The best online sunglasses store in Canada depends on what you are buying. For the widest price range and big-brand choice, look at SmartBuyGlasses, Clearly or KITS. For a try-before-you-buy model, look at Warby Parker. For compact, foldable frames that live in a bag or jacket pocket, ROAV Eyewear is built for exactly that job. Below we compare the main options on price, returns, prescription support and fit for different buyers, then show what to check before you pay.
TL;DR
- Price ranges are very wide: Canoe’s July 2025 comparison lists KITS at $28 to $1,000, Clearly at $9 to $550 and SmartBuyGlasses at $35 to $2,000, all including standard lenses.
- UV protection comes first. The Canadian Association of Optometrists says to look for 99 to 100% UVA and UVB blocking, and darker lenses do not mean more protection.
- Returns and warranty terms differ more than frame prices do, so read them before you pick a store.
- Prescription sunglasses take longer than ready-to-wear pairs. Check the lens processing time on the product page before you order for a trip.
- If you travel often or carry your glasses daily, a foldable frame with a pouch matters more than a big catalogue. That is where ROAV fits.
Table of Contents
- What to compare before choosing a store
- The main online options in Canada
- Which store suits which shopper
- Prescription sunglasses: what to expect on timing
- Buying sunglasses as employee gifts
- Our perspective
- Find a foldable pair that travels with you
- A short checklist before you click buy
- FAQ
- Sources
What to compare before choosing a store
Most shoppers start with price and brand. A better order is protection, fit, policies, then price.
UV protection and lens quality
The Canadian Association of Optometrists advises choosing sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. It also notes that lens darkness is not a measure of UV protection. The same page suggests larger frames for more coverage, checking lenses for distortion and matched colour, and picking tint and polarization to suit your activities (driving, water, snow, running).
Online, you cannot hold the lens up to the light, so the listing has to do the work. A good store states the UV rating clearly on each product page. If the page says nothing about UV, move on. If you want a quick method for verifying a claim, our guide on confirming UV400 protection in five quick checks walks through it, and why UVA and UVB both matter, even on foldables covers the basics.
Returns, exchanges and warranty
Buying sunglasses without trying them on is a fit gamble, so the return policy is part of the product. According to Canoe, KITS offers free 30-day returns, free 365-day exchanges and a one-year manufacturing-defect warranty. Clearly offers 30-day returns and a one-year defect warranty in the same roundup, and Zenni offers a 14-day refund, a 30-day store-credit exchange and a 30-day warranty. Policies change, so confirm the current terms on the store’s own page before you buy.
Shipping, duties and currency
Canadian-based stores ship in Canadian dollars with no customs surprises. Some international retailers charge duties or taxes at delivery, and the extra cost is easy to miss at checkout. Always check that the price you see is the price you pay, in CAD, delivered.
Prescription support
If you need prescription sunglasses, you want the store to accept your prescription online, offer single vision and progressive lenses, and tell you how long lens processing takes. Wrap-style frames are harder to fit with prescription lenses: 20/20 magazine notes that wrap curvature complicates prescription optics, though digital free-form lenses can compensate. That is worth asking about before choosing a very curved sport frame.
The main online options in Canada
This table summarizes the price ranges Canoe published in July 2025. Ranges include standard lenses and have likely moved since, so treat them as a guide to where each store sits.
| Store | Published range (CAD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| KITS | $28 to $1,000 | Canadian-owned, broad range, generous exchanges |
| Clearly | $9 to $550 | Budget to mid-range, prescription and non-prescription |
| SmartBuyGlasses | $35 to $2,000 | Designer brands, very wide choice |
| Warby Parker | $150 to $295 | Home try-on, simple pricing |
| Bonlook | $149 to $249 | Canadian-designed fashion frames |
| Bailey Nelson | $189 to $299 | Design-led frames |
| Dresden | $75 to $130 | Low-cost prescription |
| Zenni | $10 to $350 | Lowest-cost prescription |
| ROAV Eyewear | See product pages | Foldable, travel-ready sunglasses and eyeglasses |
The source for every range except ROAV is Canoe’s comparison of where to buy glasses online in Canada.
KITS
KITS is a Vancouver-based, Canadian-owned option that suits shoppers who want a large catalogue and a forgiving return window. Canoe reports free 365-day exchanges, which takes a lot of the fit risk out of ordering blind. The price range is wide, from very low to $1,000, so it is worth filtering by price before browsing.
Clearly
Clearly has a strong presence in Canada and sells prescription eyewear, sunglasses and contact lenses. It is a practical stop if you want one account for glasses and contacts, and its lowest price points are some of the cheapest listed. Check the current return terms on its site, since they have been promoted differently over time.
SmartBuyGlasses
If you want a specific designer label, SmartBuyGlasses has the broadest range, up to $2,000 in Canoe’s comparison. Since it is an international retailer, check delivery times, duties and the return process for Canada before ordering.
Warby Parker
Warby Parker’s pricing is simple: Canoe lists $150 to $295 including standard lenses, a free five-frame Home Try-On, 30-day free returns or exchanges and a six-month no-scratch guarantee on prescription eyeglass and sunglass lenses. If you want alternatives, we compared them in Warby Parker alternatives in Canada.
Bonlook, Bailey Nelson, Dresden and Zenni
Bonlook and Bailey Nelson sit in the mid-range, around $149 to $299 in Canoe’s list, and lean on design. Dresden ($75 to $130) and Zenni ($10 to $350) are the value picks for prescription lenses. The trade-off with the cheapest options is usually shorter warranty or return windows: Zenni’s is 14 days for a refund, per Canoe.
