The 9 Best Safety Glasses of 2023

Best Overall

3M Virtua CCS Safety Glasses with Foam Gasket

4.8

View On Amazon View On Acmetools.com View On Toolbarn.com

If your eyes are precious to you, give them the protection they deserve with the 3M Virtua CCS Safety Glasses with Foam Gasket. These lightweight, comfortable safety glasses have a wraparound style to keep your eyes fully covered. The lenses are polycarbonate and block 99.9 percent of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays; your eyes will thank you. The lenses are also treated with an anti-scratch coating to cut down on annoying damage, as well as anti-fog protection so you won't be bothered by frequent pauses to wipe your glasses.

But that's not all we love about this protective eyewear. The glasses have a removable foam gasket that runs around the inside of the frame to provide a more effective seal against dust, small debris, and airborne fluids. Plus, if your personal protective equipment includes earplugs, the glasses have an optional cord attachment to keep the earplugs secured and that serves as a lanyard when not wearing your PPE.

These safety glasses meet the high impact requirements of ANSI Z87.1-2020, which is the most recent edition of the American National Standard's guidelines for safety glasses and similar PPE. Choose from blue frames with clear lenses, blue frames with mirrored lenses, or black frames with gray lenses. All are very reasonably priced and surprisingly attractive for safety glasses, to boot.

Price at time of publish: $14

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 99.9 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: No | Anti-Fog: Yes | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: No}

Best Polarized

Ergodyne Skullerz Dagr Polarized Safety Sunglasses

4.2

View On Amazon View On Ergodyne.com

Not only do these safety glasses protect your eyes in several ways, they are also quite attractive. The Ergodyne Skullerz have polarized lenses, which means that they have a special coating that minimizes glare from the sun or overly bright lights, as well as reflected light from water or glass. That makes them ideal for working outdoors during the daytime, or indoors when you are in an area with very bright lighting. They also resist scratching and have UV protective coating that blocks 99.9 percent of the UV rays from the sun.

These protective glasses meet ANSI Z87.1+ standards for safety and MIL-PRF 32432 Ballistic Impact (military) standards for impact resistance. That means the glasses are highly resistant to breaking or shattering, even if struck directly by debris or another object. The lightweight, comfortable frame is made of flexible yet durable nylon, with rubber pieces at the bridge of the nose and the temples to keep the glasses from slipping even if you get sweaty.

The Ergodyne Skullerz are available in a wide range of frame and lens colors.

Price at time of publish: $44

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 99.9 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: Yes | Anti-Fog: No | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: No}

Best Prescription

RX Safety Prescription Safety Glasses RX-15011

View On Rx-safety.com

If you wear prescription glasses, yet need safety glasses as well, you have two options: wear a separate pair of safety glasses over your prescription glasses, which can be awkward and uncomfortable, or go with one pair that combines both functions, like these offerings from RX Safety. The ordering process is simple; you choose your frame—there are several colors to choose from—pick your desired type of lenses, and then upload or enter your eye prescription information, which you will need to know or have on hand from your optometrist or other eye specialist.

With TR-90 nylon arms and an adjustable nose piece, these glasses are suitable for men or women and can accommodate various face shapes and head sizes. (TR-90 nylon is a type of ultra-flexible yet endlessly durable thermoplastic.) The ANSI-approved safety glasses have large rectangular frames and wraparound shields to help protect you from chemicals, particles, paint, and other irritants from every angle. They are ideal for anyone who enjoys DIY projects involving power tools, works in construction or another field that's potentially dangerous to the eyes, or works in the medical field and needs to ward off potential exposure to fluids or chemicals.

Price at time of publish: $45

_{Lens Material: Various | UV Block: Optional | Scratch Resistant: Optional | Polarized: Optional | Anti-Fog: Optional | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: No}

Best Over-Glasses

NoCry Over-Glasses Safety Glasses

View On Amazon View On Nocry.com

If you wear prescription glasses and only occasionally need to don protective eyewear, you might prefer a pair of over-glasses, rather than buying prescription safety glasses. If so, these are a great choice and are very reasonably priced, as well. The NoCry Over-Glasses Safety Glasses provide excellent protection against dust, flying debris, fluids, and chemicals that might be a danger to your eyes.

With a resilient polycarbonate frame and clear wraparound lenses, you'll be protected from all angles without distorting your vision. The lenses resist scratching and block up to 100 percent of UV rays, and soft tips minimize pressure around your temples.

