--- title: "Best Windshield Repair Kit: 5 DIY Chip Kits Compared" canonical: "https://carglassfix.com/best-windshield-repair-kit/" author: "Garrett Ross" published: "2026-09-15T00:00:00+00:00" modified: "2026-10-28T06:40:30+00:00" language: "en-US" site: "CarGlassFix" description: "Compare 5 DIY windshield repair kits by their makers' limits: Rain-X fixes chips to 1 in and cracks to 12 in; Permatex and J-B Weld fix chips to 1 1/4 in." categories: "Windshield Repair" tags: "auto glass cost, diy auto glass, repair kits, windshield chip, windshield repair" attribution: "CarGlassFix (https://carglassfix.com/)" --- # Best Windshield Repair Kit: 5 DIY Chip Kits Compared Short answer For most drivers, the best windshield repair kit is a bridge or pedestal kit that removes air from a fresh chip and then forces resin in under pressure. Rain-X 600001 suits chips up to 1 inch and cracks up to 12 inches. Permatex 09103 and J-B Weld 2100 suit bullseyes and stars up to 1 1/4 inches. *As an Amazon Associate, CarGlassFix earns from qualifying purchases. The picks below come from the makers’ published specifications, not from our own testing.* ## Key takeaways - Rain-X 600001 is the only kit here whose maker allows crack repair, up to 12 inches in the outer glass layer. - Permatex 09103, Permatex 16067 and J-B Weld 2100 publish the same cycle: 10 minutes of vacuum, at least 20 minutes of pressure, 15 minutes of sun. - Permatex says the 09103 is not recommended for linear cracks, although its Amazon title mentions cracked windshields. - The ROLAGS standard caps a repairable bullseye at 1 inch, including in the driver’s primary viewing area. - Most side and rear windows are tempered glass, and these kits are made for laminated windshields. ## Which windshield repair kit type suits most drivers A bridge kit or a pedestal kit suits most drivers, because both designs push resin into the break with controlled pressure. A bridge kit, such as Rain-X 600001, holds a screw-in pressure driver over the chip on suction cups. A pedestal kit, such as Permatex 09103, sticks a small pedestal to the glass and locks a syringe first in a vacuum position, then in a pressure position. A resin patch, such as the Patsco patch, uses no injector. Every maker below limits its kit to small damage on a laminated windshield, and only Rain-X covers cracks. Whether a kit can match a shop repair at all is covered in [Do Windshield Repair Kits Really Work](https://carglassfix.com/do-windshield-repair-kits-really-work/). ## Kit types and how each applicator works Each kit type differs in how it removes air from the break and gets resin in. ![Diagram of three DIY windshield repair kit applicators: a Rain-X 600001 bridge with suction cups and a screw-in pressure driver, limit 1 inch round damage and 12 inch cracks; a Permatex and J-B Weld adhesive pedestal with a spring-lock syringe, 10 minutes of vacuum and at least 20 minutes of pressure, limit 1 1/4 inch bullseye or star; and a Patsco resin patch with no injector and no published size limit](https://carglassfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/windshield-repair-kit-applicator-types.webp) *The three applicator types, from the makers’ instructions and US patent 10,946,624, checked October 28, 2026. Diagram: CarGlassFix.* **Bridge.** Rain-X’s directions put the center ring over the impact point, add 3 to 6 drops of resin and screw in the pressure driver. The resin soaks in for 4 to 6 minutes. Reinserting the driver releases trapped air. **Pedestal and syringe.** Permatex and J-B Weld stick an adhesive disc and a pedestal over the pit. The plunger is locked up for 10 minutes of vacuum, then locked down for at least 20 minutes of pressure. **Patch.** The Patsco patent describes a kit with no injector, plugger device or suction cups. The user presses the resin in by hand. The full procedure is in our guide on [how to repair a laminated glass crack](https://carglassfix.com/how-to-repair-laminated-glass-crack/). ## How we chose and how the 5 kits compare We chose five kits whose makers publish instructions, a damage limit and a cure method, and which Amazon US showed in stock on October 28, 2026. We did not test or handle any kit. Each pick is judged on its maker’s documents: kit contents, resin and cure method, applicator design and the largest damage allowed. We left out the Blue Star kit, because we found no maker instructions