Guide
Sunbed Hire vs Salon: The Real Cost Comparison
Salon sessions look cheap until you add them up. Here's an honest, numbers-first comparison of tanning at a salon versus hiring a commercial sunbed for your own home — including the costs most people forget.
The quick answer
If you tan once or twice a week, a salon is usually cheaper. If you tan three or more times a week, want longer sessions, or are building a tan for a holiday or wedding, home sunbed hire wins on cost, time and privacy.
4 weeks of tanning, side by side
| Over 4 weeks | Tanning salon | TanBox home hire |
|---|---|---|
| Session cost | £6.50–£9 per 9 mins | Unlimited — included |
| 3 sessions / week | £78–£108 | £175 total |
| 5 sessions / week | £130–£180 | £175 total |
| Daily use | £182–£252 | £175 total |
| Travel & parking | £15–£40 + 3–4 hrs | None |
| Booking slots | Peak times fill up | Tan whenever you like |
| Privacy | Shared cubicles | Your own home |
| Upfront | Pay as you go | £10 deposit |
Salon prices are typical West Midlands rates at the time of writing and vary by salon and bed type.
The costs people forget
- Fuel and parking. Three trips a week for a month is easily £15–£40 before you've tanned a minute.
- Your time. Twelve round trips a month, plus waiting for a free bed — 3–4 hours you don't get back.
- Upsells. Accelerators, goggles and cleaning wipes at the counter add up quickly.
- Missed sessions. Bad weather, late finishes and full slots break the routine — and consistency is what actually builds a tan.
Why home hire converts so well for events
- Consistency. Short, regular sessions at home build a deeper, more even colour than sporadic salon visits.
- Share the hire. Partners, bridal parties and housemates can use the same bed at no extra cost.
- Commercial power. Our beds are 0.3 EU-compliant, salon-grade units — re-tubed and serviced between hires.
- No membership traps. Fixed price, free delivery, installation and collection included.
When a salon still makes sense
If you only tan occasionally, have no spare floor space, or want to try a few different bed types before committing, a salon is the sensible choice. We run TanBox Tanning & Beauty in Northfield too — so we're happy to tell you when the salon is the better option.
Common questions
Is hiring a sunbed cheaper than a salon?
For most regular tanners, yes. A 4-week TanBox hire is £175 with unlimited use. The same 4 weeks at a salon — 3 sessions a week at around £7–£9 per 9-minute session — comes to roughly £84–£108 a month, but only if you stick to short sessions and never top up. Once you tan more than about 4 times a week, or want longer sessions, hire is cheaper.
How much is a sunbed session in a salon?
In the West Midlands most salons charge around £0.70–£1.00 per minute, so a typical 9-minute session is £6.50–£9. Monthly unlimited memberships are usually £45–£70 but often exclude the higher-powered beds.
Do I get the same quality bed at home?
Yes. We hire out commercial-grade, 0.3 EU-compliant beds — the same standard used in salons — with fresh tubes fitted between hires. The stand-up Caribbean VTU is our most popular option.
What about travel and time?
That's the hidden cost. Three salon trips a week is roughly 3–4 hours of travel and waiting a month, plus fuel or parking. With a bed at home you tan when you like, with no booking slots.
Keep reading
- Hiring vs buying a sunbed
- How much does it cost to hire a sunbed?
- Lie-down vs stand-up sunbeds
- Home sunbed hire explained
Unlimited tanning at home — from £175
£10 deposit, free delivery & collection, fresh tubes every hire.