This is our buying guide on the best headlight restoration kits in 2023. Below is a quick summary of our top recommendations. Scroll further down to read our in depth, hands on reviews, for each headlight brand.

BEST BUDGET

Headlight Restoration Kit
by Armor All

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• Pre-moistened wipes
• Single-use/disposable
• Easy to use
• Ideal for less severe oxidation on headlights
• ‘Step 2’ wipe provides great protection against UV damage and yellowing
• Budget-friendly
• Protective layer only needs 3 hours to cure
• Long lasting protection

Best Overall

Meguiar’s Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit

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• Comes with 2 applicator pads for cleaning compound and protective coat
• Generous amount of compound provided
• Protective coating can last up to 1 year
• Prevents dirt and contaminant buildup
• Pads are made of soft, non-abrasive material
• Do not leave micro scratches on the headlight
• No tools necessary
• Instructions are clear and easy-to-follow
• Cleaning compound goes on smooth with minimal effort
• Removes oxidation, dirt build up, and yellowing

PREMIUM CHOICE

Ceramic Headlight
Restoration Kit

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• Proprietary cleaning compound
• Pre-moistened applicator pads
• Different grits of sandpaper included
• Foam applicator allows for even pressure when sanding
• Ceramic coating provides best-in-class protection from UV damage
• Prevents dirt build up, oxidation, yellowing, etc
• Allows for easier washing of the headlight
• Longer lasting than protective compounds in other kits
• Sanding helps remove the deepest layer of oxidation

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This is our review of the best headlight restoration kits. 

If your vehicle’s headlights have become foggy or yellow, you have a couple different options for restoring them. You could get it done by a professional, or even use the DIY method with some supplies you already have at home. 

However, we recommend using a headlight restoration kit that comes with specific tools and cleaning products to do the job more effectively. 

As such, we think Meguiar’s Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit is your best bet. This kit comes with all the tools necessary, simple and easy-to-follow instructions, and we can attest to best-in-class results. 

We’ve been working on and restoring headlights for over a decade. So if you need help picking the best one for your needs, leave it to us. 

Keep reading for more of our thoughts on the best headlight restoration kits.

In my quest for headlight restoration, the Meguiar’s Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit provided everything I needed in a single package. Being a long-time fan of Meguiar’s products, I was expecting the high quality I’ve come to associate with the brand, and I wasn’t disappointed, be it with the pads, the compounds, or anything else.

The reason I put Meguiar’s headlight restoration kit at the pinnacle of my list lies in the unswerving quality of their offerings. Having used Meguiar’s compounds and other automotive cleaning products for years, I’ve noticed the meticulous attention to detail they invest, which clearly extends to their headlight restoration kit.

In the box, you find a bottle of headlight cleaning compound, a container of Meguiar’s proprietary headlight protective coating, and two applicator pads. This kit is a minimalist’s dream when it comes to headlight restoration, delivering top-tier results without the need for any additional tools.

When it comes to the cleaning pads, I found them to be exceptionally soft, an ideal feature for headlight restoration. I’ve experienced how rougher pads can leave micro-scratches, paving the way for dirt and contaminants to cling onto the headlight surface.

The provision of two applicator pads is practical, preventing the need to use the same one for both the cleaning compound and the protective coating, which could actually cause damage to your headlights.

The chief cleaning compound is Meguiar’s tried-and-tested headlight Cleaning Solution. I was impressed by how user-friendly this compound is and the remarkable results it yields. If you follow the provided instructions, it applies seamlessly, unlike other compounds that demand excessive force.

While it’s possible to use a power drill, I didn’t find it necessary – a rarity among the headlight restoration kits I’ve tested.

In terms of its effectiveness, I put it to the test on headlights with different levels of oxidation, yellowing, and dirt build-up. This restoration kit managed to erase even the densest oxidation from the headlight surface, restoring it to its former glory.

The protective coating for the headlight surface is the second step in this two-step headlight restoration kit. Another one of Meguiar’s masterpieces, this coating is easily applied and protects the polycarbonate surface from dirt build-up and tiny scratches.

Meguiar’s assert that a single application of this coating can last up to a year, offering some degree of protection against UV rays, thus reducing yellowing to a certain extent.

Finally, I feel this headlight restoration kit offers immense value. You only need a bit of product to restore the headlights, and there’s a generous amount of cleaning compound and protective coating in each package.

