Our picks at a glance
Comparison table
| Product | Type | Filter | Made | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top pickAmerican Paper Optics eclipse glasses | Paper and plastic glasses | Black polymer, orange Sun | USA | Varies by design and pack size |
| Value pickRainbow Symphony Eclipse Shades | Paper glasses | Black polymer, orange Sun | USA | About $2 a pair in packs of 5 |
| For EuropeAbsolute Eclipse glasses | Paper, plastic and fit-over glasses | Black polymer, orange Sun | EU seller | From about €3 a pair |
| White SunBaader AstroSolar Silver/Gold viewer | Card viewer | AstroSolar film, natural white Sun | Germany | About $4.40 each in packs of 10 |
| For childrenLunt eclipse glasses, Junior size | Paper glasses, small frame | Black polymer, orange Sun | USA | About $15 for 4 |
| HandheldCelestron EclipSmart 2x Power Viewer | Handheld viewer with 2x magnification | Solar film, orange Sun | USA brand | About $13–17 for 2 |
| BinocularsLunt SUNoculars 8x32 | Solar binoculars | Built-in solar filters | USA | About $30 |
| PhonesSolar Snap phone filter | Clip-on filter for phones | Solar film | USA | Varies by bundle |
Prices are approximate, checked in November 2026, and change as the eclipse gets closer. Every maker in the table appears on the safe-supplier list of the American Astronomical Society.
The picks in detail
American Paper Optics eclipse glasses
Paper and plastic glasses
Based in Bartlett, Tennessee, American Paper Optics has produced tens of millions of eclipse glasses and also makes the film used in Celestron’s EclipSmart range. Besides standard paper glasses it sells the plastic Eclipser HD and a multilingual European design. Its popularity has a downside. In 2024 the AAS warned about counterfeit glasses printed with “Mfg. by American Paper Optics” but without the company’s address, so buy from the maker or a dealer it lists.
- Maker
- American Paper Optics
- Made
- USA
- Filter
- Black polymer, orange Sun
- Packs
- Single pairs to bulk boxes
- Typical price
- Varies by design and pack size
Good
- Large established maker on the AAS list
- Wide range of paper and plastic frames
- Multilingual European design available
Less good
- Its name has been printed on counterfeit glasses
- Prices are not always shown on the maker’s site
Who it suits Most travellers, including groups and schools.
Who should skip it Nobody in particular, but buy from the maker or a listed dealer, because fakes copy its name.
Rainbow Symphony Eclipse Shades
Paper glasses
Rainbow Symphony is one of the long-established American makers on the safe-supplier list of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). Its Eclipse Shades use black polymer film, which shows the Sun as a sharp orange disc, and the company states an optical density of 5 or more. The paper frames fold flat, so a family pack fits in a guidebook. Popular packs often sell out, so order early.
- Maker
- Rainbow Symphony
- Made
- USA
- Filter
- Black polymer, orange Sun
- Packs
- 5 to 1,000 pairs
- Typical price
- About $2 a pair in packs of 5
Good
- Meets ISO 12312-2 and carries the CE mark
- Low price per pair, even in small packs
- Maker listed by the American Astronomical Society
Less good
- Paper frames bend and tear easily
- Popular packs sell out before big eclipses
Who it suits Families and groups who need several pairs at a low price.
Who should skip it Anyone who wants glasses to keep for many eclipses.
Absolute Eclipse glasses
Paper, plastic and fit-over glasses
Absolute Eclipse sells to European buyers and marks its products as CE and ISO compliant. Its range covers paper glasses in country designs for 2027, sturdier plastic frames, a children’s size and fit-over glasses for people who wear spectacles. Buying inside Europe also avoids customs delays close to the eclipse.
- Maker
- Absolute Eclipse
- Made
- EU seller
- Filter
- Black polymer, orange Sun
- Packs
- 2, 6 and 10 pairs, plus bulk packs of 50 and 100
- Typical price
- From about €3 a pair
Good
- Ships within Europe
- Paper, plastic, children’s and fit-over models
- Designs printed for the 2027 eclipse
Less good
- Fit-over model costs far more than paper glasses
- Popular designs can sell out
Who it suits Readers in Europe who want fast delivery and designs made for the 2027 eclipse.
