The 6 Best Cheap Sunglasses of 2025

Best Overall Cheap Sunglasses

Shady Rays Classic Timber

Fit: Medium | Protection: Polarized, 100% UV, Category 3

The Shady Rays Classic Timber are straightforward unisex sunglasses with a well-executed wayfarer style. Their polarized lenses provide comfortable protection in bright light and high glare situations, and the woodgrain pattern on these plastic frames steps them up a notch over similar styles in their appearance. They're a comfortable width for most heads, with a unique combination of a smooth exterior and just a hint of a matte finish to add extra grip when needed. This is the pair if you want a pair of great, cheap sunglasses that keep things simple yet offer solid features to make them highly-functional all-arounders for nearly every face and style. One of our testers also reminds us she has put Shady Rays' extensive protection program to the test several times over the years, saying, “I'm happy to confirm how easy they make it to replace a single pair of shades should yours get lost or broken — in my book, this adds significant value to the purchase.”

If you're hunting for a super trendy look, the Classic Timbers will probably not catch your eye. They tend to lie on the safer side of the trend scale. If you want something a bit more stylish, check out the round-lensed Sunski Dipseas, or leave caution to the wind with the uber-fashionable SOJOS Retro Aviators. But the Classic Timbers will do you right if you prefer something that can transition between varied events, activities, and outfits. They also come with just a thin microfiber bag for a case — yet another reason to be glad they have such a comprehensive coverage plan. Then again, if you don't lose or sit on your sunglasses, you may find these offer an impressive lifespan. One tester noted, “I've been wearing a pair of these for years, and while the woodgrain patterning is starting to rub off on the ear area, it took a long time to get to that level of wear.” All in all, the performance, style, and first-rate replacement program of these unisex glasses make them an excellent value buy.

Best Bang for Your Buck

Knockaround Paso Robles

Weight: 24g | Protection: Polarized, 100% UV, Category 3

When it comes to value and performance, we love the Knockaround Paso Robles. The amber lenses we tested are a very pleasant color with consistent polarization, good contrast, and quality clarity. This easy wayfarer style looks good on most people, and they come in a ridiculous array of possible frame and lens color combinations to go with just about any look you might throw together. They're sturdy and held up well through all our testing, with all the right elements for a pleasant wearing experience. Tester Justin Simoni notes, “I grab these often because I love the throw-back, '60s style with a curviness to the frames; but these are also the sunglasses my girlfriend steals from me the most and I must admit, they look great on her too.”

The Paso Robles are a tad narrower than we expected, given their “medium” sizing, but they didn't prove overly restrictive on most testers' faces. However, we noted that you can get some glare off the backs of the lenses, which can be distracting in certain conditions. Also, if you don't want people to be able to see your eyes through your shades, these lenses may let you down. However, all things considered, we're big fans of these low-cost sunnies from Knockaround. If you're looking for darker lenses with less glare, another favorite budget option, Merry's Polarized Aluminum, would be a great place to start. Or, if you love everything about the Paso Robles other than the shape, the Sunski Shoreline brings decent quality to the table but in a plastic, square aviator design.

Best Classic Metal Frames on a Tight Budget

Sungait Polarized Rectangular

Fit: Large | Protection: Polarized, 100% UV, VLT not specified

While most of the sunglasses in this category are made of polycarbonate/plastic, the Sungait Polarized Rectangular stand out by being made of almost all aluminum. The metal frame gives these shades a different look and feel from most other sunnies in the bunch. If standing out from the crowd appeals to you, these shades will likely spark your interest more than many others. They are also surprisingly affordable, even compared to others in this budget-conscious category, making them extra appealing. Features like sprung hinges and adjustable nose pads are not universally found on inexpensive shades, but you'll find them on the Sungait Rectangulars, helping to dial in their fit for those who want something customizable. Their lens quality is also near the top of our list, with excellent polarization and little noticeable visual distortion. Our lead tester quickly relayed his findings: "I wouldn't have imagined such an affordable pair of sunglasses could pack so many features — talk about a sleeper hit!"

