Eclipse Glasses Shortages: Lessons for Shops in 2028

The short version. At every recent big eclipse, certified glasses ran out in the final weeks and fakes filled the gap. Makers cannot ramp up overnight. Shops that ordered early from a traceable supplier had stock to sell. Shops that waited did not.

Planning stock for 2028? Our guide to selling eclipse glasses in 2028 for Australian retailers covers timing, quantities, display and compliance.

Three recent rushes at a glance:

Event	Date	What happened	Source
US total eclipse	August 2017	Big chains sold out days or weeks early; Amazon pulled unverified glasses and refunded buyers	Spokesman-Review, PBS NewsHour
US total eclipse	8 April 2024	Sellers ran out from mid-March; counterfeits carried the names of real makers; libraries ran out	AAS, Axios, American Library Association
UK eclipse	12 August 2026	Royal Observatory Greenwich sold about 15,000 pairs in a month, then sold out	Press Association via ITV

What happened in 2017?

In the final week before the US eclipse of August 2017, the big chains ran dry. The Spokesman-Review quoted Fred Meyer: "We sold more than 10,000 of the eclipse glasses… We're not expecting any more." Walmart said it "sold out weeks ago". At Lowe's, glasses sold out within four hours.

An AP report found prices on Amazon had climbed to around 11 to 12 US dollars a pair, and a library in Boise ran out in about 15 minutes.

Then trust became the problem. PBS NewsHour reported on 14 August that Amazon had pulled eclipse glasses and refunded buyers, because it "has not received confirmation from the supplier of your order" that the glasses came from a recommended manufacturer. Amazon did not say how many orders were affected.

For a shop, 2017 had two lessons. Stock ran out. And stock that could not be traced to its maker turned into refunds.

What happened in 2024?

Seven years later the warnings came early, and the shortage came anyway. In February 2024 the American Astronomical Society (AAS) told Axios: "By mid-March 2024, we expect to start hearing reports about various sellers running out of stock… It'll get worse the closer we get to April 8."

On 22 March the AAS warned of counterfeits. Unidentified factories in China had printed the name and address of a listed maker on their own glasses, and some were "not only counterfeit, they are also unsafe".

Libraries felt it too. One told the American Library Association's Programming Librarian: "We ran out of extra glasses and have been fielding hundreds of calls since." Space.com reported that Warby Parker gave away free ISO glasses from 1 to 8 April, two per family, while supplies lasted.

The lesson for retailers: a maker's name printed on a pair is not proof. Being able to trace the batch back to the maker is.

What happened in the UK in 2026?

The most recent rush was three months ago. The Press Association, reported by ITV on 11 August 2026, said the Royal Observatory Greenwich sold about 15,000 pairs in a month and then sold out before the eclipse on 12 August. A trusted seller with a famous name still could not keep up once demand arrived.

What happened at Exmouth in 2023?

Australia has its own test run. The hybrid eclipse of 20 April 2023 drew crowds to Exmouth in Western Australia, a town of just under 3,000 permanent residents, the ABC reported. In February the ABC said organisers expected 25,000 people, after earlier estimates of up to 50,000. About 20,000 came, according to Destination NSW.

By late March, the ABC reported, the Exmouth Chamber of Commerce had bought just over 20,000 eclipse glasses, and WA Consumer Protection had received no complaints about fake glasses. WA Health reminded people to check for ISO 12312-2 certification.

We found no report of Exmouth running out, and we don't claim it did. What stands out is the plan: the town sized its order to the crowd, bought ahead, and kept to certified glasses.

Why do certified eclipse glasses run out?

Demand for eclipse glasses sits near zero for years, then arrives in a few weeks. Supply cannot follow it that fast.

Diagram of how paper eclipse glasses are made: solar filter film, printing frames on paperboard sheets, die-cutting with a steel cutting die, fitting the filters, laboratory testing to ISO 12312-2, and packing — Six physical steps, each with a fixed capacity. That is why eclipse glasses cannot be made overnight. Diagram: Aura Sight.

Paper eclipse glasses are made in six physical steps. Specialist solar filter film comes from few manufacturers, in batches. Frames are printed many to a sheet on stiff paperboard. A steel cutting die stamps the frames out. The film is cut to size and sealed between the frame layers. Samples are lab-tested to ISO 12312-2 before sale. Then the glasses are folded, counted, boxed and shipped to stock.

Each step has a fixed capacity, so supply cannot jump when demand does. Fakes skip the filter and the testing, which is how they appear just as real stock runs short. That is what the AAS warned of in 2024.

The answer for a shop is to buy before the rush, not during it. Our retailer guide sets out when to order and how much.

Why could 2028 be bigger for Australian shops?

The total eclipse falls on Saturday 22 July 2028. The path of totality crosses the Kimberley, the Northern Territory and New South Wales, and Sydney sits inside it. In the Sydney CBD, totality starts about 2pm and lasts almost four minutes. Our 2028 eclipse guide has the map and times.

