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How Much Does a Tanning Bed Cost?

by  Doris Harris -  Last Updated On 9th August 2021

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Glowing, tan skin is just one trip away to the tanning salon, but for those who frequent the salons, you might find yourself thinking about the long-term costs. If tanning has become a part of your routine, it just might be beneficial to invest in a tanning bed for yourself.

Like any piece of heavy and delicate equipment, a tanning bed cost is going to be high. Which leaves us to worry about the specifics and the quality of the brand and product. Before we get into the upfront costs of owning a tanning bed, we’ve outlined everything you’d like to know before making a purchase.

How do tanning beds work?

History

In the early 1900’s, the first indoor tanning bed was created. It’s development was for the treatment of diseases such as calcium deficiency, helping the body absorb more calcium and produce vitamin D. Then, the 70’s came and tanning beds became useful for beautification purposes. Serving up golden skin, even to this day.

Artificial Sunlight

Tanning beds utilize ultraviolet rays to tan the skin. Specifically, UVA rays and UVB rays work together to penetrate and tan the skin. Firstly, the UVB ray will activate the skin’s defenses whereas the UVA ray will go deeper causing the pigmentation to darken on the skin. It’s all about the melanin in your skin becoming oxidized allowing the browning process to happen.

Timing is Key

Every tanning bed will have an inner timer to regulate the amount of time you sit under the UV light rays. Industry regulation states that you cannot surpass 20 minutes of being exposed to UV light, or you risk sunburn. The amount of tanning you do per week will depend on the strength of your tanning bed. Some beds will only be safe to use once a week or once every two weeks. Salon tanning beds tend to be stronger, so they can be able to give you a good tan after you leave.

 

Types of tanning beds

There are only two types of tanning beds that are on the market and can be put into general categories. Those beds are categorized by either commercial use or residential use. Meaning, it lies in the difference between a spa or salon setting or in your home. It’s important to decide which bed you’re looking for as well as understand the complete difference between them.

Commercial Use

Think of these tanning beds as fast, strong, but also fewer tanning sessions in between periods. These types of beds are utilized by salons and spas to give customers the biggest bang for their buck, but using their beds are not recommended for back to back spurts. These beds use heavy technology called magnetic ballast circuits, which is able to give the tanning beds their powerful energy. The strong builds also ensure that most body types can use them as well as retain heat resistant damage, allowing for more longevity in the long run.

Residential Us

Now, home tanning beds are simpler machines that use less energy. The upside to the fact is the ability to use it a lot more often than you would with a salon-grade tanning bed. Allowing you to acquire a different bang for your buck, but there’s a way to make your money back all the same. They are also built for transport as well as a simple assembly in your home. Think of it this way, a simpler tanning bed also means less maintenance and upkeep than a salon-grade one.

Tanning bed features

The price will also depend on the number of features that the respective tanning bed will come with. There are many things to keep in mind, so we decided to list all those features out here! Down below you’ll find all the different things that will factor into the cost of your tanning bed.

Type of bulb.

Each tanning bed will come with two types of rays, UVA and UVB. The difference will come in which tanning bed utilizes which ray more. UVA works quicker but is riskier in terms of skin health. UVB will work, but much more gradually.

Number of bulbs used.

There will be certain sizes of tanning beds in order to fit different heights of people. The more bulbs needed then the more you’ll have to pay. Of course, for taller people, it won’t seem much like a choice at all.

 

Tanning bed type

Make sure you understand the difference between commercial and residential tanning beds. Since commercial beds are of a heavier grade, they’ll cost more money than residential beds.

Quality.

Do not skimp on the price for a cheaper tanning bed. You don’t want to risk your skin health to save money. Always look for the quality in a product, and if you have the financial means then it will be worth it.

Variant lights.

Speaking of skin health, there are different lights you can utilize in your tanning bed. For example, there is a red light that more health-conscious people like to use. It’s less harmful on your skin, but of course, this will also factor into the final price of the tanning bed itself.

Delivery and assembly.

When tanning beds are bought, there is a delivery fee to pay for. If you don’t want to bother assembling your tanning bed then it will cost more money for it to be delivered intact. If you’d like to save some money and assemble it yourself, it is doable you just have to be up for it.

Warranty.

It’s imperative with any big piece of heavy machinery to have warranty on it in case of breakage. This is where doing your own research on a company’s policy will be key. A company that is worth putting your trust into will ensure a longer warranty period and wider coverage.

How much will it cost?

Now, for the central question. How much will everything cost? Well, the tanning beds themselves, depending on which type, could cost between $2,000 to upwards of $6,500 dollars. We’ll break down the average cost between the two types of tanning beds that are available.

A commercial tanning bed will cost an average of $4,000 dollars for a quality setup.

A residential tanning bed will cost an average of $3,000 dollars for an equally quality setup.

The average cost of tanning each month will be around $30 to $50 dollars. This is due to the replacements that the bulbs will require every month or so. As you can see, the heavy-duty qualities of a commercial bed can be useful, but you can get a good residential tanning bed for a good price!

Leading tanning bed brands

There are three brands that are reliable and trustworthy in the tanning bed market. When it comes to using something that has the potential to harm your skin you want to take extra care. Down below are the three types of tanning beds that you want to look out for.

Wolff

This is a tried and trusted tanning bed brand that has been used by many. They offer standard bulbs that emit primarily UVB rays to give a slight tint. Unless stated otherwise these are the bulbs that will come with this tanning bed. They do offer the chance to buy a tanning bed with bronzing bulbs that emit primarily UVA bulbs. These rays will create deeper and longer lasting tans, but remember that you won’t be able to tan as often for health reasons.

Solar Storm

This is a specific product line from ESB Tanning Systems that is one of their most popular. They can provide both residential and commercial tanning beds that are even customizable. These customizable features include colors, the choice of bronzing bulbs, the option of adding a fan, and music. They may be pricier than most given the extra features, but they are a trusted and safe brand.

Sunlite

This brand may offer the cheapest tanning beds at the quality that you should be looking for. They have tanning beds in three different types of modes: Standard, Deluxe, and Pro. These models have the cheapest price points while still offering safe tanning. Their Deluxe offers the option of a fan and music. The Pro is commercial grade and would be their most expensive option. If you still want regular tans with a cheaper upfront cost, then this brand might be the one for you.

Usage tips

Before you go and pick the best tanning bed for you, here are some effective tips that may be helpful down the road. The most important thing is protecting your skin, and not subjecting it to the UV ray lights more than you need.

  • Keep your skin hydrated after tanning sessions. Don’t mistake hydrants for moisturizers, given that your skin will need nourishment and not surface level moisturization.
  • Eat healthy. It may be overplayed advice, but it’s necessary. Vitamin A helps to keep your skin regenerating and strong. Help your body out and regulate your diet accordingly.
  • Set regular visits with your dermatologists. Tanning your skin must mean that you care for it as well and what better way to do that than with professional help.

Related Article: How to Tell if Tanning Bed Bulbs are Bad?

Conclusion

All in all, you can’t go wrong with any certain tanning brand when it comes to quality and cost. Upfront costs look to set you back about $2,500-4,500 dollars depending on which features seem important to you. Either way, if you have the financial means, it’s a much better solution in the long run to own your own tanning bed.

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