The Sungait Polarized are best enjoyed by those with a larger visage than those with smaller ones — temple to temple, they measure wider than most. We appreciated the adjustability and wraparound design, as the lenses aren't as tall as many other options, but the result is still decent coverage. Although you will want to wear these pretty close to your face, the amount of light that leaks in from the sides is minimal once your fit is perfected. These sunnies feel a bit more like sports performance shades than an average casual pair. You might even wear them on a road cycling ride in a pinch before popping in for a late-morning cappuccino. If double-bridge is the style you are going for, but you want something in plastic, go with the SOJOS Retro Aviators, which has a blockier acetate design. If the SOJOS are too much fashion over function, the Sunski Shoreline may be more your thing. They do an excellent job walking the fine line between fashion and performance. For a more classic aviator shape with that drooping lens style, look no further than the Tifosi Shwae.

Best for Comprehensive Coverage

Suncloud Mayor

Weight: 25g | Protection: Polarized, 100% UV, Category 3

If you're tired of cheap sunglasses that let light in all around the lenses, then the Suncloud Mayor is the pair for you. These shades have just enough of a wrap to hug close to your face without looking like goggles, as some sporty models do. All our testers felt very protected wearing these glasses. One tester notes, “These feel lightweight when worn, even on a midsummer run; they sat on my face comfortably, without bouncing all over the place.”

The Mayor is on the narrow side of the glasses we tested, with a medium-small fit. That said, our wider-faced testers didn't find them uncomfortable to wear — they just preferred the look of something better matched to the proportions of their faces. On the style spectrum, the Mayor sunglasses definitely fall on the sportier end, though not to the degree that we couldn't pair them with a nice sundress or a collared shirt. One tester commented, “I have a rounder face, so these squared-off shades work well for me, no matter the setting.” The bottom line is that we love wearing these specs for long days in the sun when full coverage matters. For folks looking for a more everyday casual pair of sunglasses, check out the Sunski Yuba or the Wowsun Polarized Gradient. The latter has slightly oversized frames to add a bit of extra coverage and mystery to the wearer.

Best for Performance-Oriented Fashion

Sunski Yuba

Weight: 20g | Protection: Polarized, 100% UV, Category 3

The lightweight Sunski Yuba offers a more stylish than sporty look, but with a versatile performance, we found ourselves loving. Their lenses have good clarity and contrast and are pleasant to look through and wear. Though they're a touch on the small side, they quickly became a well-loved pair for those they fit. They stand pleasantly away from most faces and are one of the more comfortable pairs in this lineup for folks with small to average-sized heads. The thin but sturdy frames come in a decent variety of colors, allowing you to match your vibe. “I love the classic looks of these; they make me feel like an extra in a film set in the '60s,” said one of our testers when describing her experience in the Yubas.

Since the Sunski Yubas don't touch the face much, sunlight can sneak in through the extra room around the edges. Compounding that issue, the backs of the lenses are quite reflective. One tester laughingly commented, “There were times when I could clearly see my own eyeballs looking back at me.” If glare is a concern and coverage is first and foremost on your list of requirements, you may want to go all the way with the Suncloud Mayor. Folks with larger heads should look at other options because the Yuba runs too small to be comfortable. But for those comfortable in a small-medium frame, we think many will like the added style they bring and their solid all-around performance. For a larger pair of shades, the Sungait Polarized Rectangulars are a good choice for a full-coverage, sportier look. Similarly, the SojoS Round Vintage is a nice oversized, fashionable alternative that scored reasonably well across all our tests.

Best Cheap Aviators

Tifosi Shwae

Fit: Medium | Protection: Polarized, 100% UV, Category 3

Aviators are classically stylish sunglasses, and the Tifosi Shwae are our favorite pair when on a budget. “These are cool shades that have a great mirrored finish, and I love the shape,” tester Maggie Nichols reports. The lenses are pretty good, with a slight rosy tint to their brown shade. The Shwae also has numerous small hidden features that put them a step above the other aviators we've tested, like nose pads in sturdy metal plates and texturized rubber grips at the backs of the bows to hold the sunnies to your face rather than brittle arms that get stuck in long hair.

