SunkatHow long should you tan?
It depends on two numbers: your skin type and the UV index. Here is what each combination means in minutes, and why longer sessions do not give a faster tan.
Short answer: on a typical summer day (UV 7), fair skin should stop after about 7 minutes per side and medium skin after about 14, well before fair skin starts to redden at about 23 minutes. The visible tan takes another 2 to 3 days to appear, so judge it then, not at the end of the session.
Minutes per side by skin type and UV
The Sunkat app's limit per side, without sunscreen. Each limit stops well before the skin starts to redden.
| Skin type | UV 3 | UV 5 | UV 7 | UV 9 | UV 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type I very fair, always burns, never tans | 11 min | 6 min | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min |
| Type II fair, burns easily, tans a little | 16 min | 10 min | 7 min | 5 min | 5 min |
| Type III medium, sometimes burns, tans gradually | 33 min | 20 min | 14 min | 11 min | 9 min |
| Type IV olive, rarely burns, tans easily | 50 min | 30 min | 21 min | 16 min | 13 min |
| Type V brown, very rarely burns | 60 min | 40 min | 28 min | 22 min | 18 min |
| Type VI dark brown to black, almost never burns | 60 min | 50 min | 35 min | 27 min | 22 min |
For any other UV level, or to compare with the time to first redness, use the burn time calculator.
Why longer is not faster
A tan is melanin your skin makes after UV damages it. The dose that triggers it is well below the dose that burns, so going past your limit adds damage and peeling, not colour. Several short sessions on different days build more colour than one long one, with less risk of burning (WHO).
Find your skin type
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Type I | very fair, always burns, never tans |
| Type II | fair, burns easily, tans a little |
| Type III | medium, sometimes burns, tans gradually |
| Type IV | olive, rarely burns, tans easily |
| Type V | brown, very rarely burns |
| Type VI | dark brown to black, almost never burns |
If you are between two types, use the fairer one. Red or blond hair, freckles and light eyes usually mean type I or II.
Things that cut your time
- Midday sun, roughly 11:00 to 15:00.
- Water, sand and snow, which reflect UV onto you (WHO).
- Altitude, about 10% more UV per 1,000 m.
- Some medicines and skin treatments that make skin more sensitive to light. Check the leaflet or ask a pharmacist.
Frequently asked
How long does it take to get a tan?
Two stages. Within minutes of sun, existing pigment darkens slightly, and this fades within hours to a day. The real tan, from new melanin, appears about 2 to 3 days after exposure. That is why one long session does not give a faster tan, only a higher chance of burning.
How long should I tan for the first time?
Start at the bottom of your range. For fair skin at UV 6, that is about 8 minutes per side; for medium skin about 16. Check your skin the next day before adding time.
Is it better to tan in the morning or afternoon?
Before about 11:00 or after 15:00 (16:00 in summer in the tropics and Australia), when UV is lower and the gap between tanning and burning is wider. Around solar noon the same skin burns roughly twice as fast.
Can you tan through clouds?
Yes. Thin and broken cloud lets most UV through, and people often burn on cloudy days because it does not feel hot. More on clouds, windows and water.
Is any tan safe?
Health agencies, including WHO and Cancer Council, describe a tan as a sign that UV has damaged the skin. If you choose to tan, the least risky approach is short sessions below your burn limit, never burning, and protecting your face and eyes.
Stop guessing the minutes
Sunkat reads the live UV, sets your time per side for your skin type, and tells you when to flip and when to stop. Free on iPhone and Android.