or size limit for it. We found no DIY long-crack resin kit with maker instructions on sale. Check the current price on Amazon before you buy. | Kit | Type | Applicator | Cure method | Maker’s size limit | Best for | Amazon | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Rain-X 600001 | Bridge | Suction cups, pressure driver | Sun or UV light, 315 to 405 nm | Round damage 1 in; cracks 12 in | Chip with a short crack | Check on Amazon | | Permatex 09103 | Pedestal | Spring-lock syringe | Sun 15 min; 1 hour if hazy | Bullseye or star 1 1/4 in | First repair, all tools included | Check on Amazon | | Permatex 16067 | Pedestal | Spring-lock syringe | Sun 15 min; 1 hour if hazy | Star or bullseye 1 1/4 in | Owners with a push pin and razor | Check on Amazon | | J-B Weld 2100 | Pedestal | Vacuum syringe | Sun 15 min | Bullseye, star or stone chip 1 1/4 in | Star break | Check on Amazon | | Patsco P1 | Patch | Resin patch, no injector | Sunlight | None in inches | Small chip on the road | Check on Amazon | ## Bridge and patch kits: Rain-X 600001 and Patsco Choose the Rain-X bridge when a crack runs from the chip, and the Patsco patch when you want the fewest parts. ### Rain-X 600001 Windshield Repair Kit The Rain-X kit holds a suction-cup bridge with a pressure driver, a 1 gram bottle of resin, curing strips and a sleeved razor blade. Rain-X limits it to round damage up to 1 inch and cracks up to 12 inches, and says it will not repair damage to more than one layer of glass. The resin cures in direct sun or under a UV light rated 315 to 405 nm. Rain-X advises against applying the kit twice to the same damage. [Check Rain-X 600001 Windshield Repair Kit on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IPS4APU?tag=carglassfix-20) ### Patsco Windshield Repair Patch The Patsco kit holds resin in an adhesive patch, with no syringe, bridge or suction cups. Its box lists 2 patches, 2 adhesive guides, 2 seals, 1 razor and 1 resin tube. Patsco publishes no size limit in inches and calls the patch most effective on small to medium chips. Its FAQ gives about 20 minutes for application and says leaving it overnight works better. [Check Patsco Windshield Repair Patch on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B78G57HC?tag=carglassfix-20) ## Pedestal and syringe kits: Permatex and J-B Weld Pick a pedestal kit for a single bullseye or star up to 1 1/4 inches, because its locked syringe times the vacuum and pressure. ### Permatex 09103 Windshield Repair Kit The 09103 box holds a syringe, resin, adhesive disc, pedestal, curing strip, push pin, razor blade and prep towelette, according to its Amazon listing. Permatex rates it for bullseye and star damage up to 1 1/4 inches. Its technical data sheet says it is not recommended for linear cracks. [Check Permatex 09103 Windshield Repair Kit on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ALJ4MY?tag=carglassfix-20) ### Permatex 16067 Bullseye Windshield Repair Kit The 16067 uses the same pedestal and syringe, with 0.025 fl oz (0.75 mL) of resin, for stars and bullseyes up to 1 1/4 inches. The box has no push pin or razor blade, which Permatex lists as additional tools. A third-party seller listed it on our check date. [Check Permatex 16067 Bullseye Windshield Repair Kit on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HBI9XW?tag=carglassfix-20) ### J-B Weld 2100 Windshield Saver J-B Weld rates the Windshield Saver for bullseyes, stars and stone chips up to 1 1/4 inches. Its published steps follow the Permatex timing. J-B Weld names no crack repair for this kit. [Check J-B Weld 2100 Windshield Saver on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IBO0HAE?tag=carglassfix-20) ## Match the kit to the chip type and size Name the damage type and measure it before you buy, because each maker sets a different limit. ![Chart of which repair kit fits which windshield damage: ROLAGS allows bullseyes up to 1 inch, star breaks up to 3 inches, combination breaks with a 2 inch body and cracks up to 14 inches; Rain-X 600001 covers round damage to 1 inch and cracks to 12 inches in the outer layer; Permatex 09103 and 16067 and J-B Weld 2100 cover bullseyes and stars to 1 1/4 inches, and Permatex does not recommend the 09103 for cracks; the Patsco patch gives no limit in inches; no kit covers damage through both layers, the inner layer or cracks reaching two edges](https://carglassfix.