No — LA Fitness does not offer tanning beds at any of its locations. This has been consistent policy confirmed by LA Fitness’s corporate offices, and there are no current plans to add tanning services. If tanning is something you want from your gym membership, you’ll need to look at a different chain.
That said, some LA Fitness locations do offer alternative wellness services through third-party partners — including red light therapy and HydroMassage — which are worth knowing about if you’re already a member. And if gym tanning is genuinely important to you, there are several major chains that offer it. This guide covers all of it.
Key Takeaways
- LA Fitness does not have tanning beds — at any location, as confirmed by their corporate office.
- Some LA Fitness locations offer third-party wellness services including red light therapy and HydroMassage as alternatives.
- Planet Fitness is the most accessible gym-tanning option — nearly all locations include tanning with the Black Card membership (~$25/month).
- Anytime Fitness, Gold’s Gym (franchise locations), Crunch Fitness, and Retro Fitness also offer tanning at many locations — though availability varies.
- 24 Hour Fitness and Esporta Fitness also don’t offer tanning, similar to LA Fitness.
- Always call your local gym to confirm tanning availability before joining — franchise gyms vary significantly by location.
Why Doesn’t LA Fitness Have Tanning?
LA Fitness has consistently positioned itself as a fitness and wellness facility rather than a full-service lifestyle club. Tanning beds represent a significant equipment investment, ongoing maintenance cost, and — in many US states — regulatory compliance requirements including age restrictions and liability considerations. Several jurisdictions have also banned or restricted commercial tanning bed use entirely.
LA Fitness’s standard membership covers fitness equipment, group classes, pools, basketball courts, racquetball, and childcare — the focus is squarely on exercise rather than spa or aesthetic services. Adding tanning would require a meaningful shift in that positioning, and the chain has shown no indication of changing course.
Does LA Fitness Offer Any Tanning Alternatives?
While LA Fitness doesn’t have UV tanning, select locations do offer some wellness services through third-party partners that may be of interest:
- Red light therapy — available at some LA Fitness locations, offering skin, recovery, and circulation benefits without UV exposure. Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of visible light rather than UV, meaning no tanning effect but also none of the UV-related skin risks.
- HydroMassage beds — water-pressure massage beds available at select locations as a recovery and relaxation amenity.
- Whole body cryotherapy and other recovery services — at some premium or partnered locations.
These aren’t tanning services, but if you’re an LA Fitness member looking for post-workout wellness options beyond the gym floor, it’s worth checking what your specific location offers. Availability varies significantly by club.
Which Gyms DO Have Tanning Beds?
If tanning is a priority in your gym membership, these are the chains most likely to have it — along with what to know about each one.
Planet Fitness — The Most Accessible Option
Planet Fitness is by far the most consistent nationwide option for gym tanning. Research across over 700 Planet Fitness locations found that approximately 99% offered tanning services — making it the standout choice if tanning is a deciding factor in your membership.
Tanning is included with the Black Card membership, which costs around $25 per month at most locations. The standard Classic membership (~$15/month) does not include tanning access. Planet Fitness locations typically use stand-up tanning booths rather than lay-down beds. With over 2,500 locations nationwide, there’s a very good chance one is near you.
Anytime Fitness — Available at Many Locations
Anytime Fitness is a franchise model, which means each location is independently owned and operated. Tanning availability varies — research has found roughly 65% of Anytime Fitness locations offer it, but that figure fluctuates as franchisees make their own equipment decisions. If an Anytime Fitness near you is a serious option, call ahead to confirm whether that specific location has tanning before committing to a membership.
Gold’s Gym — Franchise Locations Only
Gold’s Gym removed tanning beds from all company-owned locations in 2016, but franchise locations are independently operated and can still offer tanning. Roughly 41% of Gold’s Gym locations in research studies had tanning beds — primarily franchised clubs. As with Anytime Fitness, availability varies, so confirming with your local Gold’s before joining is essential.
Crunch Fitness
Tanning beds are available at many Crunch Fitness locations, typically included in premium membership tiers rather than the base-level membership. Crunch is also a franchise model, so availability varies by location. Tanning is most commonly offered at higher membership tiers alongside other amenities.
