Stand-up tanning beds — also called vertical tanning booths — work on the same UV principle as traditional lay-down beds, but the experience is different enough that it’s worth knowing what to expect before your first session. You stand upright inside a cylindrical booth surrounded by high-intensity UV lamps, and the whole process typically takes 10–15 minutes.

The basics are straightforward: protect your eyes, stand in the centre with arms slightly raised, and start with a shorter session than you think you need. But there’s more to getting a consistently good result — from how you prepare your skin beforehand to what you do in the hours after.

Here’s a complete guide to using a stand-up tanning bed properly, whether it’s your first time or you’re looking to improve your results.

Key Takeaways

Stand-up tanning beds use higher-intensity bulbs (typically 160W vs 100W in lay-down beds), which means shorter sessions are needed — start with 5–10 minutes if you’re new.
Always wear protective goggles — UV radiation from tanning beds can cause serious eye damage without proper protection.
Stand in the centre of the booth with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms slightly raised for even, full-body UV coverage.
Exfoliate 24 hours before your session and moisturise regularly to prep the skin for an even, longer-lasting tan.
Wait 36–48 hours between stand-up tanning sessions to allow your skin time to recover and melanin to fully develop.
Avoid deodorant, makeup, and fragranced products on your skin going into the booth — these can create barriers or react with UV light.
Stand-up booths are more hygienic than lay-down beds since your body doesn’t make contact with the surface.
After your session, moisturise thoroughly and avoid showering for at least 2–3 hours.

What Is a Stand-Up Tanning Bed?

A stand-up tanning bed (also called a vertical sunbed or tanning booth) is an upright, cylindrical unit lined with UV lamps on all sides. Rather than lying down on an acrylic surface, you step inside and stand for the duration of your session. The lamps surround you on all sides, providing simultaneous full-body UV exposure from every angle.

The UV radiation emitted by tanning beds interacts with melanocytes — specialised cells in the lower layers of your skin — stimulating them to produce melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for your skin’s colour, and increased melanin production is what creates a tan. The more consistently UV stimulates this process over multiple sessions, the deeper and longer-lasting the colour becomes.

Stand-up beds use higher-wattage bulbs than traditional lay-down units — typically around 160 watts versus 100 watts — which produces a more intense UV output. This is why session times in a stand-up booth are generally shorter.

Stand-Up vs Lay-Down Tanning Beds: Key Differences

The core difference beyond the obvious positioning is UV intensity and coverage. Stand-up beds surround you on all sides, which eliminates the pressure points and contact shadows you can get in a lay-down bed (the areas of skin pressed against the acrylic surface receive less UV). This makes stand-up beds particularly effective for even, all-over coverage.

Stand-up beds are also more hygienic since your skin never contacts the booth surface — a meaningful advantage over lay-down beds where skin-to-acrylic contact is unavoidable. There’s no risk of the rashes from tanning beds that can occasionally occur with lay-down units. For a full comparison of both options, see our article on stand-up vs lay-down tanning beds.

How to Use a Stand-Up Tanning Bed: Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare Your Skin Beforehand

Good prep makes a significant difference to how your tan develops. The day before your session, exfoliate your skin thoroughly with a gentle body scrub. This removes dead skin cells from the surface and creates a smoother, more even base for UV to interact with. Exfoliating 24 hours before — rather than the same day — gives your skin time to settle before the session.

Moisturise regularly in the days leading up to your session too. Dry skin doesn’t tan evenly — areas like elbows, knees, and ankles are classic problem spots because the skin there tends to be drier and thicker. Keeping those areas well-hydrated helps the tan develop smoothly across your whole body. For more on this, our article on how to exfoliate before a tan covers the process in detail.

Step 2: Arrive Bare-Skinned

Before stepping into the booth, remove all makeup, deodorant, perfume, and any other cosmetic products from your skin. These create barriers that block UV absorption unevenly, and some ingredients can react with UV light in ways that cause irritation or unexpected colour shifts. Shower beforehand if possible so your skin is clean and product-free going in.

The exception is tanning lotion — applying a quality tanning lotion before your session can help intensify results and keep skin moisturised during UV exposure. Apply it in circular motions for even coverage before entering the booth.

Step 3: Put On Protective Goggles

This is non-negotiable. The UV intensity inside a tanning booth is high enough to cause serious eye damage, including UV keratitis (a painful sunburn of the cornea) and increased risk of long-term eye problems with repeated unprotected exposure. Closing your eyes or using towels is not sufficient protection — UV passes through eyelids.

Always wear tanning goggles that block 99–100% of UV radiation. Most tanning salons will provide them, or you can bring your own. This step is not optional.

Step 4: Set the Timer

If you’re new to stand-up tanning beds, start with 5–10 minutes — not the maximum available time. Because these booths use higher-intensity bulbs, it’s easy to overdo your first session and end up with redness or a tanning bed burn rather than a developing tan.

Your starting time should also reflect your natural skin tone and how quickly you typically react to UV. Fairer skin types need to be particularly cautious. The goal of your first few sessions is to build tolerance gradually, not to achieve maximum color immediately. For a detailed breakdown of session times by skin type, see our tanning bed time chart.