Who should skip it Buyers outside Europe, who have closer suppliers.
Baader AstroSolar Silver/Gold viewer
Card viewer
Baader Planetarium in Germany is best known for the solar film used on telescopes. Its AstroSolar Silver/Gold viewer uses a version of the same film, so the Sun looks white rather than orange, and sunspots are easier to pick out. The card is stiffer than a paper frame and survives a few trips in a bag.
- Maker
- Baader Planetarium
- Made
- Germany
- Filter
- AstroSolar film, natural white Sun
- Packs
- 1, 10, 25 and 100 viewers
- Typical price
- About $4.40 each in packs of 10
Good
- Shows the Sun in its natural white colour
- Meets EN ISO 12312-2:2015
- Instructions in English, French, Spanish and German
Less good
- Costs about twice as much as paper glasses
- Card viewer, so no arms to rest on the ears
Who it suits Anyone who wants a true-colour view and a sturdier card.
Who should skip it Small children, who find a card harder to keep in front of their eyes.
Lunt eclipse glasses, Junior size
Paper glasses, small frame
Standard eclipse glasses often slip off small faces, and a child who keeps adjusting them may glance at the Sun without protection. Lunt’s Junior glasses use a smaller frame. Whatever the glasses, the AAS and NASA both say children should be supervised for the whole eclipse.
- Maker
- Lunt Solar Systems
- Made
- USA
- Filter
- Black polymer, orange Sun
- Packs
- Packs of 4
- Typical price
- About $15 for 4
Good
- Smaller frame that stays on a child’s face
- Maker of professional solar telescopes
- Listed by the AAS
Less good
- Costs more per pair than standard paper glasses
- Children still need an adult watching them
Who it suits Children whose faces are too small for standard frames.
Who should skip it Adults, who need the standard size.
Celestron EclipSmart 2x Power Viewer
Handheld viewer with 2x magnification
A handheld viewer avoids the problem of fitting glasses over spectacles, because you simply hold it in front of your face. Celestron’s EclipSmart viewer adds 2x magnification, which makes the Moon’s progress across the Sun easier to follow. The film comes from American Paper Optics.
- Maker
- Celestron
- Made
- USA brand
- Filter
- Solar film, orange Sun
- Packs
- Packs of 2
- Typical price
- About $13–17 for 2
Good
- Twice the magnification of plain glasses
- Held in front of spectacles, so no fit problems
- Tested to ISO 12312-2 by an independent lab
Less good
- Must be held for the whole partial phase
- More expensive than paper glasses
Who it suits People who wear spectacles or want a slightly larger view.
Who should skip it Anyone who needs both hands free.
Lunt SUNoculars 8x32
Solar binoculars
Solar binoculars have the filter sealed in front of the lenses, so there is no risk of a clip-on filter falling off. At 8x magnification sunspots stand out, and the crescent Sun looks sharp. Like eclipse glasses, they come off only during totality.
- Maker
- Lunt Solar Systems
- Made
- USA
- Filter
- Built-in solar filters
- Packs
- Single pair
- Typical price
- About $30
Good
- Filters built in, so they cannot slip off
- Light and small enough for hand luggage
- Shows sunspots clearly
Less good
- Useless for anything except the Sun
- Some colours sell out
Who it suits Anyone who wants a close look at sunspots and the shrinking crescent.
Who should skip it Anyone who also wants ordinary binoculars, since the filters are fixed.
Solar Snap phone filter
Clip-on filter for phones
Pointing an unfiltered phone at the partial Sun can damage the sensor, and lining up the shot tempts people to look up without glasses. A front-mounted filter such as Solar Snap protects the camera. Keep your own eclipse glasses on while you aim.
- Maker
- American Paper Optics
- Made
- USA
- Filter
- Solar film
- Packs
- Single filter, often with glasses
- Typical price
- Varies by bundle
Good
- Covers the phone camera during the partial phases
- Listed by the AAS as a safe phone filter
- Cheap compared with camera filters
Less good
- Fits most phones but not every camera layout
- Must come off for totality and go back on afterwards
Who it suits Anyone who wants photos of the partial phases on a phone.
Who should skip it Serious photographers, who need a filter for a camera lens.