The nose pad plates on the Tifosi Shwae are not particularly adjustable, so try them on for comfort before committing. Also, the lenses aren't ideal in lower light conditions, and some back reflections can occur, making them challenging in certain bright situations. The flattened, open aviator design also lowers overall coverage in all the ways you would expect. But ultimately, when we want inexpensive aviators, it's the Tifosi Shwae we reach for. “I can't help but quote Top Gun when I put these on, to the chagrin of everyone I'm hanging out with,” says one of our reviewers. The J + S Classic Aviator is another inexpensive pair if you are specifically interested in aviators. For folks seeking tighter coverage and polarized lenses, the Suncloud Mayor is hard to beat performance-wise.

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	85	Shady Rays Classic Timber Best Overall Cheap Sunglasses	$59
	82	Knockaround Paso Robles Best Bang for Your Buck	$35
	78	Suncloud Mayor Best for Comprehensive Coverage	$55
	78	Merry's Polarized Aluminum	$30
	78	Sunski Shoreline	$58
	75	Le Specs Armada	$65
	73	Sunski Yuba Best for Performance-Oriented Fashion	$58
	71	Sungait Polarized Rectangular Best Classic Metal Frames on a Tight Budget	$18
	68	Sunski Dipseas	$58
	67	Tifosi Swank	$25
	65	Tifosi Shwae Best Cheap Aviators	$35
	62	goodR OGs	$25
	59	SojoS Round Vintage	$33
	54	J + S Classic Aviator	$30
	53	SOJOS Retro Aviators	$33
	50	Goodr Circle Gs	$25
	48	Sungait Designer Gradient	$18
	44	Kent Wang Aviator	$55
	41	Wowsun Polarized Gradient	$13
	34	Kaliyadi Polarized Mirror Lens 3 pack	$30
	27	Kaliyadi Semi-Rimless Polarized	$33

How We Tested

We quite literally hunted through hundreds of cheap sunglasses to find the best budget-friendly models to buy and test. Once they were in our hands, we wore them practically non-stop, taking them on vacations and up mountains. We drove long distances and spent afternoons doing yard work, enlisting the help of our friends, family, and colleagues to test and rate these cheap sunnies.

We rated these affordable sunnies across five different testing metrics:

• Lens Quality (30% of overall score weighting)

• Comfort (25% weighting)

• Style and Versatility (20% weighting)

• Frame Quality (15% weighting)

• Coverage (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

Our test team for these budget sunnies includes Maggie Nichols and Justin Simoni, aided by outside consultant, Bradley Nichols. Bradley has been an outdoor adventurer for most of his life, living and recreating around sunny Tahoe and the intense sun of the northern Nevada desert. From summer hiking to winter skiing, Brad always looks for the best sunglasses to protect his eyes. Maggie has been a backcountry guide for over 15 years in some of the brightest areas of the planet. Maggie has done everything from exploring the Galapagos and paddling the Virgin Islands to backpacking the Sierra Nevadas and dog-sledding the North Pole. She's a self-described “glasses junkie” who's been wearing glasses since she was 4 years old and has a lot of demands for her eyewear. Justin lives and breathes the high mountains of Colorado, home to some of the most intense rays found in the lower 48. Marathon days hiking the CT, CDT, and the spine of any appealing mountain range is Simoni's calling card, always with a pair of sunnies in hand. Not only is he a sunglasses enthusiast, Simoni also devotes inordinate amounts of time to investigating the best in ultralight backpacking equipment and other sun protective gear, like sun shirts.

Analysis and Test Results

Just about any pair of cheap sunglasses will sit on your face, but if you're here, we assume you want to know that your money is well-invested in what you buy. We put all the models in this lineup through rigorous side-by-side testing to tease apart their performances across five metrics. Below, we break those scores down and get nitty-gritty with the details.

What's the Best Value?

