Best places to buy glasses in-store and online

Looking for some new specs? Our opticians customer survey uses insights from thousands of customers to uncover the best places to buy glasses in-store and online.

We asked more than 13,000 people who had recently bought glasses in-store to rate their experiences and tell us how happy they were with the glasses they bought.

Brands were rated on the value and quality of their glasses, as well as customer service, aftersales service and store environment.

Best places to buy glasses on the high street

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Buying glasses vs getting an eye test

In our survey, most people said they bought glasses from the same place they had their eye test, which makes sense for personalised advice and convenience.

But it can also be a good idea to shop around for better value. Many people don't realise that opticians are obliged to give you a copy of your prescription, which means you can take it elsewhere. 

The only thing they don't have to give you is your pupillary distance measurement. This is the distance between your eyes, taken from the centre of your pupils, and is crucial to ensuring that frames fit correctly.

If you want to buy your frames at another store, check with the optician first to see whether they will measure for you before ordering.  

While buying glasses elsewhere lets you shop around for your favourite frames, it can cause problems if there’s a dispute over an issue with your glasses and who is responsible. Ask staff at your optician store how this would work so you’re armed with the information you need before deciding.

Are the best brands for buying glasses also the best option for getting an eye test? See our breakdown of the top-rated brands for eye tests, and the best and worst optician brands overall

Buying glasses in-store: expert tips from opticians

Our expert opticians recommend the following when you're deciding where to buy your specs and figuring out what you can afford:

1. Check if there are conditions attached to a ‘free’ eye test For example, will you have to pay for it if you don’t make a purchase?
2. Be upfront about your budget The store might make a loss on your eye test, so it will likely try to keep your custom, including by finding you glasses. It might be worth having a budget in mind before your appointment. 
3. Pay attention to quality and fit The mark-up on cheaper frames tends to be higher – you might get better value from frames if you can spend a bit more. Check for a smooth finish and sprung sides. Make sure they fit your face and are comfortable; it's good to get help from an optician on this if you aren't used to glasses or have been having any issues. Also, check that the glasses don’t fall off if you tip your head forward and that the sides are the right length for your head.
4. Check if you're eligible for help from your employer Across the UK, if you use a display screen at work, you can claim the full cost of a standard test from your employer. If you need glasses specifically for display work, your employer should pay for a basic pair of single-vision glasses or at least subsidise some of the cost.
5. Check whether a special offer gives you what you need Look out for offers, but check the terms and conditions. Does it include only single-vision lenses or a limited number of frames? Will you have to pay a premium for basic coatings or high-index lenses? If you need two pairs of glasses, you could save money with a two-for-one deal.

How to get the best-value glasses

If price is the deciding factor, shop around before you decide, because costs can vary significantly.

Basic single-vision frames start from around £15 at Asda Opticians and Specsavers, and from around £50 at M&S Opticians. Independent opticians are likely to charge more. Before you decide where to buy, check the cost of optional extras, such as anti-scratch and anti-glare coatings, and whether they’re included in the basic price. 

High street brands such as Boots Opticians and Vision Express also offer deals like 'buy one get one free' or 'buy one get one half price', which can be handy if you want more than one pair.

Some people are eligible for an NHS optical voucher to reduce the cost of glasses, and most opticians accept them. Eligible people include those on income support, those with certain complex prescription needs, under-16s and those under 18 and in full-time education.

Best places to buy glasses online

Buying online can save you money and offer a wider choice of frame styles. We asked people who bought glasses online about their experiences, so we can share insights into the main online glasses brands and how people rate them. 

Which? members can log in to access the full results.  

Not yet a Which? member? Sign up today to see which brands excelled and which fell short. Non members will see an alphabetically ordered list of brands.

 Direct Sight

Direct Sight sells glasses online from £9 and offers next-day delivery if you order before 3pm. It has a 30-day returns policy.

If you order two or more pairs of prescription glasses or sunglasses, including varifocals and bifocals, you get a 15% discount.

Visit Direct Sight to find out more.

 Glasses Direct

Online retailer Glasses Direct sells a wide range of frames from £15 for two pairs. It also sells designer frames from brands including Gucci and Ray-Ban, and offers a 120-day returns policy. 

Orders over £95 and designer frames ship free of charge. Otherwise, expect to pay £4.95 for standard delivery.

If your glasses need adjusting, the brand's website says you can either call for advice on how to do this yourself or return them in the pre-paid packaging. 

For more information, visit Glasses Direct. 

 Goggles4U 

This brand offers a wide range of limited-offer discounts, with frames starting from £2. It sells more than 1,400 glasses frames for less than £20.

Delivery times are longer than your average online retailer, though, so expect to wait between 14 and 21 days. You'll pay £4.95 for UK standard delivery.

Visit Goggles 4 U for further information. 

 Opticians Direct

Opticians Direct sells glasses from designer brands including Tiffany & Co, Victoria Beckham and Versace.

Two-day delivery in the UK is free, or you can pay £9.95 for next-day delivery of well-stocked products. There's a 30-day returns policy.

For more information, visit the Opticians Direct website.

