SunkatTanning in Thailand: how strong is the sun?
Phuket is close to the equator, so the UV is very high all year. Month-by-month UV, cloud cover and burn times by skin type.
Short answer: you will tan fast and burn faster. Phuket's clear-sky midday UV is 10 to 14 all year, in WHO's extreme band, so fair skin can start to redden after about 15 minutes at midday in the dry season. Tan before 10:00 or after 16:00.
UV index in Thailand by month
Clear-sky UV index at midday near Phuket and the Andaman coast, with how long fair (type II) and medium (type III) skin take to start reddening without sunscreen at that peak. Peak months for Thailand visitors are highlighted: November 11, December 10, January 11, February 13, March 14, April 14.
| Month | Midday UV clear sky | Fair skin first redness | Medium skin first redness | Typical cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11 extreme | 15 min | 18 min | 84% |
| February | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 67% |
| March | 14 extreme | 11 min | 14 min | 76% |
| April | 14 extreme | 11 min | 14 min | 89% |
| May | 14 extreme | 11 min | 14 min | 97% |
| June | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 97% |
| July | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 96% |
| August | 14 extreme | 11 min | 14 min | 95% |
| September | 14 extreme | 11 min | 14 min | 99% |
| October | 13 extreme | 12 min | 15 min | 97% |
| November | 11 extreme | 15 min | 18 min | 95% |
| December | 10 very high | 16 min | 20 min | 82% |
Midday UV is modelled from the sun's height and typical ozone for Thailand (Madronich 2007), rounded. Haze and cloud make many real days 1 to 2 points lower. Cloud cover is the median for each month in 2023 to 2025 (Open-Meteo). Over the year the clear-sky peak runs from 10 to 14.
Dry season and wet season
The Andaman coast's dry season runs from about November to April, with the clearest skies from December to March. The wet season brings more cloud and showers, but the sun between them is just as strong, and light cloud lets most UV through.
When to be on the beach
Near the equator the sun stays high for longer either side of noon. At UV 11+, WHO advises staying out of the midday sun. Early morning and late afternoon give you colour with a wider margin. See UV 12 burn times.
Frequently asked
Can you tan in Thailand?
Yes, quickly. The midday UV is 10 or higher all year, so short sessions outside the middle of the day are enough.
How long until you burn in Thailand?
Fair skin can start to redden after about 11 to 16 minutes at midday without sunscreen, depending on the month.
Is the sun stronger in Thailand than in Spain?
Yes, most of the year. Phuket's winter UV is higher than southern Spain's in midsummer.
Going to Thailand? Take your burn limit with you
Sunkat reads the live UV wherever you land and times each side for your skin type. Free on iPhone and Android.