The extendable arms can be adjusted to fit various head sizes, so they work for men, women, and kids. You can also wear them as normal safety glasses without a prescription pair underneath. These specs are certified safe by the ANSI, CSA, and OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). They fit over most regular prescription glasses that are up to 5.7 inches wide, 1.37 inches high on the outer sides of the lenses, and 1.77 high at the inner edge of the lenses.

Price at time of publish: $19

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 100 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: No | Anti-Fog: No | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: Yes}

Best Outdoor

Carhartt Carbondale Safety Sunglasses

View On Amazon View On Ace Hardware

Carhartt has been a go-to for work apparel for over a century, so it's no surprise the brand makes the best outdoor protective eyewear that include a dash of style with their protective features. These ANSI and CSA-approved safety sunglasses have a flexible nylon frame and a soft rubber bridge, so they fit well, feel comfortable, and stay in place even if you get a bit sweaty. The gentle curve to the frame lets these glasses protect your eyes from the sides as well as from the front.

The scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses block 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays from the sun, as well as UVC radiation from artificial lamps or lasers. They also block up to 87 percent of blue light emitted from electronic devices, such as computers and phones.

The sandstone-bronze lens for outdoor wear is undeniably cool looking, but the glasses are also available with clear or gray lenses if that's your preference.

Price at time of publish: $11

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 99 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: No | Anti-Fog: No | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: No}

Best Readers

3M Nuvo Reader Protective Eyewear

View On Amazon View On Walmart

If your job or hobby requires both eye protection and the ability to read small print, you might have thought that the only solution was squinting or switching between safety glasses and readers. But with the 3M Nuvo Reader Protective Eyewear, you have both features in one handy pair of glasses. These safety readers are available in three magnifying strengths: +1.5, +2, and +2.5. The magnifying portion of the lenses is a bifocal insert at the bottom of the lenses. You don't need a prescription for these protective readers, but they'll help you read small text and see close-up objects in better detail while you're working.

The polycarbonate lenses meet ANSI and CSA requirements for high-impact protection and block almost 100 percent of UV rays. They also have anti-scratch and anti-fog coating. These glasses fit comfortably, with adjustable temples and a soft nose piece. The wraparound style includes a protective brow bar and side shields to protect your eyes in all directions.

Price at time of publish: $19

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 99.9 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: No | Anti-Fog: Yes | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: Yes}

Best Goggles

SolidWork Safety Goggles with Universal Fit

View On Amazon View On Solid-protection.com

If you need the complete protection that only goggles can provide, then you'll appreciate the SolidWork Safety Goggles, which are designed to fit everyone comfortably. You can wear them over prescription glasses or on their own. A super-soft rubber material between the frame and your face ensures a perfect fit and a protective seal to keep out dust, liquids, chemicals, or debris. They have an adjustable band that wraps around your head without digging into any pressure points, so you can make them snug but still comfortable.

The ANSI-certified polycarbonate lenses resist scratching and have a special anti-fog coating. Not only that, but the lenses block UV rays and the design helps minimize glare. You'll also appreciate the panoramic design, which provides a wide field of vision and complete protection from particles and irritants.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 99.9 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: No | Anti-Fog: Yes | ANSI Certified: Yes | Adjustable Fit: Yes}

Best Indoor

NoCry Safety Glasses

View On Amazon View On Nocry.com

For indoor jobs and interior home improvement projects, we suggest NoCry's Safety Glasses. With a lightweight construction and wraparound design, they offer ample protection while still keeping you comfortable. They also have adjustable side pieces and nose bridge, so you can customize the fit for your face. Score!

While these glasses are not ANSI-certified for high-impact eye and face protection, they do offer good protection for tasks unlikely to create impact, such as DIY projects, medical or dental work, or working in dusty conditions. They're also scratch- and fog-resistant and reduce reflective glare. If you do venture outside wearing these glasses, you'll have peace of mind knowing they block 90 to 100 percent of the sun's UV rays. They are available in several different colors of frame and lens.

Price at time of publish: $17

_{Lens Material: Polycarbonate | UV Block: 90 to 100 percent | Scratch Resistant: Yes | Polarized: No | Anti-Fog: Yes | ANSI Certified: No | Adjustable Fit: Yes}