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/windshield-chip-type-vs-repair-kit-limits.webp) *Kit makers’ limits next to the ROLAGS 002-2022 limits, checked October 28, 2026. Chart: CarGlassFix.* The Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard (ROLAGS 002-2022) defines the damage types that technicians repair. A bullseye is repairable up to 1 inch. A star break may reach 3 inches. A combination break, such as a star inside a bullseye, may have a body up to 2 inches. A single crack may reach 14 inches. Kit limits are tighter for stars and cracks. Rain-X stops at 1 inch for round damage and 12 inches for cracks. Permatex and J-B Weld stop at 1 1/4 inches, wider than the ROLAGS bullseye limit. No kit maker here names combination breaks. Our guide on [what size windshield crack can be repaired](https://carglassfix.com/what-size-windshield-crack-is-repairable/) covers every ROLAGS limit. For sand pitting, see [how to repair a pitted windshield](https://carglassfix.com/how-to-repair-a-pitted-windshield/). ## Temperature, curing and where the damage sits Fill the chip in shade, cure it in direct sun or under UV light, and skip the kit when the damage sits in the driver’s view or in front of a camera. **Temperature.** Rain-X sets no minimum and gives 40°F as a guideline. Permatex asks for a windshield at 50 to 75°F. **Curing.** Permatex cures in 15 minutes of direct sun, or at least 1 hour on hazy days. Rain-X requires a UV light rated 315 to 405 nm when sunlight is not available. **Driver’s view.** ROLAGS defines a driver’s primary viewing area 12 inches wide, centered on the driver, over the height of the wiper sweep. Inside it, technicians should not repair damage over 1 inch or within 4 inches of another repair. **Cameras.** ROLAGS tells technicians to follow the vehicle maker’s advice before repairing near features such as rain sensors. Safelite says damage in the forward camera’s line of sight likely means replacement. See [how to tell if your windshield has a camera behind it](https://carglassfix.com/windshield-camera-identification/). ## Rain-X vs Permatex windshield repair kit Rain-X is the better pick for a chip with a short crack, and Permatex is the better pick for a single bullseye or star up to 1 1/4 inches in mild weather. | Attribute | Rain-X 600001 | Permatex 09103 | | --- | --- | --- | | Applicator | Bridge, screw-in driver | Pedestal, syringe locked at two notches | | Round damage | Up to 1 in | Up to 1 1/4 in | | Cracks | Up to 12 in, outer layer | Not recommended | | Temperature | 40°F guideline | 50 to 75°F, in shade | | Cure | Sun or UV light | Sun, 15 min to 1 hour | The applicators differ in who controls the pressure. Rain-X uses a driver you screw down by hand, and its crack directions warn that excessive pressure will extend the crack. Permatex locks its plunger at fixed notches, so the vacuum and pressure steps run on a timer. Both makers fill the break in shade and then cure it in sunlight. Both say a blemish may remain after the repair. ## When to call a shop instead Call a glass shop when the damage is larger than your kit’s limit, runs through the inner layer, reaches more than one edge, or sits in the driver’s view or a camera zone. ROLAGS says not to repair damage through both glass layers, damage on the inside layer, three or more long cracks from one impact point, or dirt that cleaning cannot remove. Edge cracks that reach more than one edge and stress cracks also mean replacement. Safelite says more than 3 chips or cracks usually points to replacement. Shops can repair cracks that no kit here covers. ROLAGS lets technicians fill single cracks up to 14 inches, reaching the damage by probing or drilling. ### Professional repair kits Professional kits are sold to trained technicians and fall outside this DIY guide. ROLAGS expects technicians to pass a written and a practical exam. ## Can a repair kit fix side or rear windows? A windshield repair kit cannot fix most side and rear windows, because those windows are usually tempered glass and these kits are made for laminated windshields. AAA reports that the majority of vehicle side windows are tempered glass, which shatters into small pieces. Safelite says tempered side and rear windows are more likely to break into fragments, so they are replaced. Some cars use laminated side glass: AAA counted about 33% of 2018 models. Rain-X and Permatex describe