How we chose
Every pick comes from a maker on the safe-supplier list kept by the American Astronomical Society, which checks that companies have their filters tested by an accredited laboratory. We then compared the type of filter, the standard printed on the product, pack sizes, prices and availability for travellers heading to Spain, North Africa and Egypt in August 2027.
We left out brands with any model withdrawn from sale in Spain in 2026, even where the maker is on the AAS list, and we left out any product sold only through marketplace listings with no clear maker behind it.
What to check before you buy
- The standard. Look for ISO 12312-2, ideally printed as EN ISO 12312-2:2015 on the glasses themselves. ISO 12312-1 is the standard for ordinary sunglasses and does not count.
- The maker. A real product carries the maker’s name and address. In the European Union, look also for the CE mark and a batch number.
- The seller. According to the AAS, a printed claim of compliance proves nothing on its own, because fakes copy the logos. Buy from the maker or a dealer it names.
- The condition. Throw away glasses with scratches, holes, creases in the film or loose lenses.
- No “NASA approved” claims. NASA does not approve or endorse eclipse glasses, so the phrase is a warning sign.
How to test a pair at home
Indoors, safe eclipse glasses show nothing at all, except perhaps very bright lights such as a bare bulb, which look faint. Outside, a quick look at the Sun should show a sharp, round disc that is comfortable to look at. If the Sun looks blurred or too bright, or you can see ordinary objects through the film, do not use the glasses.
The opposite problem exists too. In August 2026 Spanish authorities withdrew seven models because they were so dark that wearers saw nothing and were tempted to lift them while searching for the Sun.
Fakes and recalls before past eclipses
Unsafe glasses appear before every big eclipse. Amazon refunded customers in the United States in August 2017 for glasses that it could not confirm met the standard. In March 2024 the AAS warned about counterfeits printed with the names of real makers. Before the eclipse of 12 August 2026, the Spanish consumer organisation OCU reported the withdrawal of seven models across the country, including some from makers that appear on the AAS list.
Shortages followed too. According to El Debate, certified glasses sold out in Madrid in early August 2026, and pharmacies and opticians charged up to €7 a pair.
Glasses for binoculars, cameras and phones
A filter for any optical device must sit on the front of the instrument, where sunlight enters. Never look through binoculars, a camera or a telescope while wearing eclipse glasses, because the magnified sunlight burns straight through the film and into your eye. Filters that screw into an eyepiece are not safe.
Good questions
- Do eclipse glasses expire?
- Not after a fixed time. The American Astronomical Society calls the old three-year rule outdated and says glasses can be reused if they meet ISO 12312-2, are less than about ten years old and have no scratches, holes or tears. Some makers still print a three-year limit, so follow the instructions that come with your pair.
- Can I wear eclipse glasses over my spectacles?
- Yes. Put the eclipse glasses on over your normal glasses, or hold a handheld viewer in front of them. Fit-over models are made for spectacle wearers.
- Are sunglasses or several pairs of sunglasses safe?
- No. Even very dark sunglasses let through far too much light. Only filters made to ISO 12312-2 are safe for looking at the Sun.
- Can I use welding glass?
- Only shade 12 or darker, and the American Astronomical Society suggests shade 13 or 14. Auto-darkening welding helmets are not suitable. Most people find eclipse glasses easier.
- Do I need glasses during totality?
- No. During the minutes of totality the Sun is completely covered, and you can look with the naked eye. Glasses go back on the moment the first bright point of sunlight returns.
- Where can I buy eclipse glasses in Spain, Morocco or Egypt?
- In Spain, pharmacies, opticians, planetariums and astronomy clubs sold certified glasses in 2026, but stock ran out days before the eclipse. We found no reliable list of shops in Morocco or Egypt, so buy your glasses at home before you travel.
Sources
- American Astronomical Society, Suppliers of safe solar viewers and filters
- American Astronomical Society, Eye safety during a solar eclipse
- American Astronomical Society, AAS warns of counterfeit eclipse glasses (22 March 2024)
- NASA, Eclipse safety
- OCU, Retirada de gafas para el eclipse solar (August 2026)
- El Debate, Las gafas se agotan y cuestan hasta siete euros (4 August 2026)
- Engadget, Amazon refunds possibly unsafe eclipse glasses (13 August 2017)