SelectSpecs

Glasses start from £6 for a basic frame, and delivery takes anywhere from next day for a basic lens to up to 21 days for complex lenses.

While frames are low cost, delivery can add up with any online provider. Here, it's free for frames over £49; otherwise, it's £5.95 for standard delivery and £9.95 for next-day delivery.

Go to the SelectSpecs website for more information.

 Specsavers 

Specsavers is better known for its high street stores, but you can also order frames from £15 online. 

Orders are shipped within 10 working days. Delivery is free on frames £70 and above, or £3.50 for cheaper frames.

It offers a 100-day returns period and in-store servicing for frames if your glasses need tightening or adjusting.

Visit the Specsavers online store for further information. 

 Spex4Less

Frames not on sale start from around £15 . You get a 12-month frame warranty on all glasses, and delivery is £4.95.

Visit the Spex4Less website for further information. 

 Vision Express

Vision Express is a well-known high street brand, but you can also buy glasses from it online. Delivery is free if you spend at least £35. Otherwise, it's £3.

You can get prescription glasses in three to five working days. If you've chosen lens add-ons, such as an anti-reflection or easy-clean coating, expect to wait for up to 10 working days.

For more information, go to the Vision Express online store.

Can you get cheap prescription glasses online?

People buy online for cost and convenience, and our research shows that this can be a good option for simpler prescriptions.

More care is needed for complex prescriptions, such as higher-strength lenses or varifocals. This is because specific measurements are needed to make sure the frames fit and the lenses sit correctly in front of your eyes.

That said, most of the brands in our survey scored well for accuracy of lenses and customer service if anything goes wrong.

Costs can seem temptingly low, but as with any pair of glasses, make sure you factor in the cost of added extras such as anti-glare or anti-scratch coatings, or thinner lenses.

Don't forget about delivery costs, either. 

4 tips for buying glasses online

1. Ensure you have the right measurements to hand

If you want to buy glasses online, you’ll need your prescription and your pupillary distance, which you may need to measure yourself.

Opticians must give you a copy of your prescription, but not your pupillary distance, which helps to make sure your pupils are positioned accurately in the centre of the lenses. It’s especially important for higher-strength prescriptions and varifocals because a measurement more than a couple of millimetres off could make the glasses unusable.

Online glasses brands will give you tips on how to measure your pupillary distance, but double-check it, as it can be a bit fiddly.

For added reassurance, you can also pick websites that send you a selection of frames to try on at home.

2. Choose the right lenses

If you’ve got a high prescription, you might want to opt for high-index (thinner) lenses when buying online, as they’re more likely to work with a range of frames.  

As a rule of thumb, if your prescription is stronger than +/- 3 but less than +/- 5, consider thinner lenses (around 1.67 index). If your prescription is stronger than +/- 5, you may want to go even thinner (around 1.74 index). Thinner lenses can add to the overall cost, so calculate everything before committing.

3. Get the right frames

When shopping online, it’s not necessarily easy to know which frames will suit your prescription (as above) or fit properly.

Some sites offer a free try-at-home service. This can make up for the lack of in-person fitting advice and lets you take time to decide what fit/style works for you.

4. Know your rights

Glasses made to a prescription are likely to be classed as a personalised item, but if the goods you buy are faulty or not as described, you still have the same rights as when buying face-to-face.

When you buy goods online, you have additional rights to return them. This is because your decision may be based on a brief description or a photograph – so what you receive isn't always quite what you’d expected.

Any terms and conditions that say you must 'cover the cost of returning an item' don't apply when the goods being returned are faulty.

See our consumer rights section for more information. 

Lens options explained

• Single-vision lenses have one prescription throughout the lens.
• Reading glasses tailor single-vision glasses to your reading distance.
• Enhanced reading glasses work at two reading distances, such as your book (close up) and computer (further away).
• Varifocal lenses combine far-distance, intermediate and close-up vision if you don’t want multiple pairs. There's no visible line in the lens as there is in bifocal lenses.

When choosing your frames, there are several added extras you can opt for. Some of the most popular ones are below, but ask your optician what they offer and what they recommend for your specific circumstances.

It's also worth checking what added extras come as standard, as some brands are more generous than others.

• Anti-scratch makes lenses more durable. This hard, thin resin coating comes as standard with some regular lenses or with an anti-reflection coating.
• Anti-reflection reduces image ghosting, makes your eyes more visible and lets more light through, but the key disadvantage is that smudges are also more visible. They're especially useful for high-index lenses and driving at night.
• Sun tint and UV can soften harsh lights, relieve eye strain and protect your eyes from UV rays.
• Super hydrophobic coatings make your lenses extra water-repellent.
• Extra-thin lenses can improve the appearance of your lenses if you have a complex prescription.

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How we uncovered the best places to buy glasses

Our biannual opticians brand survey is the result of months of research and number crunching. It's designed to give a thorough and statistically robust insight into the performance of different optician brands, as rated by real customers who have used their services.

We quizzed more than 13,000 people who bought glasses in-store and more than 1,800 who bought online to get their verdict on the brands they'd used.

Our expert statisticians then analysed the results, producing an overall customer score and ratings for factors such as price, quality and accuracy, so you can easily see which brands excel.

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