Step 5: Position Yourself Correctly Inside the Booth

Stand in the centre of the booth — not leaning against the sides or walls. Position your feet shoulder-width apart to allow UV coverage across your inner thighs and lower legs. Raise your arms slightly or hold the overhead or side handles if the booth has them. This opens up the underarm area and sides of your torso so you don’t end up with missed patches.

You can shift position slightly during the session if needed, but the centre position with arms slightly elevated gives the most even all-round coverage without any effort.

Step 6: What to Wear (or Not Wear)

For maximum coverage and to avoid tan lines, most people tan in a stand-up booth with minimal clothing — a swimsuit bottom, underwear, or nothing at all. Tanning booths are private, enclosed units, so comfort and privacy aren’t concerns. If you’re going minimal, take care to protect any particularly sensitive areas with a barrier product or SPF-rated lip balm on the lips.

For a full guide on clothing choices, see our article on what to wear in a tanning bed.

After Your Stand-Up Tanning Session

Wait Before Showering

Give your skin at least 2–3 hours before showering after your session. Melanin continues developing after your session ends, and showering too soon can interrupt this process. Keep the shower lukewarm and use a gentle, moisturising body wash rather than harsh soap.

Moisturise Thoroughly

Moisturising after your session is one of the most important steps for preserving your tan and keeping your skin healthy. Apply a generous amount of moisturiser all over immediately after showering. This locks in hydration and helps your tan develop more evenly and last longer between sessions.

Wait Between Sessions

Allow 36–48 hours between stand-up tanning sessions. This is the recommended recovery window for skin to repair itself and for melanin to fully develop before further UV exposure. Going daily is counterproductive and increases the risk of skin damage and overexposure.

To build a base tan, aim for 3–5 sessions across 1–2 weeks, then move to a maintenance schedule of 1–2 sessions per week. For those thinking about home options, it’s worth knowing how much tanning beds cost before making any investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should you tan in a stand-up bed?

For beginners, start with 5–10 minutes. More experienced tanners can work up to 10–15 minutes depending on their skin type and tolerance. Stand-up beds use higher-intensity bulbs than lay-down beds, so less time is typically needed to achieve the same UV exposure. Never exceed the maximum time recommended by the salon for your skin type.

Is a stand-up tanning bed better than a lay-down bed?

It depends what you’re optimising for. Stand-up beds offer more even all-over coverage (no pressure shadows), are more hygienic, and suit people who are claustrophobic or physically can’t lie down. Lay-down beds can be more comfortable for longer sessions. Results are comparable — the UV mechanism is the same.

How do you cover your face in a stand-up tanning bed?

Always wear goggles to protect your eyes. For your face, you can apply SPF to reduce UV exposure if you’re concerned about facial tanning — this doesn’t fully block UV but reduces the dose reaching facial skin. Check our article on wearing sunscreen in a tanning bed for a full breakdown.

Do stand-up tanning beds give better results for even coverage?

Yes — the 360-degree lamp arrangement means there are no contact points causing uneven exposure. You’re less likely to get missed patches on your back, sides, or areas where a lay-down bed’s acrylic surface would press against your skin.

Can you tan nude in a stand-up tanning bed?

Yes, and it’s a common choice for people who want to avoid tan lines. Stand-up booths are fully private. Just take care with areas that rarely see UV exposure — skin there can be significantly more sensitive and burns more easily. Our nude tanning guide covers what you need to know.

How many sessions does it take to build a base tan in a stand-up bed?

For most people, 3–5 sessions over 1–2 weeks builds a solid base tan. Start with shorter sessions and gradually increase time as your skin adjusts. Once you have your base, 1–2 maintenance sessions per week keeps the color consistent.

Conclusion

Stand-up tanning beds are a practical, effective option for anyone who wants all-over coverage, prefers a more hygienic setup, or simply can’t use a traditional lay-down bed. The basics are simple — protect your eyes, position yourself properly, start conservatively with your session length, and take care of your skin before and after.

The most common mistakes are going too long on the first session and skipping the prep and aftercare steps. Get those right from the start and you’ll see better, more even results faster than you expect.

For more on tanning bed routines and aftercare, explore our full range of tanning bed guides.

References

UV Radiation & Tanning Beds:
U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Tanning. FDA overview of how UV radiation from tanning equipment interacts with skin, including melanin stimulation, risk factors, and safety guidance.

Eye Damage from UV Exposure:
Yam JCS, Kwok AKH. (2014). International Ophthalmology. “Ultraviolet light and ocular diseases.” Comprehensive review confirming the association between UV radiation exposure and serious ocular conditions including photokeratitis, cataracts, and pterygium — supporting the importance of wearing protective goggles in tanning beds.

Tanning Bed Skin Cancer Risk:
Ugalmugle S, et al. (2021). Cancers. “Indoor Tanning and the Risk of Overall and Early-Onset Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Systematic review of 54 studies showing a significant association between indoor tanning device use and increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, relevant for contextualising safe usage guidelines.