The 13 Best Affordable Sunglasses That Look Surprisingly Expensive

Not too long ago, cheap sunglasses looked cool, but they’d break if you looked at them funny. These days, affordable sunglasses are on-trend and have all the essentials that you’d expect from a pair of premium-priced sunglasses. And nothing tops off a summertime wardrobe better than a pair of cool-looking sunglasses.

We’ve done the heavy lifting for you and found 13 pairs of affordable sunglasses that to be honest, rock. There’s a pair that floats if they fall off a boat, one made for runners, and a pair that looks nifty on the golf range — but they may not be able to improve your game. We also found great-looking affordable sunglasses whose main job is to just help you look good.

All of these affordable sunglasses are under $50, have UV protection, can be customized, boast polarized lenses and much more. Scroll through our list and you’ll find that you don’t have to compromise money or taste for the best affordable sunglasses on the market.

1. Knockaround Custom Sunglasses

BEST OVERALL

When you hear the phrase “custom sunglasses,” you automatically think that the price will not be in the affordable range. Knockaround Sunglasses created a paradigm shift in the custom sunglass world by offering that service at a wallet-friendly price. Knockaround doesn’t have one style you can play around with, they give you six sunglass styles to re-design (sorta). These sunglass styles can be personalized to the minutest detail. Pick a color for the frames,  arms, and even switch up the brand’s logo. Prices range from $30 – $40 per tailor-made sunnies.

2. KALIYADI Polarized Sunglasses

BEST MULTI-PACK

Some of the best cheap sunglasses don’t just come in a pack of one. Check out these three sunglasses from Amazon and see what we mean. For just $17, you’ll be saving 15% with your purchase and get one three pairs of sunglasses in three different colors. They’re 100% UV blocking and are coated with an anti-reflective lens. Reviewers love these on Amazon, they’re Amazon’s Choice and have 4.6 stars out of 5.

3. Luenx Aviator Sunglasses

AMAZON TOP SELLER

Lauded by Today.com and over 10K buyers, Luenx Aviator Sunglasses seem to be the best bang for your buck when it comes to buying affordable sunglasses.  Not only is this style great for every face shape, but it also seems that everyone raves about how cool they are. Reviewers claim that they’re as strong as a MARVEL superhero. These unisex aviator sunglasses are polarized, shatterproof, and have an anti-oxidant plated frame to protect skin from allergic reactions. They’re engineered with spring-loaded hinges and adjustable nose pads for a perfect fit. Don’t want basic sunglasses? You’re in luck as there are 18 different colorways, and you can choose mirrored and non-mirrored lenses too.

Each pair comes with two sunglasses cases (hard and soft) and a cleaning lens cloth. Oh, and if you don’t like them, return them for a full refund within 30 days.

4. J+S Premium Aviator Glasses

CONTENDER

When you purchase a pair of premium sunglasses, it’s rare that they’ll come with a 100% risk-free, one-year warranty. J+S Premium Aviator sunglasses are under $25, which puts them squarely in the affordable sunglasses range, and they offer a risk-free warranty. These affordable sunglasses have the same details that you expect from a higher-priced brand, too. The polarized lenses block 99.96% of glare and offer 100% UVA and UVB protection. The lenses have a scratch-resistant coating, adjustable nose pads, and heck, they even come with a case. The aviators come in three colorways: black frames and lenses, ash gray frames with black lenses, and gold frames with black lenses.

5. H&M Round Sunglasses

BEST DEAL

Why does H&M pop up in so many SPY roundups? It’s probably because they constantly deliver well-made, on-trend stuff at very friendly price points. Take this pair of round sunglasses; they’re cool looking and cool to look through as they’ve got the UV protection thing going on. They also come in two other colorways (tortoiseshell, black) so you could pick up all three without worrying about your wallet. If you’re looking for affordable sunglasses that are long on style, you can’t go wrong with this pair from H&M.