Independent and specialty stores
Canadian independents such as Sunglass Safari and Sundog Eyewear (polarized sport and lifestyle frames for golf, fishing, running and cycling) appear in search results for this topic. They suit shoppers who want a specific brand, a sport focus or someone to talk to. Check each store’s shipping and returns page, since terms differ from the big retailers.
ROAV Eyewear
ROAV Eyewear is a direct-to-consumer brand that sells foldable sunglasses, standard sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses online. The difference is the frame: a patented micro hinge lets the glasses fold down very small, and the screwless build is meant to hold up to daily carrying. Frames include polarized UV protection and come with a waterproof pouch. Where the big retailers compete on catalogue size, ROAV competes on one problem: bulky glasses that are a pain to carry.
Which store suits which shopper
You want a famous designer label. A large catalogue retailer such as SmartBuyGlasses or Clearly gives the most brands in one place. If it is Ray-Ban you are after, see our Ray-Ban alternatives in Canada; for Persol, Persol alternatives worth trying.
You want to try before you buy. Warby Parker’s home try-on is the clearest answer to this.
You are on a tight budget, with a prescription. Dresden and Zenni sit at the low end of Canoe’s list. Read the warranty first.
You travel or commute with your glasses. Compact storage matters more than catalogue size. A hard case or a big frame takes up room that a folding pair does not. ROAV’s pouch-ready, foldable design is made for carry-on bags, jacket pockets and bike or hiking kits. Our guide to EDC sunglasses, folding and fixed frames compared goes deeper, and the folding Wayfarer comparison covers the classic shape.
You spend time on water, snow or the road. Polarization cuts glare, and it is worth a closer look; see how to choose polarized sunglasses in Canada.
Prescription sunglasses: what to expect on timing
Ready-to-wear sunglasses ship as soon as the order is packed. Prescription pairs are cut and fitted to your lenses first, so they take longer, and the time varies by store, lens type and whether you chose tints, polarization or progressives. We do not quote a single number here because stores publish their own and change them. Before you order for a trip, look for a processing time on the product or shipping page, then add the delivery time. Order early, and leave a margin if the glasses are for a deadline.
To avoid delays, have your prescription ready, including your pupillary distance (PD), and double-check the numbers before submitting. Ask the store whether wrap or high-curve frames can accept your prescription, since that is where fitting limits show up.
Buying sunglasses as employee gifts
Companies buying for a team have different checks from individual shoppers. Before you order in volume:
- Ask whether the store offers bulk pricing, and from what quantity.
- Ask whether logos or custom packaging are possible, and what the minimum order is.
- Choose a style that suits many faces. Classic shapes and a UV400 rating are safer than trend-led frames.
- Confirm lead time and stock for the full quantity, not just a sample.
- Check the return or exchange process for a gift where sizes and tastes differ.
Foldable sunglasses with a pouch make a practical gift because they suit travel, commuting and weekends. For ideas, see our UV400 sunglasses gift ideas for Canadian gifters. If you are planning a larger corporate order, contact us through roaveyewear.ca to ask what is possible.
Our perspective
We make foldable glasses because most sunglasses fail the same way: they get left at home, crushed in a bag or scratched loose in a pocket. A pair that folds small and comes with a waterproof pouch gets carried, and a pair that gets carried gets worn. That is the idea behind the patented micro hinge and the screwless frame, which removes the tiny screws that tend to loosen on regular folding or hinged glasses.
When we advise friends, the order is always the same. Check UV protection first. Then think about where the glasses will live when you are not wearing them. Then compare returns. Price comes last, because a cheap pair you never carry is the most expensive pair. A large catalogue is useful if you want a specific designer label. If you want something light, compact and dependable for travel and active days, a purpose-built foldable is the better bet, and we are proud that over 100,000 customers have chosen ours.
— Thomas
Find a foldable pair that travels with you
If your sunglasses spend more time in a bag than on your face, start with our foldable sunglasses collection. Frames use polarized UV protection, a screwless build and a waterproof pouch included. Need a prescription? Browse the eyeglasses. You can also look at a specific style such as the DEVON Black+Onyx or the DALLAS Black+Crystal.
A short checklist before you click buy
- The listing states UV protection of 99 to 100% UVA and UVB (or UV400).
- Prices are in CAD, with shipping and any duties shown before payment.
- The return window, exchange policy and warranty are written on the store’s own page.
- For prescription pairs, the processing time and lens options are listed.
- The frame size is given in millimetres so you can compare it with a pair you already own.
- You know where the glasses will be stored, and the case or pouch suits that.
FAQ
What is the best online sunglasses store in Canada?
There is no single best store. KITS, Clearly and SmartBuyGlasses lead on range, Warby Parker on try-on, and ROAV Eyewear on compact foldable frames for travel and active use. Pick based on what you need most: brand choice, prescription, return flexibility or portability.
How do I know online sunglasses really block UV?
Look for a stated rating of 99 to 100% UVA and UVB protection, as the Canadian Association of Optometrists recommends. Lens darkness and price do not tell you. If the product page does not state UV protection, ask the store or choose another pair.
Can I buy prescription sunglasses online in Canada?
Yes. Clearly, Warby Parker, Zenni and others sell prescription sunglasses, and ROAV sells prescription eyeglasses. Have your current prescription and pupillary distance ready, and check lens processing time on the product page, since it adds to delivery.
Are cheap sunglasses online safe for my eyes?
Price alone does not decide it. UV protection is what counts, so confirm the rating on the listing. Cheaper stores often come with shorter returns and warranties, so read those terms before buying.
Sources
- How to select the best sunglasses, Canadian Association of Optometrists
- Where to buy glasses online in Canada in 2026, Canoe
- Wrapped Sunwear for More Patients, 20/20 magazine