ANSI Z87.1 vs. ANSI Z87+: What's The Difference & Which Is Better?

Shooting eye protection is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you can put in your range bag. Eye injuries happen fast, and they’re often serious or irreversible.

Not all glasses offer adequate protection, though. That’s why shooters look for independently certified safety glasses that are up to the task of protecting your vision on the range.

Today, let’s answer the ANSI Z87.1 vs. ANSI Z87+ question. 

What is ANSI Z87.1?

Both ANSI Z87.1 and ANSI Z87+ come from the American National Standards Institute, an independent testing body that sets protocols and criteria for ensuring that safety equipment is effective. By stamping one of these labels on a product, a manufacturer is guaranteeing that the product meets or exceeds ANSI’s minimum requirement.

An ANSI Z87.1 or Z87.1 label indicates that eyewear has met the minimum testing requirements for eye protection specified in the most recent testing standard at the time of production. In this case, that’s ANSI Z87.1-2025.

“These injuries include impact, non-ionizing radiation and liquid splash exposures in occupational and educational environments such as machinery operations, material welding and cutting, chemical handling, and assembly operations,” the ANSI website reads. “Please note, however, that the standard does not cover other hazardous exposures like bloodborne pathogens, X-rays, high-energy particulate radiation, microwaves, radio-frequency radiation, lasers, masers, and sports and recreation.”

In ANSI Z87.1-2025, updated language clears up some ambiguity in the previous standard, ANSI Z87.1-2021. This includes guidance on markings, prescription lenses, and specific testing protocols for impact resistance and coverage.

Before ordering eye protection, check the manufacturer’s or retailer’s website for ANSI Z87.1 certification. You can also verify this in person by inspecting the product itself – look for a small, permanent label stamped into the corner of the lens or the temple.

For example, ShellShock SunShift shooting glasses have a Z87.1 label stamped into the corner lens.

What is ANSI Z87+?

Sometimes, you’ll see shooting eye protection marked with ANSI Z87+ or just Z87+ instead of Z87.1. These are two different categories within the same standard set by ANSI Z87.1-2025.

ANSI uses the “+” to indicate a high-impact rating in addition to the protection offered by Z87.1 eyewear. Basically, it communicates that a pair of glasses has proven its ability to stop faster, harder, or otherwise more dangerous projectiles.

You may see this rating combined with a numeral, as in Z87-2+. This doesn't signify extra protection over Z87+ glasses; this modifier signifies prescription lenses (2) and high-impact protection (+).

Again, you can find this information on a manufacturer or retailer website, or on the product itself. Using ShellShock Cloak shooting glasses as an example, there is a Z87+ marking stamped inside the right temple. During testing, Cloak glasses stopped a 0.15-caliber projectile fired at more than 700 feet per second.

Other ANSI Safety Ratings & What They Mean

In addition to the usual ANSI Z87.1-2025 ratings, there are several marks you might see on protective eyewear. These indicate additional certifications for specific environmental conditions you may encounter.

Here’s what they mean, according to ANSI.

• Z87-2: Prescription
• H: coverage
• O2: relaxed optical level
• W shade: welding filter lens
• U scale number: ultraviolet filter lens
• R scale number: infrared filter lens
• L scale number: visible light filter lens
• V: variable tilt lens
• S: special purpose lenses
• X: anti-fog
• D3: splash/droplet use
• D4: dust use
• D5: fine dust use 

Price vs. Protection

It’s safe to assume that it generally costs more to build shooting glasses that earn a Z87+ rating than ones rated as Z87.1, but that’s not always the case. It’s also true that spending more money doesn’t necessarily buy you more protection.

A pair of $300 shooting glasses with a Z87+ rating might protect your eyes more than a pair of $100 shooting glasses with the same Z87+ rating – or you might be paying for a brand name or more trendy appearance.

Only you can decide what’s right for you. When in doubt, prioritize independent, standardized safety ratings in your decision-making.

ANSI Z87.1 vs. Z87+: Which is Best?

Now that you understand what all these symbols mean, you can make a more informed buying decision.

If you want the best eye protection available, Z87+ shooting glasses are for you. They’ve been independently lab-tested and certified to offer more robust impact protection than Z87.1 shooting glasses.

On the other hand, your budget, personal style, and threat level may indicate that Z87.1 shooting glasses are more than adequate. For example, there’s a big difference between shooting steel targets at close range in and around vehicles than shooting paper targets from a bench on a flat range.

Don’t forget about other factors, like comfort, coverage, and tint. Photochromic lenses and anti-fog coatings don’t stop a speeding projectile, but they might help you avoid a mishap in the first place.