There are still some pretty significant differences in value in a group of cheap sunglasses. Some of the best-performing glasses are far from the most expensive in this review. The Knockaround Paso Robles is one great example of this. They offer excellent clarity and color, are fairly sturdy, and come in a staggering array of colors to suit your personal style. The Merry's Polarized Aluminum is another noteworthy pair. These classically styled shades looked cool on almost everyone, with dark lenses and solid coverage, and have a surprisingly low price tag. The Sungait Polarized Rectangulars are some of the most unique frames in our lineup. They are made primarily of metal and have features like sprung hinges and adjustable nose pads that are curiously missing from many of the competition. Even our top scorer, the Shady Rays Classic Timber, isn't the most expensive option we tested, but they have outperformed the rest for several years of testing.

Lens Quality

Having bad lenses is the number one way to hate your sunglasses. And just because you need some cheap sunglasses doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your vision. We took this testing seriously, looking into all the specifications each pair claimed and testing them side-by-side to see how well they performed. We checked their tint, color, and clarity, and we wore them in all kinds of challenging lighting conditions. We noted details like the reflections on the backs of the lenses and how comfortable they kept our eyes for hours in the bright sun.

While all lenses in the lineup are made of some form of plastic, there are clear distinctions in how they perform. The best lenses we tested are in the Shady Rays Classic Timber and Knockaround Paso Robles. Both these pairs have easy-to-wear amber lens options that increase contrast without making things look psychedelic. They're both consistently polarized, very clear, and work well in most lighting conditions. The Sungait Polarized Rectangular surprised us with its lenses' quality and soothing brown shade. The Merry's Polarized Aluminum features wide coverage and gray-tinted lenses with consistent quality throughout.

The Suncloud Mayor also features high-performing lenses. Their polarization isn't entirely consistent, but their clarity is above average, and they're comfortable to wear in bright and lower light conditions. The Sunski Shoreline also features high-quality lenses, especially for the price. Our pair has an amber tint, which is great for heightening contrast in most circumstances.

The Le Specs Armada are slightly more particular but do well if you like their lens strategy. These blue-ish purple-y lenses have an intense gradient that leaves the bottom of the lenses relatively light while protecting from top-down rays. They're not polarized but still work well in medium to bright light.

The Tifosi Swank also has good lenses, with great clarity and just minor reflections off their backs. They work well in versatile lighting conditions, and the brown lenses we tested offer just a touch of color enhancement. Both the Tifosi Shwae and the Sojos Round Vintage also perform well when it comes to lens color and clarity, with just an average amount of back-lens reflection.

The Sunski Dipseas aren't a bad choice either. Though we've tested several pairs of these over the years, and not every lens color is our favorite, the most recent brown lenses we tested are polarized and have good clarity, even if they are a little light for very bright conditions. The J + S Classic Aviator has average lenses that do just fine in most situations, although they don't rise to the surface as particularly impressive.

Some of the most inexpensive sunglasses also show the worst lens distortion. The Kaliyadi Polarized Mirror Lens 3 pack can be had for a song, but the quality of these lenses has a lot to be desired. We found their polarization could be a little uneven, the lenses in some cases popped out easily, and image distortion proved quite obvious. This super cheap multi-pack might be a great option if you like to keep emergency backup sunglasses on hand in a glove compartment or for lending out.

Comfort

Cheap sunglasses don't have to be uncomfortable. Our full panel of testers judged how comfortable each pair was to wear over long stretches. We noted where each pair touched our faces and if they were tight on certain face shapes or head sizes. We checked adjustability where applicable and considered any additional features like rubber cushioning and nose pads. We gauged whether they felt heavy, imbalanced, or squeezed any of our testers over several hours of wear.

Across all our testers, our favorite shades to wear all day are the Shady Rays Classic Timber. Their standard size worked well across our judges with medium to large heads, and they have a smaller size that's an even better fit for narrow-faced folks. The Merry's Polarized and Knockaround Paso Robles are also relatively comfortable in a familiar way. The Knockarounds are a touch narrower than we expected based on their advertised medium size, but still, they provide a cozy, snug fit. The Merry's pair fit easily, though their lenses are larger than most, which makes them somewhat front-heavy. However, this was only noticeable when we were overly active, and they would slide down a sweaty nose.

