With a partial solar eclipse happening in our skies on March 29, now is a good time to get your hands on one of the best pairs of solar binoculars. Viewable from across North America and parts of Europe and Africa, this event will see the moon partially block the sun. But to view it, you need the right equipment to protect your eyes.
Looking at the sun is dangerous business, particularly during a partial solar eclipse where the sun's rays are more concentrated. If you want to get a good look, you'll need to view the partial solar eclipse with specialized protective technology. You can opt for solar eclipse glasses, but if you also want to get a closer look, solar binoculars are your best bet.
The best solar binoculars differ from the standard range of best binoculars because they come equipped with solar-safe filters. The entire frame within the binoculars is darkened, blocking out harmful infrared and ultraviolet rays and protecting your eyes from retinal damage.
You should never use regular binoculars to look at a solar eclipse, so if you own a set of the best binoculars for stargazing or your kids have any of the best binoculars for kids, make sure they are kept safely stowed away for the duration of this month's partial solar eclipse.
Quick list
Best overall solar binoculars
Coming from Celestron, a leading brand in skywatching products, the EclipSmart 10x42 solar binoculars are well made and perform valiantly.
Best compact solar binoculars
Bright, eye-catching and available in four different colors, the Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars are ideal if you want something small enough to fit in your pocket.
Best budget solar binoculars
Available for a bargain price, these EclipSmart solar binoculars are seriously great value, offering adequate protection and doing exactly what you'd expect from them.
Best high power solar binoculars
You'll get closer to the sun than ever with these 20x magnification binoculars, but you will need to use a tripod to get steady views.
Best solar binoculars for kids
Made for small hands and sporting an attractive design, these are the ideal solar binoculars for youngsters.
Best solar binoculars to buy in 2025
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Best overall solar binoculars
✅ You want to buy from a trusted brand: Celestron is one of the best-known brands in the skywatching space.
✅ You want something built to last: You won't need solar binoculars all that regularly, but these will last a long time.
❌ You want a higher magnification: If 10x isn't powerful enough for you, we recommend the Eclipsmart 20x50 solar binoculars.
❌ You want something inexpensive and throwaway: Most solar binoculars are built to last, so you'd be better off with solar glasses. Celestron's Solar Power Viewers offer a 2x magnification and cost $13 for two pairs.
🔎 Celestron EclipSmart 10x42: These are solid, well-made binoculars that are well worth their price. Coming from Celestron, they have the weight of a trustworthy brand behind them. The filters cannot be removed, however, so they're only useful for viewing solar activity. ★★★★½
Even if you don't know much about skywatching products, there's a good chance you've heard of Celestron. This is a leading brand in the telescope and binoculars space, so when it comes to buying a set of the best solar binoculars, you know Celestron is a brand you can trust. We think the EclipSmart 10x42 solar binoculars are the best on the market: They're inexpensive, well made and fantastic at their job. What more could you want?
In our Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 review, we commented on how comfortable these solar binoculars are to use. They aren't the smallest, but weighing 24 oz (680 g) they're perfectly manageable, and their all-over rubber casing means they grip well in the hand. There are also two thumb grips on the underside of the binoculars, which we found particularly comfortable.
In terms of performance, we've been impressed with how well the Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 solar binoculars work. Unlike regular binoculars, you can't use these to view everything — they're designed specifically for looking at the sun, so most light transmissions are blocked out. But look at the sun and not only will your eyes be protected, but you'll be able to see details beyond a bright disc in the sky.
Given the very reasonable price of these solar binoculars, we think they are excellent. They aren't perfect: We experienced some chromatic aberration while using them, and we found that the eyepiece lenses would easily mist up due to our brow sweating under the heat of the sun. These are ultimately small issues, though, and they don't put us off heartily recommending these solar binoculars.
- Read our full Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 solar binoculars review for more information.
Attribute | Notes |
|---|---|
Design | Rubberized body provides good grip |
Performance | Perfect filter intensity to make views safe but still detailed |
Functionality | Flexible interpupillary distance so kids and adults can use them |
Best compact solar binoculars
✅ You want a fun pair of solar binoculars: Available in three vibrant colors (or black), the Lunt Sunoculars are a great choice if you want something a little vibrant.
✅ You need something compact: At only 18 oz, these are small and light enough for easy traveling.
