out of shatter-proof polycarbonate, it’s as tough as it is convenient. It’s an anti-glare item and blocks over 90 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Need to block the sun from the side? It’ll swing out for complete coverage. The sure-grip clips keep this sun visor extender in place no matter how you’re using it. You can either look right through it or use it out of your line of sight.


However, there is a potential drawback — this extender’s clips can leave marks on your car visor. Its strength can produce deep indents or even cut into the visor material. And make sure you’re gentle when flipping it up or down, as being too rough can snap the flip-capable joints.

Specs:
  • Made of shatter-proof polycarbonate
  • Blocks over 90 percent of UV rays
  • Flips up and down or swings to the side
  • Installs via two sure-grip clips over existing visor
  • No-tool installation

Pros:

  • Stores slim and out of sight, without limiting your OEM visor
  • Can be used in multiple positions without ruining visibility
  • Holds onto visors securely

Cons:

  • Sure-grip clips can leave behind marks or even damage your visor
  • If you’re too harsh on the visor, its joints can break over time

How We Selected Sun Visor Extenders

In order to choose the best sun visor extenders available in the midst of the many different products online, we sorted through those options by looking for extenders that offered a mix of quality, durability, ease of use, and top-tier sun protection. We sought out sun visor extenders that could be installed without difficulty and moved (and of course extended) easily while behind the wheel. Durable materials — and products that offered extra perks like UV protection and polarization – were frontrunners. To assess the quality and longevity of each of our product picks, we also took a look at real-life experiences with them and their performance over many days and miles.

Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.

Buying Guide/What to Look For 

Sun visor extenders are simple – at least, the kind that already come with your OEM sun visors. When you’re looking for a product that can enhance and extend your sun coverage even more, you have a ton of different options. Luckily, we’ve got all of the guidance you need to find the right sun visor extender, the best features, and all of the road sun coverage you might want right here in our buying guide.

What to Consider When Buying Sun Visor Extenders

Types of Sun Visor Extenders

Window-Mounted

Window-mounted sun visor extenders attach to the passenger and driver windows in your vehicle. They are easily removable, reusable, and adjustable for your convenience. These visors can hang just at eye level or can cover up the entire window to completely black out the sun, so you can see the road more clearly. While these sun visor extenders can be moved around and swapped between windows, they are a bit more cumbersome than other options. However, if you want a lot of coverage from side-angled sunlight, they’re a great pick.

Visor-Mounted

A visor-mounted sun glare visor attaches to the built-in visor in your vehicle. It can be connected by velcro, straps, or screws. This type of visor can also work in several different ways to block the sun from your view. It can either hang down in front of your eyes or extend outward to the side. Some visor-mounted products even do both! The advantage of opting for this style is the variety you’ll enjoy — you can extend in multiple directions, all while still moving your visor for the perfect placement to block out sunlight.

Sun Visor Extender Key Features

Material

Many built-in sun visors feel frail and flimsy, so you want to find a well-made and high-quality extender. If you want one that connects directly to the visor, make sure it’s durable and sturdy enough to stay in place while you drive. It shouldn’t move even with bumps, vibrations, and sudden stops. The same goes for extenders that attach to the windows. Since you can remove and reuse them, find one that will hold tightly to the glass.

UV Protection

One of the most important features in a windshield visor extender? How well it protects you from the sun’s UV rays — or its UV protection. Driving in direct sunlight can have the same effect as if you spent the entire day outside. An extender that offers UV protection will ensure you don’t get a sunburn or other side effects of UV rays, like sun damage inside your car. If you live somewhere particularly sunny, you’ll definitely want to buy a visor with enhanced UV protection.

Polarization 

Sure, sun visor extenders can literally block the sun’s light. But if you opt for a polarized product, you’ll also get a reduction in brightness and glare, all without losing some of your visibility. Polarization helps you see clearly even when the sun is shining so brightly you’re struggling to keep your clarity. It essentially dims the brightness and glare, all while still allowing you to have a wide window to see everything out of your windshield or side windows.

Sun Visor Extender Tips and Tricks

As with something you do for decades upon decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way in terms of selecting the right product, and/or using it. That’s the case with us and sun visor extenders. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what we’ve learned along the way.

  • Sun visor extenders aren’t just for sunny weather — they can be used to help reduce the glare of the sun off of the snow too. In a snowy region, a visor can make a huge difference.
  • You don’t have to fully remove the sun visor extender when the sun is down. You should be able to fold the visor out of sight.
  • You’ll want to find a visor extender that will fit your window or built-in visor properly. Some may not be equipped to fit in certain vehicles, such as SUVs, trucks, or compact cars. You can trim or cut some visor extenders if they are too big.
  • You shouldn’t have to fuss around to install a visor extender. Every type of extender should fit snugly and firmly on either the visor in the car or onto the window with ease and take just minutes to get in place.

FAQs

Q: How can I extend the sun visors in my car?

Any of the products we’ve mentioned above can be used to extend your car’s existing sun visors. While some cars have OEM visors that slide out to offer extra length, adding an extra accessory like those we’ve highlighted here can help block out sunlight from different angles and offer you better protection in the face of blinding brightness and glare.

Q: How much does a sun visor extender cost?

Adding a sun visor extender to your existing visor is pretty affordable. You can find options like the TFY Car Visor Sunshade Extender for less than $20. Other options can run between $20 and $35, depending on material, size, and other details.

Q: How long does a sun visor extender last?

This depends on a few factors — but the material your extender is made out of and the kind of wear and tear you’re putting it through are two of the most important. With normal use and durable material, you should get a few years out of any extender.

Final Thoughts

Our top pick is the Glare Guard Polarized Car Visor Extender. Its polarized technology helps reduce the sun’s rays, improving your vision on your drive. However, if you’d like to save some cash, get the convenient and budget-friendly TFY Car Visor Sunshade Extender.

Why Trust Us

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

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