The Sungait Polarized Rectangular had more comfort features than most others we've tested. Adjustable nose pads and sprung hinges aid in tuning these sunglasses to your own visage.

The Suncloud Mayor and the Sunski Dipseas are both more comfortable than average. The Mayor runs a bit smaller than average, and we found that frame most comfortable on medium to narrow heads. The Dipseas are also a bit narrow but have flexible plastic frames, making them more adaptable. Skinny bows can add pressure points on wider faces, but our testing team didn't find this an issue.

Flexible temples make the Sunski Shoreline quite comfortable, even if your face is a little larger than the frames are designed for. If you have a smaller face, the Sunski Yuba also works well, feeling feathery-light on the bridge of your nose.

The Tifosi Swank has a similar fit to the Mayor, with a shape trending toward the wraparound style. The Swank has embedded nose pads that most of our testers like, but the frames generally felt tighter over the temples than many others, which can create pressure points with long-term wear.

Despite being exceptionally oversized, the Sojos Round Vintage are surprisingly well-balanced and fit more securely than we expected from such a front-heavy pair of shades. However, their metal bow ends sometimes scraped our faces as we put them on and took them off. The Sungait Designer Gradient and Wowsun Polarized Gradient are all rather similar in their fit, working well for most wearers of average head size. The bows don't squeeze too much, and the front-heavy frames are reasonably balanced. The J + S Classic Aviator is also reasonably comfortable for most, with adjustable nose pads and a looser fit that doesn't constrict.

Style and Versatility

There's no single style that everyone will love, so this is inherently a subjective metric. We did our best to identify trends and highly loved models across our testing panel to capture a somewhat objective assessment that might apply to all wearers. Some glasses truly seemed to look good on just about everyone, while others had more specific styles, fans, or uses. We also considered the versatility of all these sunglasses across activities. Do they work just as well for a backyard barbecue as on an all-day hike, or do they become slick and sweaty, falling down your nose?

If you're looking for new sunnies mostly for fashion reasons, grab a pair of the SOJOS Retro Aviators. Their lightweight tint allows them to be worn at night while you're painting the town red, and the rectangular, boxy look is striking in a world of wraparounds. Their aesthetic is going to affect their versatility, however. These aren't the shades you'll want to grab for all-day wear in the snowy Alps unless you keep to the brasserie in the center of town.

The Merry's Polarized and Le Specs Armada impressed us with their unassuming yet elevated look. Our entire testing panel liked both pairs' fit and easy integration into numerous outfits and destinations. If aviators are your thing, the Tifosi Shwae are our favorites. These glasses have the classic aviator look but with details that make them better than other cheap options, like fully mirrored lenses and tortoise shell covers on the bow ends. The Sunski Yuba are also rather fashionable but more on the spectrum of activewear glasses. They're a tad small, so not all our testers liked how they looked in them, but for those who fit, the Yuba adds some flair. Likewise, the Sunski Shoreline is sized a bit small, yet proved excellent for both playing on the beach and lounging around afterward.

The Sunski Dipseas are very similar in appearance to the Yuba, with a keyhole bridge, round lenses, and narrow bows. The Dipseas lenses are slightly more circular, while the Yuba have straighter sides — both appealed to just about everyone on our testing team. The Goodr OGs are available in over 50 different colors, patterns, and lens options, making it easy to find a combination you like. The Tifosi Swank offers a slightly sportier — but still versatile — look in a few dozen colors with plenty of options.

The Knockaround Paso Robles and Shady Rays Classic Timber both bring that classic wayfarer style, each with a singular twist. The Paso Robles come in a huge variety of color options, while the Shady Rays have a faux woodgrain finish that bumps them up a notch from your classic festival glasses.

The Suncloud Mayor is appealing to active folks.

Frame Quality

A good pair of frames can help your shades last for years of adventures. We assessed frame quality by prodding, pulling, twisting, and generally wearing these glasses across all types of activities. We researched their construction materials, monitored them for scratches, and noticed if the hinges or lenses became loose. We also scoured the internet to review common complaints from buyers and tested each of these pairs of cheap sunglasses for those potential pitfalls.