their kits for laminated windshields and list no side windows. For a laminated side window, see [can side glass panels be repaired](https://carglassfix.com/can-side-glass-panels-be-repaired/). ## The best kit for a quick roadside fix No kit here gives a finished repair in minutes, so the best roadside kit is the one whose steps fit your time and light. The pedestal kits need at least 30 minutes of syringe time, then 15 minutes of sun. Rain-X says the car is safe to drive within about an hour after the repair. Patsco says its patch can stay on until you reach your destination. Permatex says to store unopened 09103 kits at 46 to 82°F. A chip repair kit is not a windshield tool kit. ROLAGS lists what a repair system needs: equipment to clean the damage, reach it, remove air, inject resin, and fill and cure the pit. Cold knives, cut-out wire and urethane guns are replacement tools, covered in our guide to [auto glass tools](https://carglassfix.com/car-glass-tools/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Which is better, the Rain-X or the Permatex windshield repair kit? Rain-X suits a chip up to 1 inch with a crack up to 12 inches. Permatex suits a bullseye or star up to 1 1/4 inches on glass at 50 to 75°F. ### Can a DIY kit fix a long windshield crack? Rain-X 600001 is the only kit here whose maker allows cracks, up to 12 inches. ROLAGS lets trained technicians repair single cracks up to 14 inches. ### Can I use super glue or clear nail polish instead of a kit? No kit maker lists either one as a substitute for repair resin. See [will super glue fix a chip in windshield](https://carglassfix.com/will-super-glue-fix-a-chip-in-windshield/) and [how to repair windshield with clear nail polish](https://carglassfix.com/how-to-repair-windshield-with-clear-nail-polish/). ### Do windshield repair kits work on home windows? The makers here write their limits for laminated automotive windshields. None of them lists house windows. ### How long does a DIY chip repair take? Permatex and J-B Weld need at least 30 minutes of syringe time plus 15 minutes of sun. Rain-X cures in about 5 to 10 minutes of sun or UV light. Patsco gives about 20 minutes. ## Sources - [Rain-X, Windshield Repair Kit product page](https://www.rainx.com/product/rain-x-windshield-repair-kit/) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [Rain-X, FAQs: Windshield Repair Kit temperature, UV light and reapplication](https://www.rainx.com/heres-how/faqs/) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [Rain-X, 600001 Windshield Repair Kit directions (PDF)](https://www.rainx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/RX600001WindshieldRepairInst_v2.pdf) (checked Oct 24, 2026) - [Permatex, Windshield Repair Kit 09103](https://www.permatex.com/products/specialized-maintenance-repair/repair-kits/permatex-windshield-repair-kit/) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [Permatex, Windshield Repair Kit technical data sheet](https://cdn.amplifi.pattern.com/fbc272f2-239f-4aa1-9a22-07639c77e52d) (checked Oct 24, 2026) - [Permatex, Bullseye Windshield Repair Kit 16067](https://www.permatex.com/products/specialized-maintenance-repair/repair-kits/permatex-bullseye-windshield-repair-kit-17-fl-oz/) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [J-B Weld, Windshield Saver Kit 2100](https://www.jbweld.com/product/windshield-saver) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [J-B Weld, Repair a Cracked Windshield (steps)](https://www.jbweld.com/projects/cracked-windshield) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [Patsco, Windshield Repair Patch FAQ](https://www.patscopatch.com/faq) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [US Patent 10,946,624 B2, Glass repair kit and method](https://patents.google.com/patent/US10946624B2/en) (granted Mar 16, 2021) - [ANSI/AGSC/NWRD/ROLAGS 002-2022, Repair of Laminated Automotive Glass Standard](https://rolags.com/pdf/ANSI+AGSC+NWRD+ROLAGS+002-2022.pdf) (checked Oct 28, 2026) - [Safelite, Help Center: glass damage and service](https://www.safelite.com/help-center/glass-damage-and-service) (accessed Oct 22, 2026) - [Safelite, Damaged windshield: repair or replace](https://www.safelite.com/damaged-windshield-repair-replace) (accessed Oct 24, 2026) - [AAA, Vehicle Escape Tool Evaluation (2019)](http://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/Research-Report-Vehicle-Escape-Tools.pdf)