Retro Fitness
Retro Fitness includes tanning as a standard amenity at most of its locations, often alongside red light therapy and HydroMassage as part of a broader recovery and wellness suite. Worth checking if you have a location nearby.
SNAP Fitness
SNAP Fitness operates on a franchise model and offers tanning at select locations. Similar to Anytime Fitness, availability depends entirely on the individual club owner’s choices — call ahead to check.
Gyms That Also Don’t Have Tanning
For context, LA Fitness isn’t alone in not offering tanning. Several other major chains have made the same decision:
- 24 Hour Fitness — no tanning at any locations, confirmed by corporate
- Equinox — no tanning; positions itself as a premium wellness brand and doesn’t offer UV services
- Blink Fitness — no tanning
- EoS Fitness — no tanning
- Esporta Fitness (formerly LA Fitness under a different brand) — no tanning
Alternatives If Your Gym Doesn’t Have Tanning
If you’re an LA Fitness member and want a tan, you have a few practical routes:
Dedicated tanning salons: Purpose-built tanning salons offer a wider range of bed types, more session options, and often membership packages that work out cheaper per session than gym add-ons. Chains like Palm Beach Tan operate nationwide.
Self-tanning at home: The most cost-effective and UV-free option. A quality self-tanning mousse can deliver genuinely natural-looking results without any salon visit. Browse our self-tanning guides for product recommendations and application tips.
Spray tanning: A professional spray tan gives immediate, even coverage without UV exposure. Salon spray tans last 5–10 days and can look as natural as a sun tan when applied well.
Outdoor tanning: If the weather allows, tanning outdoors is free and produces the most natural-looking result. Using a quality tanning lotion helps you develop colour faster with less time in the sun. See our guide to the best outdoor tanning lotions for options. Always apply sunscreen first — our article on the UV index and tanning explains how to time your sessions for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LA Fitness have tanning beds?
No. LA Fitness does not have tanning beds at any of its locations. This is confirmed corporate policy, consistent across all clubs. If tanning is important to you, Planet Fitness with a Black Card membership is the most widely available alternative among major gym chains.
Which gym chain has the most tanning beds?
Planet Fitness — by a significant margin. Research has found that approximately 99% of Planet Fitness locations offer tanning, with an average of around five tanning booths per gym. Tanning is included with the Black Card membership at most locations.
Does Planet Fitness charge extra for tanning?
Not separately. Tanning is included with the Planet Fitness Black Card membership, which costs around $25/month at most locations. The standard Classic membership (~$15/month) does not include tanning — you’d need to upgrade to access it.
Should I go to the gym before or after tanning?
Gym first, then tanning — always in that order. Sweat, oils, and skincare products on your skin from a workout can interfere with tanning, cause streaking, and lead to uneven results in a tanning bed. If possible, shower before your tanning session to give the UV the best chance of producing an even, consistent tan.
Does LA Fitness have red light therapy?
Some LA Fitness locations do offer red light therapy through third-party partner services. Availability varies by club — check with your specific location or the LA Fitness amenities page to see what’s available near you. Red light therapy uses visible light wavelengths rather than UV, so it doesn’t produce a tan but is used for skin health, recovery, and circulation benefits.
Can you get vitamin D from a gym tanning bed?
Yes — tanning beds that emit UVB rays can trigger vitamin D synthesis in the skin, the same way sunlight does. However, not all tanning beds emit UVB — some emit primarily UVA. For more on this, see our article on whether you can get vitamin D from a tanning bed.
How many tanning sessions does it take to see results at the gym?
Most people begin to see noticeable colour after 3–5 sessions, depending on skin type and the bed’s UV output. Building a proper base tan typically takes around 10–15 sessions of consistent exposure. For a full breakdown, see our guide on how many tanning sessions it takes to get a base tan.
Final Thoughts
LA Fitness doesn’t have tanning, and that’s unlikely to change. If tanning is part of your routine and you want it included in your gym membership, Planet Fitness with a Black Card is the clearest like-for-like switch — affordable, widely available, and with tanning included at nearly every location.
If switching gyms isn’t the answer, a dedicated tanning salon membership, a quality self-tanner, or outdoor tanning with a good lotion are all practical and cost-effective alternatives. Browse our tanning bed guides for more on getting the most out of any tanning bed setup.