Where to Buy Solar Eclipse Glasses for the Next Eclipse — or Even Find Them for Free

A solar eclipse is set for April 8, 2024, and you don't want to look at it with the wrong spectacles. During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the earth and the sun, making the sun appear as just a black circle glowing from behind. This major astronomical event brings everyone's eyes toward the sky, and although the sun may look covered, its rays are still very powerful, and we cannot look at them directly.

Staring at the sun can cause serious eye damage, and your retinas can become burned. This is why special glasses are needed to view a solar eclipse. Here's where to get your solar eclipse glasses.

Many online retailers sell reliable solar eclipse glasses, but you want to ensure they are the real deal because wearing fake glasses could damage your eyesight. Luckily, most eclipse glasses are fairly cheap, ranging from five to ten dollars or less per Slate.

You can find solar eclipse glasses, as well as other eclipse accessories at American Paper Optics. According to their website, all their eclipse glasses are ISO-certified and tested, made in the United States, and used by NASA for eclipse viewing.

Another website, National Eclipse, sells ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses and other accessories, such as hand-held eclipse viewers, books, phone filters, and T-shirts. A similar website, Great American Eclipse, also sells ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses, card eclipse viewers, and even eclipse binoculars.

Popular glasses brand Warby Parker is giving away free solar eclipse ISO-certified glasses from April 1, 2024, to the eclipse on April 8, in all of its stores. The glasses are available as supplies last, so if you haven't stocked up on your solar eclipse glasses yet, be sure to race to Warby Parker on April 1.

You can also find glasses at large online retail sites. Amazon sells this pack of four eclipse glasses for $11.95, which includes an eclipse viewing guide. At B&H Photo, you can buy a four-pack for $8.99 or even a pack of 20 for $29.99. For the more serious eclipse viewers, Best Buy sells plastic eclipse glasses instead of regular paper ones, plus binoculars and telescopes.

Most eclipse glasses are inexpensive, but you may still wonder if there is a way to get them for free. Although eclipse glasses can start cheap, the closer we are to the eclipse date, the more likely they will sell out, which can cause a spike in the remaining ones.

According to Forbes, the Solar Eclipse Activities for Libraries (SEAL) is giving out five million solar eclipse glasses for free. Check this map to find out if your library is participating.

However, when looking for free solar eclipse glasses, you need to be cautious of scams and fakes. According to USA Today, some sellers do not have the proper safety certifications for eclipse glasses. If you aren't sure, you can always check the list provided by the American Astronomical Society (AAS), which has all the sellers and manufacturers that have met safety standards.

This article, originally published on March 21, has been updated.