Can hail crack a windshield?
Reviewed by the Skyview Auto Glass technical team — NWRD-, ASE- and DINITROL-trained technicians · Updated November 2026
Quick answer
Yes. Hailstones dense and hard enough can chip a windshield, crack it, or put a hole through it — and the tempered glass in back windows and sunroofs can shatter outright when a large stone lands squarely. After a hailstorm, check all the glass, not just the windshield, and photograph everything before it rains again.
Can hail break a windshield?
A windshield is laminated — two glass layers around a plastic interlayer — so hail usually chips it, cracks it, or leaves a crater rather than shattering it. The interlayer holds the pieces even when the outer layer fractures badly, which is why a hail-hit windshield tends to look spidered but stay in the frame.
The tempered glass elsewhere on the vehicle behaves differently. Back glass, side windows, and many sunroof panels are tempered, and tempered glass that takes a hard enough hit breaks into small granules all at once. A hailstorm can leave a windshield cracked and a back window gone, which is why the walk-around after hail covers every pane.
What people assume about hail damage
Only giant hail damages a windshield.
There is no reliable size cutoff, because density, speed, and angle matter as much as diameter — a smaller, harder, wind-driven stone can do what a softer larger one cannot. Treat any hail event as worth an inspection.
A windshield that survived the storm is fine.
Hail damage is not always immediate. A stone can leave a small crater or edge nick that cracks out days later as the glass flexes and shifts. Look the pane over closely in daylight after the storm passes.
Hail damage is automatically covered by car insurance.
Hail damage to auto glass is typically handled under the comprehensive portion of a policy, but what you actually owe depends on your coverage and deductible — confirm the specifics with your insurer before scheduling the work.
What to do after hail damage
- Photograph every pane and every mark, with the date, before weather changes the picture.
- Cover any shattered tempered window with plastic to keep water out of the interior.
- Tape over chips and small cracks on the windshield so rain does not contaminate them.
- Check for dents on hood and roof at the same time — a hail claim usually covers the whole event.
- Call your insurer to confirm how your policy handles hail glass damage and what your deductible terms are.
- Have the glass inspected promptly; a chip from hail repairs exactly like any other chip while it stays small.
More questions about hail and windshields
What size hail damages a windshield?
There is no dependable threshold to quote — stone density, wind speed, and impact angle change the outcome as much as size. The practical rule is simpler: after any hailstorm that hits the car, inspect the glass.
Does insurance cover hail damage to a windshield?
Hail damage is typically handled under comprehensive coverage, and what you pay depends on your policy’s deductible terms. Confirm the details with your insurer — Skyview works with the coverage you have and bills the insurer directly when a claim applies.
Can a hail chip be repaired like a rock chip?
Yes — a small, clean crater from a hailstone fills with resin exactly like road debris damage, as long as it is within the size and location limits. The source of the impact does not change the repair physics.
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