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The more you use this wiper, the better it seems to work. Its classic design was tricky to install, but feels like it will hold up to the elements. Read More
Fear not with this independently manufactured wiper blade. It holds up to conditions like the big boys. And it's quite affordable too. Read More
Valeo's wipers come standard in many vehicles, and we can see why. They maintain solid contact with the windshield and seem well suited for winter. Read More
The water-resistant coating is great at wicking away moisture, but it can also smudge on the windshield and get on your hands during installation. Read More
Michelin's Stealth Ultra wipers are well constructed. The blades conform to the windshield and their hinges resist snow and ice buildup. Read More
Windshield wiper blades are just a bit of natural rubber or silicone in a metal frame. But they can be a life-saver when the weather gets rough.
Whether you’re headed to your local auto-parts store or shopping online, we’ve tested a wide range of the most popular wiper brands. The best windshield wipers are always going to be the ones that’ll keep you safest when you’re out on the road. Our top pick, the PIAA Super Silicone Wiper Blades (available at Amazon for $28.36) , offered the absolute best windshield clarity when compared with the other models we tried.
These PIAA 95055 Super Silicone windshield wipers were our Best Overall pick.
Aero Premium All-Season wipers make a great budget option.
Affordable
Maintains good windshield contact
Well-suited for winter conditions
None that we could find
Feature water resistant coating
Water-resistant solution can get on hands
Solution leaves a smudge behind
Bulky connectors can be noisy in the wind
Well-constructed
Hinges designed to resist snow/ice buildup
Easy to install
None that we could find
Maintains good contact with windshield surface
Easy to install
Some difficulty with thicker substances
We put the best windshield wipers to the test on a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria.
Working with Reviewed’s staff scientist, our automotive tester narrowed down the best windshield wipers by putting them through their paces in a real-world environment. We gathered many of the top wiper blades on the market and installed one on a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria, keeping a six-month-old Trico wiper on the other side for easy comparison.
After noting the difficulty level of each blade’s installation process, we used each wiper during real outdoor rain conditions and, in some cases, simulated rain from a spray bottle or garden hose. We also tested each windshield wiper’s performance with thicker substances, including honey, pancake syrup, and imitation snow. After testing each blade with the car in park, we then tried them out for several miles of in-town and highway driving.
You may not know the first thing about cars or the different types of windshield wiper blades, other than you need one to get around and be able to see while you’re driving. So when you’re at the auto-parts store looking for the best-rated windshield wipers, where do you start?
First of all, make sure you know what vehicle you’re driving. Some car names have been around for decades, and different generations can vary significantly from one to another. For example, the Ford Mustang has been available for over 50 years; wipers that fit an original ’65 Mustang will not fit a model from 2023.
And if you live somewhere with a lot of snow and ice, you may want winter blades that cope better with the elements. If you frequently drive on the highway, that’s also a consideration, as some types of wiper blades have a tendency to lift off the windshield because the heavy rubber boots don’t offer great airflow.
Look for the best wiper blades to handle the weather conditions in your neck of the woods.
If your vehicle has an accessory mode, turn it on and position each windshield wiper upwards away from the glass one at a time. Press down on each of the buttons used to fasten the blade to the arm, then remove the wiper.
Align your replacement blade with the vehicle’s corresponding wiper arm, then click each plastic clip into place and lower the wiper back onto the windshield. Test them with a bit of water or wiper fluid to make sure they’re attached correctly before you take them out on the road.
Consult the owner’s manual for your vehicle to be certain what size wipers you need before you buy. In some cases, one wiper will be a different size than the second one, so don’t assume they’re always the exact same length. You can also try entering your car’s year, make, and model in the search bar of your favorite auto-parts retailer to see what recommendations they have.
Ford Motor Company recommends changing your windshield wiper blades every 12 months. Depending on what kind of weather you usually drive in, yours may even start to wear out in six months or so. But a good rule of thumb is to swap them out once per year.
It’s easy to buy windshield wipers online, whether you prefer shopping with Amazon, Walmart, or a dedicated parts dealer like AutoZone or O’Reilly Auto Parts.
The best windshield wiper fluid for your needs may depend on where you live or how often you plan on driving in winter weather. On one hand, the typical alcohol-based wiper fluid is toxic to nature, so some people use vinegar or water as a less harmful substitute. Water, however, can attract harmful bacteria in warmer months—which is the only time water works as an effective substitute. (In the wintertime, it’s just going to freeze.) But there are other alternatives, like mixing vodka and dish soap, if you’re trying to avoid the more poisonous wiper fluids.
A good set of windshield wiper blades will probably cost you somewhere between $15 and $30 per blade in the U.S. Our current Best Overall pick runs $23.92, so you can expect to pay $40 or more for a good set of two. These days, they’re sold individually.
Alex Kane is a senior editor at USA Today’s Reviewed and the author of the Boss Fight Books volume on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. He has written for Fangoria, PC Gamer, Polygon, Rolling Stone, StarWars.com, and Variety. He lives in west-central Illinois.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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