Outside the path, demand does not stop, because "partial" can mean almost total. By our calculations from NASA eclipse elements, Birdsville and Coonabarabran sit just outside the path with over 99.9% of the Sun covered, Halls Creek gets 98%, Canberra 96% and Alice Springs 95%. Brisbane and Melbourne get 81%, and even Perth gets half. The Astronomical Association of Queensland notes that all of Australia sees at least a partial eclipse. Every customer watching it needs certified glasses, worn for the whole eclipse, and at 99% the eclipse is still partial. Our retailer guide has the figure for 22 towns, so you can put your own town's number on the counter. Our guide on why you need eclipse glasses explains why.

Tourism bodies are already planning. Destination NSW says the eclipse is "expected to attract many more travellers due to its accessibility", and notes that in 2024, path cities in the US saw hotel vacancies fall "below one per cent". The WA Government says "thousands of domestic and international visitors are expected to travel to the East Kimberley", backed by $24.6 million in funding. Tourism and Events NT has a working group managing visits to the Barkly Region.

No one has published official visitor numbers for 2028. But a Saturday eclipse over Australia's largest city, with a partial eclipse everywhere else, gives every newsagent, pharmacy, servo, camera store and visitor centre a reason to stock up.

Five lessons for retailers

Order early. In 2017 the chains sold out days or weeks before the eclipse, and in 2024 the AAS expected stock-outs from about three weeks out. Lock in stock well before mid-2028. Custom-branded glasses take 6 to 8 weeks from proof approval, so start those sooner.
Buy stock you can trace. The AAS says to buy "directly from known manufacturers or any authorized dealers those manufacturers publicly identify", and that "as long as you can trace your filters to a manufacturer listed above, you have nothing to worry about". Ask any supplier for the maker's name, the test report and a batch trace. Our glasses are made by Rainbow Symphony, a manufacturer on the AAS list, tested to ISO 12312-2 by ICS Laboratories, and every pair carries a QR batch certificate. See how our glasses are certified.
Size the order to the people. Exmouth's chamber bought just over 20,000 pairs, and about 20,000 visitors came. Glasses stay on for the whole eclipse, so every person watching needs their own pair. Families buy in fours.
Know your obligations. Under Australian Consumer Law, the ACCC says goods must be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose, and a business must not send customers to the manufacturer for a remedy. Product Safety Australia says every supplier in the chain must report a death, serious injury or serious illness associated with a product within 2 days. There is no mandatory standard specific to eclipse glasses that we could find, but Standards Australia says to use eyewear certified to AS ISO 12312.2:2020, which is identical to ISO 12312-2:2015.
Plan for no returns. Eclipse stock has one peak. Our wholesale orders are supplied to order, with no change-of-mind returns, and unsold stock cannot be returned after the eclipse. Order what you are confident of selling, and reorder early rather than late.

For a quick check on any supplier, our guide to where to buy safe eclipse glasses in Australia lists what to ask. For a full stocking plan, read the retailer guide.

FAQ

Will eclipse glasses sell out in Australia before 2028?

No one can say for sure. Certified glasses sold out before the US eclipses of 2017 and 2024 and the UK eclipse of 2026, so plan as if they will.

Do shops outside the path of totality need eclipse glasses?

Yes. Towns just outside the path get close to totality: over 99.9% of the Sun covered at Birdsville and Coonabarabran, 98% at Halls Creek and 96% in Canberra. Every capital gets at least half, and glasses stay on for the whole eclipse wherever you watch it.

When should a shop order eclipse glasses?

Well before the final months. In 2024 the AAS expected sellers to run out from mid-March for an eclipse on 8 April. Custom-branded glasses take 6 to 8 weeks from proof approval.

How do I spot fake eclipse glasses?

The AAS warns that some factories print the name of a listed maker on their own glasses. Check the maker is on the AAS reputable vendors list, ask for the test report, and make sure each batch can be traced to the maker.

Are retailers responsible if eclipse glasses are faulty?

Yes. Under Australian Consumer Law, goods must be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose, and a business must not send customers to the manufacturer for a remedy. Suppliers must also report a death, serious injury or serious illness associated with a product within 2 days.

Can I return unsold eclipse glasses?

Not with us. Wholesale orders are supplied to order, with no change-of-mind returns, and unsold stock cannot be returned after the eclipse. Ask any supplier about returns before you order.

What do eclipse glasses cost wholesale?

Our wholesale prices are quoted per order, for cartons, pallets, counter display units of 50 pairs and family packs. Online retail is A$5.45 a pair including GST.

Can unsold eclipse glasses be used again later?

The AAS says there is no fixed expiry: ISO 12312-2 glasses under 10 years old can be reused if they are undamaged.

Stocking eclipse glasses for 2028? Read the retailer guide, or ask for a wholesale quote on cartons, pallets or counter display units from NSW stock. We reply within one business day.

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