Smart Film vs. Smart Glass

While both utilize Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology to provide instant privacy, the application method differs significantly. Smart film is applied to your existing glass, whereas smart glass involves manufacturing the PDLC layer between two panes of glass.

What each option costs in Miami

Smart film applied to your existing glass runs $55 to $90 per square foot installed. Switchable smart glass — PDLC laminated inside new glass — runs roughly $150 to $300 per square foot for the glass alone, plus removal of the old glass, new framing or glazing, and for exterior windows a new Miami-Dade product approval. A 40 square foot shower is about $2,200 to $3,600 in smart film versus $8,000 to $15,000 in smart glass once installation is included. Smart glass makes sense in new construction where the glass is being bought anyway; on an existing home or office, film delivers the same effect for a quarter of the price in a day.

Which one should you choose?

Choose smart film if the glass is already installed, you want it done in a day, or the project is a bathroom, slider, partition or storefront. Choose smart glass if you are building or replacing glass anyway, need the switchable layer protected inside a laminate (for example a curtain wall or an exterior door that gets scrubbed on both sides), or want a spec that architects can write into a new-build package. Both use the same PDLC technology and switch in under a second.

Frequently asked questions

See full smart film pricing →