❌ You want a more powerful magnification: The Lunt Sunoculars only have 8x magnification. We'd recommend checking out the Eclipsmart 20x50 solar binoculars if you need more power.
❌ You're on a budget: At $129, these aren't the cheapest solar binoculars on the market.
🔎 Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars: Available in a range of funky colors, the Lunt Sunoculars are a great choice if you want solar binoculars to fit in your pocket. They can be a little fiddly to focus, but they work nicely once you've adjusted them. ★★★★
We love how eye-catching the Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars are. Along with the yellow body as pictured, they're also available in red and blue — and there's a black version available if you want something a little more understated. Despite their fun-loving colors, however, the Lunt Sunoculars work perfectly.
These binoculars are no good for day-to-day use but thanks to their filters, you can use them to safely view a solar eclipse (or the sun in general). You won't be able to see anything else through them other than the sun, which can make finding the perfect focal spot a little different, but once you get it set up, the Sunoculars work perfectly.
The 8x magnification power in the Lunt Sunoculars is perfectly adequate for getting a close-up view of the sun, but not so powerful that it'll be hard to get a steady view. Most importantly, these solar binoculars meet all necessary safety requirements, so you can have peace of mind when using them to view a solar eclipse.
The only real downside of the Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars is their price tag. They're significantly more expensive than every other set of solar binoculars in this guide, and we're not entirely sure they're worth almost twice the price of the Celestron EclipSmart 10x42s that we've chosen as our best overall. Ultimately, it depends on how much you value a fun, colorful body and a slightly smaller build that will easily fit in a pocket.
Attribute | Notes |
|---|---|
Design | Four different colors available |
Performance | Excellent filters to protect your eyes adequately |
Functionality | Focusing can be a little tricky |
Best budget solar binoculars
✅ You're on a budget: These solar binoculars cost $35 normally, but are frequently discounted even further.
✅ You want something compact: Weighing just 11.05 oz, these binos are seriously lightweight and compact.
❌ You want something to use during a total eclipse: The objective lens diameter doesn't let enough light through to view totality. Take a look at the EclipSmart 10x42 binos instead.
❌ You want excellent optic quality: Again, the EclipSmart 10x42 will offer much better detail, but given their price point they're perfectly good enough.
🔎 Celestron EclipSmart 10x25: Don't expect stunning views through these solar binoculars, but given their low price they're perfectly adequate, as long as you're not wanting to view a total eclipse. ★★★★
With the partial solar eclipse coming up at the end of the month, these Celestron EclipSmart 10x25 binoculars are the ideal solar binoculars to pick up. They're inexpensive, they're compact, and they're ideal for a partial eclipse. What they're not ideal for, however, is a total eclipse: The small objective lens diameter just doesn't let enough light through.
But with the next total solar eclipse not due until August 2026, that's not something you need to worry about just yet. If you don't want to spend a fortune and want to be able to get a close-up view of the upcoming partial eclipse, these are a great buy. They offer adequate eye protection while still letting you see the sun in plenty of detail.
Despite their small size, they are easy enough to focus on thanks to a quality focus wheel in the center of the binoculars. If you have larger hands, you might find their small size difficult to hold comfortably — but for adults with smaller hands or children, they are an excellent size.
Perhaps the biggest complaint about these solar binoculars is that they lack the brightness you'd get in more expensive sets. That's mostly due to the small objective lenses: you'd want to go for a larger diameter to let in more light. But since the lens filters here block out most light in order to protect your eyes, it's not the biggest issue.
Being budget solar binoculars, you don't get lens caps included in the box, but you get a carry pouch which will keep them safe when not in use. They're not perfect, then, but given their seriously low price, it's hard to complain too much.
Attribute | Notes |
|---|---|
Design | Very lightweight and compact |
Performance | Image lacks brightness, some color fringing |
Functionality | Can be hard to hold if you've got larger hands |
Best high power solar binoculars
✅ You want powerful solar binoculars: With a massive 20x magnification, these are the most powerful solar binoculars you'll find.
✅ You already have a tripod: You'll need to tripod-mount these binoculars if you want a steady view.
❌ You want something handheld: You'll struggle to get a good, steady view with just your hands. Consider the EclipSmart 10x42 solar binos instead.
