Guide
How Much Is A Sunbed Session?
In the UK, expect £0.60–£1.00 a minute — about £6–£9 for a 9-minute session. Here's what that adds up to over a month, and the point where hiring a bed for your own home costs less.
Typical UK session prices
| Option | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Per minute | £0.60–£1.00 | Higher on stand-up and high-power beds |
| 9-minute session | £6–£9 | The most common single-session spend |
| 12-minute session | £8–£12 | For established tans |
| Monthly unlimited | £45–£70 | Often excludes premium beds |
| 3 sessions a week | £78–£108 / month | Before travel and parking |
| TanBox 4-week hire | £175 total | Unlimited sessions, whole household, free delivery |
Salon figures are typical UK rates at the time of writing and vary by salon, bed type and region.
Work out your own number
Session cost only matters alongside how many sessions you actually need. Set your skin type and timeframe below and you'll get a session count you can price up either way.
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.
The break-even point
One person tanning twice a week: the salon wins. One person tanning 4+ times a week, or two people tanning regularly, and a hire is cheaper — plus there's no travel, no booking slots and no minute counter running while you're on the bed. Full numbers in sunbed hire vs salon and our pricing hub.
Common questions
How much is a sunbed session in the UK?
Most UK salons charge by the minute, typically £0.60–£1.00. A standard 9-minute session works out around £6–£9. High-power or stand-up beds are usually at the top of that range.
How much are sunbed sessions per month?
Tanning three times a week costs roughly £78–£108 a month at pay-as-you-go rates. Unlimited memberships are typically £45–£70 a month, but often exclude the more powerful beds or cap session length.
Is a monthly membership cheaper than paying per session?
It is if you actually go 8 or more times a month and the membership covers the bed you want to use. Many people pay for a month and use it four or five times, which works out worse than pay-as-you-go.
How much does it cost to hire a sunbed instead?
A TanBox hire starts at £175 for 4 weeks with unlimited sessions, free delivery, installation and collection. Extended-area hires start at £260 for 6 weeks. There's no per-minute charge and everyone in the household can use it.
At how many sessions does hiring become cheaper?
Around 20–25 sessions in a month, or fewer once two people are tanning. Two people doing three sessions a week each is 24 sessions — roughly £170–£215 in a salon versus £175 for the whole hire.
Does a hired sunbed cost much to run in electricity?
A domestic-plug commercial bed uses a few kilowatt-hours per hour of use, so typical hire use adds a modest amount to a monthly bill — usually a few pounds a week at normal session frequency. We'll talk you through the exact bed you're hiring.
Are there extra costs with hire?
No hidden ones. Delivery, installation, collection and UV goggles are included in local areas. Extended areas outside our free-delivery zone have a stated delivery charge quoted upfront.
Do I pay everything upfront?
No. A £10 deposit secures the slot and the balance is settled on delivery — or message us first with no deposit at all if you just want a price.
Keep reading
- How many sessions to get a tan
- Sessions before a holiday
- Sunbed hire costs in 2026
- Hiring vs buying a sunbed
Stop paying by the minute
Unlimited sessions at home from £175 for 4 weeks — free delivery, installation and collection.