How to Compare PPF Before Buying — Beyond the Warranty Number
Every PPF listing leads with a warranty year count. That's the easiest number to print and the least useful one for comparing quality — here's what actually separates a good film from a mediocre one.
Key Takeaways
- Warranty length alone doesn't tell you about build quality — a longer warranty on an undisclosed chemistry isn't more trustworthy than a shorter one with real specs published.
- Film chemistry (TPU vs TPH), finish (gloss/matte/satin) and thickness all affect real-world performance differently — compare like-for-like.
- Self-healing behaviour ("heat-activated", temperature threshold) matters more day-to-day than a headline warranty figure.
- PMD's live PPF catalog runs from about ₹33,000 to ₹1,91,500 for the film alone — installation is separate and typically ₹8,000–₹20,000.
- PMD Index scores the underlying evidence quality, not just the warranty term — check it before assuming a bigger number means a better film.
Almost every PPF product page leads with a warranty number — 5 years, 7 years, sometimes claimed as "lifetime." It's the easiest spec to print and, on its own, one of the least useful for judging quality. A film with an undisclosed chemistry and a 10-year warranty isn't automatically better than one with a fully documented spec sheet and a 5-year warranty. Here's what to actually look at.
Start With What the Film Is Made Of
Nearly every PPF sold today is TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) — flexible, and capable of self-healing minor scratches when warmed. A smaller share of the market uses TPH-labelled film, a term used inconsistently across brands (see our TPU vs TPH explainer). Check what the listing actually states rather than assuming "PPF" is one uniform product. TPU vs TPH PPF →
Finish and Thickness — Different Films, Different Trade-offs
Gloss is the default and the most common finish PMD stocks; matte and satin-matte options exist for a flatter look but usually cost more and can be harder to fully repair if deeply scratched. Thickness, where a brand discloses it, generally sits in the 175–210 micron range across PMD's catalog — but a thicker film isn't automatically tougher. Tensile strength and self-healing behaviour matter more than the micron number by itself. PPF thickness explained →
Warranty Term vs. What's Actually Disclosed
PMD's live catalog spans 3 to 15 years of manufacturer warranty. What the warranty actually covers (manufacturing defects vs. physical damage) matters more than the number of years — see our full breakdown of what PPF warranty covers. What PPF warranty actually covers →
Check PMD Index Before the Warranty Number
PMD Index scores whether a brand's claims are backed by a cited test standard, a bare brand statement, or left undisclosed — the same warranty term can sit behind very different levels of actual evidence. See the full breakdown on any scored product page.
Product Cost vs. Installation Cost
PMD's PPF film prices run roughly ₹33,000 to ₹1,91,500 depending on brand, coverage and finish — that's the film only. Installation is quoted separately by your installer, typically ₹8,000–₹20,000 depending on coverage and city. Never accept one bundled number; ask for the film price and the installation price as two separate figures. PPF price: product vs. installation →
Every PPF Spec on One Page, With a Source
PMD shows chemistry, finish, thickness, warranty and — where scored — PMD Index for every PPF product, sourced from the brand's own technical documents rather than sales copy. Compare films on what's actually disclosed, not on which page shouts the biggest warranty number.
Browse PPF Films