❌ You want a light, compact pair of solar binos: Weighing 892 g, these are far from compact. The Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars are worth a look if you want something pocket-sized.
🔎 Celestron EclipSmart 20x50: These binos are super powerful, although to get the most out of them you'll need a tripod. Don't expect the sharpest views ever, but for their price, these are a great option to view the solar eclipse with. ★★★★
If you want to get closer to the partial solar eclipse than ever, we'd recommend picking up a pair of binoculars with a high magnification. For the money, we think the Celestron EclipSmart 20x50 solar binoculars are the best option on the market. They're relatively inexpensive, have a good build quality — they do come from Celestron, after all — and offer solid views of the sun.
Like all solar binoculars, these are designed to only view the sun. They block out almost all light in order to keep your eyes safe from the sun's flares. That means unless you're looking at the sun, all you'll see is darkness. It can be tricky to focus the binos for that reason, but once you get locked on, you'll be in for a treat with clear, high-magnification views.
These binos are easy to use. Other than finding your sweet focus spot, there's little else that needs doing. It's worth mentioning, however, that these solar binoculars have a very small eye relief, so if you need to keep your glasses on while using them, it might be a bit of a struggle.
Of course, that 20x magnification comes with a problem of its own: It's almost impossible to get a steady view with your hand. We'd highly recommend you use these binoculars with a tripod to allow you to get steady, unshaky views. The binos have a built-in tripod mount, making it nice and easy to mount them, although if you haven't already got a tripod we'd possibly suggest choosing binoculars with a lower magnification.
If 20x seems a little over-the-top, Celestron also offers a 12x50 version of these solar binoculars — but we'd still recommend using a tripod with 12x magnification. Opt for 8x or 10x if you want to be able to use your binoculars handheld.
Attribute | Notes |
|---|---|
Design | Solid body, well made |
Performance | Powerful 20x magnification requires a tripod for steady views |
Functionality | Good solar protection, meets all safety standards |
Best solar binoculars for kids
✅ You're buying for a child: Super small and lightweight, these are the ideal solar binoculars for small hands.
✅ You want something fun and colorful: Like their larger counterparts, the Lunt Mini Sunoculars come in yellow, blue or red.
❌ You want higher magnification: These solar binoculars offer 6x magnification. If you want to get closer, consider the also-compact Celestron EclipSmart 10x25.
❌ You want something solid and quality-feeling: Weighing just 5.6 oz, these binos are rather flimsy.
🔎 Lunt 6x30 Mini Sunoculars: Bold colors and a seriously small and compact body make these the ideal solar binoculars for young children. Don't expect amazing views through them, though, but they do the job. ★★★½
If you want to be able to view the upcoming partial solar eclipse with your children, it's a good idea to get them their own solar binoculars. Most pairs will adjust to fit a smaller face, but binos designed for adults tend to be heavy and cumbersome for kids to hold to their faces for extended periods of time. The Lunt 6x30 Mini Sunoculars, on the other hand, are designed with small faces (and hands) in mind, making them an ideal option for young kids.
Weighing just 5.3 oz (160 g) and measuring 4.1 x 4.3 inches (105 x 110 mm) in diameter, these solar binoculars are positively tiny. Children will have no problem managing them by themselves, and their small body means they fit comfortably in smaller hands.
The Lunt 6x30 Mini Sunoculars can be tricky to focu ons, though. With no focus wheel, you'll instead have to adjust each eye, which can be fiddly and hard to get right. They also feel a little flimsy, but that's the price you pay for something so lightweight.
Of course, these Mini Sunoculars have all the required safety regulations in place, and do a great job of protecting little eyes from the sun's flares. With 6x magnification, they offer a decent view of the sun, and they're not so powerful that you need to worry about keeping them steady.
Like their larger counterparts, the Lunt 6x30 Mini Sunoculars are available in multiple colors: yellow, red and blue (these ones aren't available in black). We think it's a great choice of colors that will appeal to kids.
