How Much Does a Tanning Bed Cost

A tanning bed is a great way to get that summer glow. A tanning bed is a piece of equipment that emits UV radiation with the goal of producing a tan skin.

However, many people are curious and want to know how much does a tanning bed cost? This article will help answer this question and provide some other information about these devices as well!

The answer to this question varies if you are planning to buy a tanning bed, or you are going for a tanning bed session.

Indoor tanning beds can cost anywhere from $200 to more than $6,000. The final price will be determined by bulb wattage, number of bulbs, style and some other features. The price of a tanning bed will differ depending on whether it is for business or private usage.
A typical tan at a local tanning beauty salon or a tanning bed at the gym may cost anywhere from $7 to $25 for a basic tan that should take no more than 7 to 20 minutes. If the salon utilizes a costly tanning bed, the cost may be higher.
Just for example at an average and depending on the practice, tanning salons might cost either by the month or by the bulk minute. A month-to-month tanning rate for a tanning bed can range from $20 to as much as $125. The average person spends between $20 and $55 each month.

A bulk session package may be purchased for anywhere from $15 to $60 for three sessions, with prices ranging from $45 to $200 for 15 sessions.

How Long Does a Tanning Bed Session Last?

So you would also be able to have an estimate of how much you may have to spend each session, and depending on what you want to achieve, a session may last anywhere from 7 and 10 minutes.

Because you will likely notice results quickly, you won’t have to spend as much time on the sunbed to get benefits. Spend no more than 10 minutes in each session.
The average person may develop a basic tan in 3-5 sessions and then maintain it with regular sunbed usage, depending on their skin tone.
Two sessions a week should be enough to increase the effect of your tan in a safe and gentle way.

If you want to tan before going on vacation, consider beginning to tan three weeks in advance.

In general, tans last 7 to 10 days before the skin begins to naturally exfoliate and regenerate. Your tan may last longer than anticipated if you exfoliate your body, use a tan extender, and keep your skin moisturized.

Thus, if you want a tan all-year-round, it means that you’ll have to undergo several sessions in a year. If you want to do this, you should wait at least 36-48 hours between each session to allow your tan to fully develop.

You can boost your tan by gradually increasing the amount of time you spend in the tanning bed to two to three times per week.

However, if you do so, it is not recommended that you go above 60 sessions per year.

What Benefits Are There With Tanning Beds?

There are many benefits to using a tanning bed. Here are some:

Tanning beds can give you a sun kissed look and color that looks like it came from the beach or out in nature.
Without ever having to leave your home, you can get the skin tone and bronze complexion of your dreams.
Using a tanning bed will allow you to achieve a deeper, darker tan in less time than it would take you out in the sun.
You can have a great looking bronze look with minimal exposure to harmful UV rays.
If you are an athlete or bodybuilder whose skin tone is important, getting your color from a professional level indoor tanning bed is an option.

What Are Some Drawbacks To Tanning Beds?

There are always drawbacks with the use of any product and tanning beds are no exception. Here are some limitations:

Some tanning beds cost quite a bit of money and this might be hard to afford for someone on a budget or who has little expendable income.
If your skin is sensitive to UV rays, the bed could damage your skin in a manner that can’t be repaired.
You might not get the results you’re looking for if you don’t know how to safely use the tanning bed or you try too hard to rush it and don’t take your time with the process.

What Are the Types of Tanning Beds?

There are many types of sunbeds, and most tanning salons will have three different kinds: high-pressure beds, low-pressure beds as well as the booth structures.

High-pressure Beds – High-pressure beds, emit a greater quantity of UVA radiation (UVA goes deeper layers of skin and stimulates tanning; UVB sunburn can be caused if used incorrectly). In this case, you’ll develop a deeper, longer-lasting tan, but it will take longer to develop. Typically, this bed is somewhat more costly. If you have light skin or are sensitive to heat, this is the best choice of beds for you.
Low-pressure Beds – Tanning beds with low pressure are similar to traditional tanning beds. The UV radiation in this tanning bed type is comparable to natural sunlight. The lamps give off color rapidly, but the danger of sunburn is greatest with this sort of tanning bed. If you do burn easily this bed is NOT recommended.
Booth Structures – A vertical tanning bed with the name “Booth” is known as a Stand-up Bed. You don’t lie down instead of standing up. You can move about and put your body in any posture you want to tan on a stand up bed (great for a more uniform tan, especially under your arms or between your thighs). It’s also a fantastic choice for folks who are uncomfortable with lie down beds or don’t want to be confined.

Considering Your Tanning Skin Type

Tan Skin Type 1 – Eyes that are rather blue or green, white or pale, red hair and many frecks are common. This skin type is extremely sensitive to heat and tanning, which makes it very difficult to tan. Tanning is a delicate process in this case.