Topping the charts here are the Sunski Yuba, Dipseas, and Shoreline with thin yet flexible frames. These sunnies have resisted breaking, warping, uneven hinge wear, and even most scratches over the years we've been wearing them. They seem flimsy initially, but we quickly discovered how sturdy these recycled frames are. The one complaint we have about the Dipseas frames is that the translucent colors sometimes catch the sun at an odd angle, creating a painfully bright glare beneath the lenses. This didn't happen often, but it's one caveat to an otherwise great frame. The semi-opaque finish Shorelines ensured this pair of Sunskis didn't experience similar issues, no matter the sun's angle.

The Knockaround Paso Robles and Suncloud Mayor both have pretty sturdy designs, too, with solid plastic frames and no obvious manufacturing flaws or weak points. The Tifosi Swank is built sturdily with solid-feeling plastic components and embedded nose pads in the frame. They're also among the few models in this lineup with autolocking hinges that “snap” into place when you open them. The Shady Rays have decently reliable frames, though, after a few years of wear, the woodgrain patterning has started to rub off on the bows where they touch the face.

Several other models performed decently, even if they have components or aspects that cause us to worry about their long-term performance. The Le Specs Armada has a solid plastic frame, but the hinges continued to wear unevenly throughout our testing — a minor annoyance. The Merry's Polarized are similar, with unevenly loosening hinges and thin metal bows. The Sungait Polarized Rectangular features a very sturdy all-metal frame, but we worry that adjusting the nose pads too often will fatigue them. The sprung hinges are a highlight, but forcing them to bend perpendicular to the hinge's pin may lead to the temple breaking off since the metal parts are so rigid.

The SOJOS Retro Aviators have a time-tested, sturdy double-bridge design, with lenses that resist popping out. They're slightly thin in the temples near the hinge, but the partially metal design may actually help take away pressure from the hinge itself, a design we thought clever. The Kent Wang Aviators feel thicker and sturdier than some other aviators we've tested, but we read a lot of user reviews online claiming their lenses may pop out easily with use. We didn't experience this issue during our testing, but it's a potential concern over time.

Coverage

We first evaluated coverage by looking at the obvious factors, such as the base curve of each pair of sunglasses and their overall lens size. We then went further, asking our range of testers to wear each pair and point out gaps and any flaws they saw in the coverage of each pair. As everyone wears their glasses slightly differently and we all have faces of different shapes and sizes, coverage can vary between wearers. We noted where we found trends and glaring issues in any given pair.

The Suncloud Mayors blow the rest of these glasses out of the water when it comes to coverage. Despite their narrower fit, the Mayor has oversized lenses and a base curve that hugs the face, leaving less room around the edges for light to sneak in. No other cheap sunglasses we tested came close to matching the coverage of the Mayor. The next closest is the Le Specs Armada. Their oversized lenses help block more light, and they're comfortable to wear closer to the face, although they are much flatter than the Mayors.

The Sunski Yuba and Sunski Shoreline both have larger lenses that provide above-average coverage when worn close to the face. The Tifosi Swanks have a curved fit and sit closer to the face. They're not without their gaps, but the embedded nose pads and tight temples stop them from bouncing — even during sweaty runs. The Sungait Polarized Rectangular doesn't have the most expansive lenses either. Still, the almond shape of the lens closely matches your field of vision, and the lenses sit close to your face at an adjustable distance courtesy of the movable nose pads.

Also notable are the wayfarer-style glasses we tested, including the Shady Rays Classic Timber and the Knockaround Paso Robles. Though flatter than some, these wayfarers have decently sized lenses and can comfortably be worn close to the face when you need extra coverage. The Merry's Polarized are in a similar boat to the Le Specs Armada, though they're not quite as large or as secure to wear close to the face.

Shady Rays Classic Timber Merry's Polarized Aluminum

The Sojos Round Vintage has solid coverage, as this pair has enormous lenses, even though they are quite flat. For a pair of aviators (not known for their great coverage around the sides), the Tifosi Swank performed better than expected. They still have gaps in all the typical places, but they sit closer to the face, closing those gaps more than most other aviators.