Attribute | Notes |
|---|---|
Design | Available in three bright, attractive colors |
Performance | Offers safe, steady views of the sun |
Functionality | No focus wheel, can be difficult to focus each eye |
Best solar binoculars: Comparison
| Header Cell - Column 0 | Magnification | Objective lens diameter | Field of view | Eye relief | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 | 10x | 42 mm | 6 degrees | 12.7 mm | 24 oz / 680 g | 6.8 x 2.9 x 5.4 in / 173 x 74 x 137mm |
Lunt 8x32 Sunoculars | 8x | 32 mm | 5.4 degrees | 13.6 mm | 18 oz / 510 g | 5.5 x 4.3 in / 140 x 110mm |
Celestron EclipSmart 10x25 | 10x | 25 mm | 5.7 degrees | 10.5 mm | 11.5 oz / 326.5 g | 3 x 2.2 x 4.5 in / 76 x 51 x 114mm |
Celestron EclipSmart 20x50 | 20x | 50 mm | 3.4 degrees | 8 mm | 31.5 oz / 892 g | 7.8 x 2.6 x 7.3 in / 199 x 65 x 186mm |
Lunt 6x30 Mini Sunoculars | 6x | 30 mm | 7.5 degrees | 9 mm | 5.6 oz / 160 g | 4.1 x 4.3 in / 105 x 110mm |
Frequently asked questions
What are solar binoculars?
Solar binoculars are binoculars designed exclusively for looking at the sun and solar events. They feature strong filters in their glass which will protect your eyes from the sun's infrared and UV light, but this means they aren't useful for other types of observations.
How do solar binoculars differ from standard binoculars?
Standard binoculars have clear glass which can be used to view a wide range of objects. They are designed to let as much light in as possible in order to give you a good view. Solar binoculars, on the other hand, have special filters in their glass, which is blackened to block out most light. You can't view anything other than the sun (or something with similar brightness) through solar binoculars.
Can you look at the sun with solar binoculars?
Yes, using solar binoculars that meet the required safety standard (ISO 12312-2) will protect your eyes from the sun's flares. Always ensure that your solar binoculars are in good condition and aren't damaged in any way before using them to look at the sun.
Can you use regular binoculars to view a solar eclipse?
No, you should never view a solar eclipse, or the sun in general, through regular binoculars. Always use protective eyewear, whether it's solar binoculars or solar glasses. The sun's rays can permanently damage your eyes — the filters in solar binoculars are designed to keep your retinas safe.
That said, you can use a dedicated solar filter on regular binoculars in order to view a solar eclipse. Just make sure they are attached properly with good adhesion to prevent damaging your eyesight.
What are the best solar binoculars?
We think the best solar binoculars are Celestron EclipSmart 10x42 Solar Binoculars. These binoculars offer great magnification without requiring a tripod, they're well made, easy to use, and they come in at a reasonable price point.
How long should solar binoculars last?
The filters inside older solar binoculars can disintegrate, so make sure you inspect the lenses and the quality of your binoculars in general before you use them. If you're in doubt, don't use them, and look to buy a new pair.
Newer solar binoculars should last many years as long as they're well cared for. But again, be sure to always check their condition before using them to view the sun.
Are solar binoculars safe?
Yes, as long as they're used correctly and they have been manufactured to meet ISO 12312-2 specifications, solar binoculars are safe to view the sun with. Just make sure you check for any defects or problems with the binoculars before you use them: You should only ever use solar binoculars that are in excellent condition.
To test them without holding them up to your eyes and risking injury, look at other objects during the day — if you can see anything other than the sun, they aren't safe to use.
What magnification solar binoculars should I choose?
We think 8x or 10x magnification is ideal for viewing a solar event. Weaker magnification won't let you view as much detail, and stronger magnification will make it hard for you to hold binoculars steady. If you do opt for something as powerful as 20x, you'll get some incredible views, but you'll need to use a tripod to achieve them.
How we test the best solar binoculars
Where possible, our expert reviewers have tested solar binoculars in real-world conditions. Being designed exclusively to look at the sun, our reviewers have used solar binoculars to view the details of the sun, along with solar events like annular, partial and total solar eclipses.
We've checked that every set of solar binoculars we recommend meets the required safety requirements, and we ensure that the build quality of each pair of binoculars is worthy of our recommendation. We also assess solar binoculars based on how comfortable they are to use, how easy they are to focus and how good their image quality is.
Price is also a consideration when it comes to choosing the best solar binoculars. We consider if they offer good value for money based on what else is available on the market.