Tan Skin Type 2 – They have blue or green eyes, pale or tanned skin, blonde/light brown hair and possibly freckles. This skin type is more prone to burning. Tanning must be done carefully and correctly.

Tan Skin Type 3 – A person with light brown eyes, brown skin and brown hair. This skin type is prone to burning and tanning is not a problem.

Tan Skin Type 4 – Brown or olive skin, dark brown eyes and brown hair. This skin type is possible to burn and tan easily.

Tan Skin Type 5 – Brown skin, with black hair and with dark brown eyes. Those who have this skin type seldom burn or tan easily.

Factors to Consider When Going for a Tanning Bed

UV beds aren’t all made equal. There are three key elements to consider while selecting the best UV tanning bed for you: skin type, tanning goals, and duration of use.

Skin Type

The first thing you need to consider is your skin type. There are five defined types of skin (Type I-V) with Type V being the darkest and most resistant to burns.

Tanning beds emit varying wavelengths of UV light, which can be different for each tanning bed on the market today.

Tanning Goals

When deciding between beds, keep in mind the look you are trying to achieve. For example, it would be more beneficial for achieving a realistic-looking tan to choose an airbrush-styled bed over a traditional stand up unit, which is better suited for body bronzing.

For high-pressure beds that will give you a deeper tan faster, look for the units that have all or mostly UVA.

Tanning Duration

As far as how long to stay in bed is concerned, it will depend on your skin type and goals. The lighter your complexion (meaning Type I-III), the less exposure time needed; generally speaking, between five and 15 minutes.

For darker skinned individuals (Type IV-V), it is recommended to stay in the bed for a minimum of 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes, as their skin can tolerate more UV radiation.

When considering all these factors, always consult with your local tanning salon about which type of bed will work best for you.

Some Things to Do and Avoid When Going for a Tanning Bed Session

If you’re on the hunt for a tanning bed session, it’s best to know some dos and don’ts before going out and getting one.

What to Wear

It’s a good idea to think about whether you’d want to tan in your underwear or completely nude before going to a tanning salon. This is entirely your decision, but there are two things to bear in mind.

If you’re going to put on underwear, think about your tanning lines and how they’ll appear, and choose accordingly (you could always wear your bikini if that’s more comfortable).
If you’re going to go nude, it’s a good idea to cover your most sensitive regions, such as nipples and genitals, since the skin is more sensitive and more prone to burning.

Whatever you do, keep in mind that all spas should provide a cleaning spray in each private area so you may clean the beds before getting on. If they don’t have one, you may always request one.

Keeps Your Eyes Safe

Never begin a tanning session without goggles, as this is critical. Closing your eyes on a sunbed isn’t sufficient since the UV radiation can still penetrate through the thin skin of your eyelids and cause significant eye damage.

The goggles should be specifically for tanning use and any sunglasses won’t be suitable as an alternative.
The goggles must be specifically designed for sunbed usage, because they will offer the required UV protection to your eyes.

You may purchase your own pair or borrow a pair from a sunbed shop for free, or you may be charged a small fee to hire them.

When Under Medication

If you’re using medications or natural boosters, be sure to check for possible photosensitivity and alter your UV exposure times according to whether you’re allergic or not.

Using Tan Accelerators

If you’d like to speed up the tanning process, you may use products that are intended for this specific purpose.

Just make sure they’re approved by your dermatologist and do not contain any ingredients prohibited in sunbeds (some medications, natural remedies or supplements can cause harm when used with sunbeds).
Take a look at the label to see exactly what’s inside them and decide whether it’s safe for you or not.

Pay attention to any warnings as well – sometimes, these products may have harmful side effects so exercise caution before using them.

Use Sunless Tanning Products Safely

Since sunless tanning products do not provide protection against UV exposure, they can’t be used as an alternative to sunbed sessions.

These products should only be applied after the session is over and your skin has had time to recover (usually, you’re allowed up to 24 hours between sessions).
Just like other tanning creams and liquids available on the market, make sure these products are approved for sunbed use.
In case you’ve used them on sunbeds before without any problems, be sure to test a small quantity on the inside of your elbow or behind your ear so as to see whether there will be any reaction.

In general, it’s a good idea to observe all these precautions and do some more research on your own before going to a tanning salon. If you’re nervous about the whole process, keep in mind that all sunbeds will provide goggles and offer instructions regarding how to best protect yourself from UV exposure.

If you don’t follow these precautions, your efforts and money may go down the drain and cause you irreversible damage (skin cancer is no joke).

Final Thought

The cost of tanning beds varies depending on the salon, but you can expect to pay around $15 for a single session. If you’re going to visit a salon regularly, it might be more cost-effective to purchase a package or membership. When you purchase a package, you’ll usually get some sort of added bonus such as unlimited sessions or access to tanning creams.