How to Pick the Best Cheap Sunglasses

No one needs the existential grief caused by absent-mindedly leaving a pair of shades behind at the coffee shop, at the park, or on the plane. Sometimes you just want to get the job done — or have a little fashion fun — and not worry about whether or not an item may eventually go astray. But cheap doesn't have to mean low quality. Let us help you navigate the options.

What Style Suits You?

Seeking a fun pair of new sunnies to grab for the summer, to complement a new outfit for a special event, or maybe you want to ensure you don't lose your best pair when traveling? A good place to start is to consider the fashion goals you're trying to meet. Do you want something classic that can travel with you anywhere, or are you keen on trying out something fresh, trendy, or style-specific for a new look? Sunglass frames and lenses come in countless shapes, sizes, materials, and color combinations. Whether you are drawn to a modern hippie vibe, a vintage glacial-explorer style, or you want something that channels iconic movie moments (aviators haven't been the same since Top Gun), there's a pair to match.

Sungait Polarized Rectangular SOJOS Retro Aviators

You'll also want to consider which frame style complements your face shape and how much coverage you need. Rounder faces may prefer how angular lenses fit, while rounder lenses can suit squarer faces really well. And some classics seem to work for nearly everyone. Frames also come in different materials, the two most common being metal or some varied iteration of plastic. Of course, it's important to note that this is true of premium pairs as well — plastic does not inherently mean cheap! The thickness and color of any frame can also change your look substantially, so you'll want to consider the aesthetic you are going for when considering options. Many cheap sunglasses will also forego extras that can help with fit, like springed hinges, adjustable nose pads, and rubberized temples or bows, all to keep the costs down. But, although such design tradeoffs are common, you can still find some variability at this price point.

If you'll be exposed to bright sun for many hours, you may want to grab something with more coverage, be it an oversized lens or a wraparound style. Also, while many frames come in a size “medium” to fit the widest range of wearers, you can find frames designed specifically for larger heads or sized more narrowly for those with a more slender build. Be sure to assess where you fall into that mix and target options to match.

What Makes the Best Lens?

Most cheap sunglasses are made with polycarbonate lenses, while a few are made of more exotic materials like triacetate cellulose (a plant-derived plastic) or other recycled plastics. This is a significant cost-cutting measure by manufacturers. However, many premium shades also incorporate lenses made of the same or other plastic-based materials due to the quality and durability they can deliver. What matters most is how well you can see. Low-quality lenses often show more distortion, which many wearers find unappealing. So you will want to vet cheap pairs for this issue more than for the material used.

Cheaper lenses also often skip out on premium treatments, like anti-glare or anti-scratch coatings. These are the compromises you make when aiming to spend less. If you want high-end features, you'll pay more. Many popular sunglasses also come in polarized or non-polarized versions. Polarized lenses reduce glare and help prevent eye strain, but these models are typically a bit pricier.

Is the Color of the Lens Important?

Lens tint can make all the difference to your experience wearing sunglasses, optimizing your vision to varied conditions, making some pairs better suited to certain outings and activities than others.

Light-colored lenses, be they yellows, oranges, or lighter shades of other colors, work best in lower light conditions, improving contrast and visibility. Darker lenses like black, grays, reds, darker amber/browns, etc., can be ideal for bright light, offering enhanced contrast and better depth perception. Some lenses now come with gradient colors, offering a blend of these benefits, transitioning from a higher degree of protection and contrast with darker shades up top to easier visibility in low-light conditions through a lighter shade at the bottom.

Red and green can greatly reduce glare and promote eye health over extended wear. Blue-purples also do a good job of reducing glare and excel in snow, on water, or even in desert landscapes (although often these are not preferred for everyday use). Amber tones do a great job of warming views on cloudy days and can bring green grassy landscapes to life.

Conclusion

There are what feels like a million possible options to choose from for sunglasses, especially when it comes to cheap options. We hope our thorough testing across a panel of sunglasses lovers will help you identify which pair is perfect for your eyes and your wallet.