Guide
How Many Sunbed Sessions Do You Need To Get A Tan?
The honest answer for beginners: 4–6 sessions to build a base tan, then 1–2 a week to keep it. Below is the session-by-session breakdown by skin type, how long to leave between sessions, and a planner that works out your own numbers.
Free tan planner
How many sessions will I need?
Your suggested plan
- 3 sessions a week — around 12 sessions over 4 weeks
- Start at 4 minutes and build gradually to no more than 10 minutes
- Leave at least 48 hours between sessions — colour keeps developing after you get off
- First 6 sessions build the base; after that you're topping up
Guidance only, for over-18s. Never tan twice in 24 hours and always use the goggles supplied.
At salon rates that's roughly £84–£108. A 4-week TanBox hire gives you unlimited sessions at home instead.
Sessions needed by skin type
| Skin type | First session | Base tan | To maintain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very fair (burns easily) | 3–4 mins | 6–8 sessions | 1 per week |
| Fair (tans slowly) | 4–6 mins | 5–6 sessions | 1–2 per week |
| Medium | 6–8 mins | 4–5 sessions | 1–2 per week |
| Olive / darker | 8–10 mins | 3–4 sessions | 2 per week |
Times assume a modern 0.3 EU-compliant commercial bed like ours. Always start at the low end and never tan twice in 24 hours.
Why consistency beats long sessions
- Melanin keeps developing for 24–48 hours after a session — colour you can't see yet.
- Doubling the minutes doesn't double the tan; it mostly increases the risk of burning, which then forces a break.
- Three short, regular sessions a week gives a deeper, more even colour than one long weekend session.
- Missed sessions are the number one reason people don't get the colour they wanted — which is why a bed at home outperforms salon trips.
What your plan costs
A typical 4-week plan of 8–12 sessions costs roughly £56–£108 at salon rates (£7–£9 a session) — and that's before travel. A 4-week TanBox hire is £175 with unlimited sessions, free delivery, installation and collection, and everyone in the house can use it. If two people are tanning, hire is almost always the cheaper route.
See the full breakdown in sunbed hire vs salon or how much a sunbed session costs.
Common questions
How many sunbed sessions to get a tan for beginners?
Most beginners see the first hint of colour after 2–3 sessions and a noticeable tan after 4–6 sessions spread over two to three weeks. Fair skin needs shorter sessions and more of them; olive skin often shows colour after 2–3. Build up slowly rather than doing long sessions early — that's what causes burning, not extra colour.
How many sessions on a sunbed to get a tan?
As a rule of thumb: 4–6 sessions to build a base tan, then 1–2 sessions a week to maintain it. Over a 4-week period that's typically 8–12 sessions in total for a natural, even colour.
How long should you leave between sunbed sessions?
At least 48 hours. Melanin keeps developing for a day or two after you get off the bed, so tanning on consecutive days adds risk of burning without adding colour. Never use a sunbed twice in 24 hours.
How long should my first sunbed session be?
Very fair skin: 3–4 minutes. Fair skin: 4–6 minutes. Medium skin: 6–8 minutes. Olive or darker skin: 8–10 minutes. Increase by 1–2 minutes per session only if you had no redness at all last time.
How many sunbed sessions to see results?
You'll usually see something after the second session and a clear difference by the fourth. Colour appears gradually because each session builds on the melanin produced by the last — which is why consistency matters more than session length.
Is it better to do sessions at a salon or hire a sunbed at home?
If you only need a few sessions, a salon is fine. If your plan needs 8 or more sessions, a home hire usually costs less overall — a 4-week TanBox hire is £175 with unlimited sessions, versus roughly £7–£9 per session in a salon — and you never lose a session to a full booking slot.
Can you shower after a sunbed session?
Yes, but wait a couple of hours if you can and skip harsh soaps — the tan itself isn't washed off, though moisturised skin holds colour for longer.
Do tan accelerators reduce the number of sessions needed?
They can help you get more from each session by keeping skin hydrated so it tans more evenly, but they don't replace sessions. Read our guide to tan accelerators for what actually works.
Keep reading
- How many sunbed sessions before a holiday?
- Sunbed session time guide
- Best tan accelerators in the UK
- Sunbed safety guidance
Unlimited sessions at home — from £175
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