That being said, I’d recommend switching applicator pads each time you restore the headlights, as older pads might contain residual cleaning compound that could potentially damage the headlights during your next restoration session.

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If you’re tight on cash, the Armor All headlight restoration kit offers a solid alternative to Meguiar’s. It may not last as long, but it’s definitely up to the task of removing oxidation, rejuvenating yellowed headlights, and scrubbing away accumulated dirt.

Armor All presents a different strategy for restoring headlights. This kit includes pre-treated, single-use applicator wipes for both the cleaning compound and the protective coating.

In total, you get six wipes; two ‘Step 1’ wipes for each headlight, and one ‘Step 2’ wipe for each headlight. This means you’ll only be able to restore your headlights once per kit, but if that’s all you need, it serves as a decent option.

Regarding its effectiveness, this headlight restoration kit performs reasonably well, although not quite at the level of Meguiar’s product. It’s ideally suited for dealing with less severe dirt buildup and yellowing on headlights. If you’re dealing with heavier oxidation, this kit might not entirely meet your expectations.

I suspect the somewhat underwhelming performance is due to the smaller surface area of the wipes, compared to the larger applicator pads used by other kits. Those allow for more uniform pressure over a larger area.

Furthermore, these pads are typically made of foam, unlike Armor All’s moist wipes which are disposable and not as effective in applying the compound.

However, to be fair, this headlight restoration kit does a pretty good job cleaning minimal levels of oxidation off headlights. It’s only with very dense layers of contamination and dirt buildup that it struggles.

As for how straightforward it is to clean headlights with this restoration kit, I found it very user-friendly and intuitive. The process is as simple as wiping away the oxidation with the ‘Step 1’ wipe and then using the ‘Step 2’ wipe to add a protective layer over the clean surface.

This protective layer deserves recognition, as it cures in just three hours and provides long-lasting protection thereafter. It prevents dirt buildup and also guards your headlights against yellowing due to UV damage.

All things considered, this is a fairly effective budget alternative to the Meguiar’s, and you can anticipate decent, if not exceptional, results.

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Cerakote’s headlight restoration kit adds an extra touch that sets it apart from the others. Not only does it effectively remove oxidation and dirt buildup, but it also applies a thick ceramic coating that provides the longest-lasting protection for your headlights.

Sure, you might shell out a bit more for the Cerakote ceramic headlight restoration kit, but from my perspective, it’s worth every penny. You get the same premium quality applicator pads and high-end cleaning compounds as you’d find in the Meguiar’s kit, complemented by a ceramic coating for enhanced protection.

Cerakote’s kit comes packed with a lot more than you’d expect. Like the Armor All kit, it comes with pre-moistened wipes. These wipes are infused with Cerakote’s unique cleaning compound designed to scrub off surface contamination and oxidation.

You’ll also find different grits of sandpaper in the kit, a feature missing in the Armor All kit, and the difference it makes is clearly noticeable. You use these sandpaper pads to wipe off the deeper layers of contamination and oxidation from the headlight’s surface.

What I truly appreciated was the foam applicator included for the sandpaper pads. This handy tool offers a more ergonomic way to sand the headlight surface, ensuring even pressure during sanding to prevent damage.

The crown jewel of the kit is the ceramic coating. Perfectly suited for headlights, it adds a robust protective layer to the surface. This layer offers several advantages: it shields the headlights from yellowing due to UV damage, prevents dirt buildup and oxidation over time, and most crucially, possesses hydrophobic properties. This means it repels water, causing it to bead and roll off the headlight surface, preventing water spots, swirl marks, and other unsightly blemishes that can detract from your headlights’ appearance.

This ceramic coating outlasts all other protective methods. In fact, Cerakote is so confident in their ceramic coating that they guarantee it’ll last longer than your car ownership!

From my experience, this kit is by far the best way to restore your headlights and keep them from getting dirty again. The inclusion of a sanding step in the restoration process enables deeper cleaning, and the ceramic coating is the perfect finishing touch.

I would recommend applying masking tape around the headlight before commencing the restoration process to avoid damaging your car’s bodywork when you start the sanding process.

Finally, kudos to Cerakote for compiling the most user-friendly instructions I’ve seen for any headlight restoration kit. For those of you who aren’t fans of instruction manuals, there’s an extremely helpful online video that walks you through the entire process from start to finish.