--- title: Buy Eclipse Glasses: Where to Get Them, How Much They Cost description: Many retailers have sold out of eclipse glasses for the August 21, 2017 solar eclipse. Here are the best spots where you can still buy them canonical: https://time.com/4898224/solar-eclipse-glasses-where-buy/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-08-15T18:12:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2023-12-13T04:48:16.000Z article:section: Science og:title: Here's Where You Can Still Buy Real Solar Eclipse Glasses og:description: Authentic eclipse glasses are still available, but it may cost you og:url: https://time.com/4898224/solar-eclipse-glasses-where-buy/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd7d0dfa03f6d90d/6988d4557cdbac5465d590d4/solar-eclipse-facts.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Rare Partial Solar Eclipse Is Viewed Around The UK og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here's Where You Can Still Buy Real Solar Eclipse Glasses twitter:description: Authentic eclipse glasses are still available, but it may cost you twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd7d0dfa03f6d90d/6988d4557cdbac5465d590d4/solar-eclipse-facts.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Here's Where You Can Still Buy Real Solar Eclipse Glasses by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Updated: Dec 13, 2023 4:48 AM UTCPublished: Aug 15, 2017 6:12 PM UTC  Students from Saint Ursula's Covent Secondary School in Greenwich pose for a photograph wearing protective glasses at the Royal Observatory Greenwich on March 20, 2015 in London, England. Students from Saint Ursula's Covent Secondary School in Greenwich pose for a photograph wearing protective glasses at the Royal Observatory Greenwich on March 20, 2015 in London, England.Rob Stothard—Getty Images by [Lisa Marie Segarra](https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/) ## Lisa Marie Segarra Updated: Dec 13, 2023 4:48 AM UTCPublished: Aug 15, 2017 6:12 PM UTC Anyone who waited just a little too long to buy their [eclipse glasses](http://time.com/4878020/solar-eclipse-glasses-2017/) is now likely finding that many places are sold out. But don’t give up hope — and don’t resort to [buying fake eclipse glasses](http://time.com/4899457/amazon-refunds-eclipse-glasses/). (To watch without eclipse glasses, check out [TIME’s livestream of the total eclipse](http://time.com/4900148/total-solar-eclipse-time-livestream/) beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Monday.) Watching the Aug. 21 solar eclipse directly without proper eye protection is not an option, as it can cause temporary or permanent damage to your vision. It can also be dangerous to wear eclipse glasses that have not met safety standards, which require the glasses to block 99.99% of the sun’s rays. You can still find a few recommended vendors offering glasses for sale online, though prices have gone up substantially. The [American Astronomical Society](https://eclipse.aas.org/) has some advice to get a deal while also protecting your eyes: **_NEXT:_** [**_Watch the Whole Total Solar Eclipse in 4 Minutes_**](http://time.com/4900280/total-solar-eclipse-2017-video-watch/) ## Where can I buy eclipse glasses online? The AAS has a[ list of recommended eclipse glasses vendors](https://eclipse.aas.org/resources/solar-filters), which spokesperson Rick Fienberg says is growing as more companies provide verification that the glasses they’re selling are legit. Out of the ones currently listed on the AAS’s website, just two still have products in stock as of Tuesday afternoon. [American Paper Optics](https://www.eclipseglasses.com/collections/eclipse-glasses-stock/products/stock-eclipse-glasses) is selling glasses in bundles of 25 for $4 each, meaning you’ll have to drop at least $100\. The company was previously offering sets of 50 for $1.25 each. [Lunt Solar Systems ](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NB09NHK/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timeeclipse-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01NB09NHK&linkId=a5fbe4c26a3869e4ecc582ed79d4cf6e)also has stock available on Amazon, in packs of at least [5 for $7.99 each](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NB09NHK/ref=as%5Fli%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=timeeclipse-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B01NB09NHK&linkId=a5fbe4c26a3869e4ecc582ed79d4cf6e). The website notes that new pricing went into effect Aug. 1. “People can click on links from our website to see if they’re still shipping, but a lot of them are closing down their shops for the eclipse. Some places aren’t shipping whether they have stock or not because they can’t guarantee it’ll get there in time,” Fienberg said. ## Can I buy eclipse glasses in person? The AAS has a list of retailers that are selling eclipse glasses from verified vendors. Not all of the retail locations may carry eclipse glasses or may have them in stock, so Fienberg recommends calling the nearest store to avoid making an unnecessary trip. AAS’s website lists 7-Eleven, Best Buy, Bi-Mart, Casey’s General Store, Circle K, Hobby Town, Kirklands, Kroger, London Drugs, Love’s Travel Shops, Lowe’s, Pilot/Flying J, Toys “R” Us and Walmart. The AAS notes that it’s important to purchase eclipse glasses from the physical stores themselves rather than through the websites, because some companies offer different products online that may not be vetted by AAS. Walmart spokesperson Meggan Kring said that eclipse glasses cost just $1 at any location that still has them in stock. Walmart is also selling “Get Eclipsed” guidebooks that include eclipse glasses for $3.47. ## How can I see the eclipse if I don’t have eclipse glasses? Since it’s not safe to look at the eclipse without protecting your eyes, the AAS has also provided alternative ways to view the eclipse. Fienberg notes that finding a tree with sunlight shining through the leaves will project an image of the sun, and the eclipse, on the ground. Looking at the ground while holding up a colander can have the same effect. Another option is to catch one of the [many live streams of the eclipse.](http://time.com/4874900/total-solar-eclipse-how-watch-online/) This can be particularly useful for anyone who isn’t [in the path of totality.](http://time.com/4882923/total-solar-eclipse-map-places-view/) [(_Read TIME’s affiliate link policy_.)](http://time.com/4605406/time-affiliate-link-policy/) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4898224/solar-eclipse-glasses-where-buy/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4898224/solar-eclipse-glasses-where-buy/"},"headline":"Here's Where You Can Still Buy Real Solar Eclipse Glasses","datePublished":"2017-08-15T18:12:35.000Z","dateModified":"2023-12-13T04:48:16.000Z","description":"Authentic eclipse glasses are still available, but it may cost you","url":"https://time.com/4898224/solar-eclipse-glasses-where-buy/","keywords":["Eclipse","Space","onetime","space 2017"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd7d0dfa03f6d90d/6988d4557cdbac5465d590d4/solar-eclipse-facts.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Lisa Marie Segarra","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/lisa-marie-segarra/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltfd7d0dfa03f6d90d/6988d4557cdbac5465d590d4/solar-eclipse-facts.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Rare Partial Solar Eclipse Is Viewed Around The UK","caption":"Rare Partial Solar Eclipse Is Viewed Around The UK","creditText":"Rob Stothard—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/eclipse/","name":"Eclipse"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4898224/solar-eclipse-glasses-where-buy/","name":"Here's Where You Can Still Buy Real Solar Eclipse Glasses"}}]}] ```