6. Arnette AN4265 Gringo Sunglasses

BEST STREETWEAR

Does streetwear style include sunglasses? Yep, it does. These affordable sunglasses were created in partnership with Post Malone, so, if you want to finish your ready-for-the-street-ready-for-your-best-selfie shot, you can’t go wrong with this pair of affordable sunglasses. Owned by sunglasses powerhouse Luxottica, Arnette delivers cutting-edge style that’s got performance-based expectations built-in. These narrow rectangular frames are made from bio-based plastic, have UV protection lenses, and come with eco-friendly recyclable packaging. Grab them in yellow, black, white, or transparent gray frames. The frames run in two sizes, 55 and 54 millimeters.

7. Dragon Marquis H20 Sunglasses

BEST FOR WATER ACTIVITIES

Water sports enthusiasts know that premium sunglasses that are made for them need to be adaptable to their environments. Now you don’t have to compromise on sturdy sunglasses that do what you need to do outdoors, as the Dragon Marquis H20 Sunglasses are reduced from $179 to $39.99. The frames are created with thermoplastics, so they float and bob in the water, making them easy to find and rescue. The indestructible lenses are crafted from six-base polycarbonate, they’re also impact-resistant, shatterproof, yet lightweight.

8. Faguma Sports Polarized Sunglasses

BEST FOR ATHLETES

Speaking of sports sunglasses, here’s a pair of affordable sunglasses that are so good, you won’t feel that you’ve made a compromise. They’ve gotten over nine thousand positive reviews on Amazon. Reviewers rave about the fit, clarity of the polarized lenses, and how great they are for everything from motorcycle riding, to golfing, to doing yard work. They have everything you’d expect in a higher-priced pair of sunglasses; like UV400 protection, anti-glare, true color vision, and the lenses also eliminate scattered and reflected light. These sunglasses come in nine shades and arrive with a case and cleaning cloth. Don’t like them? Send them back within 30 days and get your money back.

Related: Best Sunglasses For Running and Cycling

9. Goodr Whiskey Shots With Satan Sunglasses

BEST FOR RUNNERS AND BIKERS

Goodr makes sunglasses for biking, riding, other outdoor activities. No longer will you have to futz with a headband that supposedly slides over the arms of sunnies to anchor them in place. Goodr’s Whiskey Shots are designed like higher-priced biking sunglasses; they use a special grip coating to prevents slipping, and bouncing is eliminated via its snug fit. The only difference between a premium pair and these affordable sunglasses is the price tag.

10. Discount Sunglasses Westend Worthington Sunglasses

BEST RETRO

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a pair of iconic Wayfarers, but were iffy about spending the cash on them, the next best thing is a pair of affordable sunglasses that have that cool, iconic style without the big price tag. This pair from Discount Sunglasses updates that classic style with a touch of metal on the frame. Their lenses protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. They can be purchased in three different colorways and come with a protective case.

11. Emporio Armani Sunglasses

BEST DESIGNER

If you have a hankering for designer sunglasses, you can’t go wrong with this pair of affordable sunglasses from Emporio Armani. They’re in the up-to-the-minute round frames with gray lenses that have been coated with UV protection. The frames are black plastic, the arms are a soft metallic gray shade, and the designer’s logo is discreetly placed on the lenses. The cool thing about round frames is that like aviator frames, they look good on every face shape.

SAVE 76%!

12. G2RISE Polarized Sunglasses

BEST DAD GLASSES

These are the ultimate dad glasses. They’re the ones he wears with his baseball cap, fanny pack and socks and sandals. They use triacetate cellulose lens that are polarized and UV-coated. Wear these with all of the dad-centric outfits you’ll be pulling this summer when biking, walking or hanging at the beach.

13. Tomahawk Grasshopper Shades

HONORABLE MENTION

“Cheap” rarely means stylish in the world of sunglasses. However, Tomahawk felt otherwise when they designed their Grasshopper line of shades. The Connors specifically strike that balance between affordable and awesome-looking, coming in at just under $50 for a pair. What’s more, you can get these rounded shades in a variety of lens and frame colors depending on your mood. SPY was sent a pair and we can attest to their quality and style. If you’re looking for a cheap pair of sunglasses you’ll actually take care of this summer, you can end your search here.

*Disclaimer: Looking for Spy Optic? Click here: https://www.spyoptic.com.

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