The 8 Best Safety Glasses of 2020

OSHA requires that safety glasses must be worn on job sites to protect your eyes from potential hazards, “such as flying objects, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation,” according to their website. Even the casual DIYer will want to have a pair when doing any woodwork, demolition, painting, etc.

Our pick for best overall safety glasses are fog-, glare-, and scratch-resistant, block 90 to 100 percent of UV rays, and have a wraparound style that protects the sides of your eyes and face, too. Plus, the side and nose pieces are adjustable for a customizable fit so they won’t slip. Affordable to start with, the brand promises it will replace or refund them within 30 days of your purchase.

What makes these safety glasses so highly-rated among reviewers? The hard-coated, polycarbonate lenses are virtually scratch-proof and they’ve been treated to prevent fogging, too. But don’t worry, you won’t get too hot and sweaty in these, thanks to the built-in ventilation channel that helps you cool off.

These glasses conform to fit your face with soft, dual-injected rubber and will stay put, thanks to the head strap, so your eyes will be protected from dust and debris even as you sand, saw, or cut wood or other materials. They meet ANSI Z87.1+ standards, which is stamped on the side of the glasses, another OSHA requirement if you plan on wearing these on a professional job site.

If you do any DIY projects outside, you’ll want to invest in a pair of polarized safety glasses as part of tool kit. Polarized means the lenses transform light waves so they are less apt to disturb your vision—these promise top optical clarity and the reduced glare from reflected light, which means less eye stress, strain, and fatigue for you.

These safety glasses also block 99.9 percent of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays and meet the ANSI Z87.1+ standards for impact protection. The glasses are made of a single lens and offer wraparound protection with a neck cord to help keep them in place. Some reviewers note that the nose guard doesn’t stay in place, especially when they’re sweating or doing a lot of physical work, but that may be dependent on the initial fit.

If you wear corrective lenses, you’ll appreciate the tight, yet comfy, fit of these safety goggles. Made of lightweight polycarbonate, they have a thoughtful, ergonomic design that is both heat and impact resistant. The soft, silicone eye pads make these comfortable to wear all day and the arm slits allow for ventilation so the glasses won’t fog up or get too hot. The fleece strap holds them in place, even as you move around.

The manufacturer recommends this style for small facial measurements, so keep that in mind as you're ordering. Also, be aware that these don’t accommodate bifocals or progressive lenses.

We wouldn’t recommend these glasses if they were simply pink-hued and labeled “for women,”—these safety glasses are sized smaller for women’s faces and made by the Pennsylvania-based company that specializes in women’s workwear. Though the rosy-color is admittedly pretty cute, it serves a purpose when you’re on a job site: you’ll never confuse these glasses with your co-worker’s.

Of course, getting pink glasses would be pointless if they weren’t functional as well, and rest assured that they are. The polycarbonate wraparound frames have an anti-scratch coating, are impact-resistant, offer UVA and UVB protection, and comply with American National Standards Institute/ International Safety Equipment Association (ANSI/ISEA) Z87.1 and European Standard (EN) 166 personal eye protection standards.

You'll want to keep a pack of these on hand for anyone in your family to use when you're trying a new DIY project. They fit kids 6-years-old and up and adults, too, making them the best safety glasses for families to keep on hand. The glasses are made of scratch- and impact-resistant polycarbonate material that is lightweight and less likely to fog up to protect eyes against everything from chemical splashes to flying objects. They also offer UVA and UVB protection. Kids will love the bright colors, you’ll love the affordable price.

Note that after the glasses have seen any impact, you’ll need to reach for a new pair as the manufacturer reports “the integrity of the glasses is not the same” after damage, even if it's minimal.

When your glasses are foggy, it’s hard to see, period. That’s why these safety glasses have been treated with Fog-Off, a fog-prevention technology that won't wash or wear off. The lenses are also scratch-resistant and protect against UVA, UVB, and UVC rays. With nonslip, rubber temple pieces and nose pads, you can rest assured they won’t slip and are comfortable to work or play in.

The glasses meet ANSI Z87.1+, CSA Z94.3 and MIL-PRF 32432 ballistic impact standards, so you can even wear them to the gun range.

When you’re working on a DIY project, a clear pair of safety glasses will protect your eyes from dust, dirt, and debris without shading your vision. This pair from 3M offer a wraparound style that fully protects your peepers and won’t obstruct your field of vision.

The impact- and scratch-resistant lenses have an anti-fog coating, and the glasses themselves weigh in at less than 1-ounce, which means you can comfortably wear these all day long. Should you want to take your show on the road (or outdoors), they absorb 99.9 percent of UV rays.