A tan from a tanning bed typically lasts 5–10 days before it starts to noticeably fade — which is about the same as a natural sun tan. That said, how long yours actually lasts depends on several things: how many sessions you’ve done, your skin type, and how well you look after your skin between sessions.

The good news is that with the right habits, you can stretch that window comfortably and keep your tan looking fresh for longer. Here’s what you need to know.

Key Takeaways

A tanning bed tan typically fades after 5–10 days
Tans fade because the skin naturally sheds its outer layer every 28–40 days
More sessions = a deeper, longer-lasting tan
Skin type plays a big role — fairer skin fades faster than darker skin
Moisturizing daily is one of the most effective ways to extend your tan
Hot showers, harsh soaps, and exfoliation all accelerate fading
Maintenance sessions every 1–2 weeks help keep the color topped up

Why Does a Tanning Bed Tan Fade?

Before getting into timelines, it helps to understand why tans fade in the first place — because it makes the practical tips make a lot more sense.

Your skin is constantly renewing itself. The outermost layer of skin (the stratum corneum) sheds and replaces itself roughly every 28–40 days. Your tan color lives in these surface skin cells, so as they shed, the tan goes with them. This process happens no matter what — but certain habits (hot showers, exfoliation, dry skin) speed it up significantly.

Tanning beds produce both UVA and UVB light, similar to the sun. UVA rays darken the melanin that’s already in your skin quickly, while UVB rays trigger your skin to produce new melanin over time. The UVA effect fades faster; the deeper melanin response from UVB takes longer to develop but also tends to last a little longer. This is one reason why building a tan gradually across multiple sessions produces better and longer-lasting results than a single intense session.

How Long Does a Tanning Bed Tan Last?

The 5–10 day range is a reasonable average, but where you fall within that range — or beyond it — depends on a few variables.

If You’re New to Tanning Beds

If you’ve only had 1–2 sessions, your tan is likely to be fairly light and may fade within 4–5 days. That’s normal. After just a couple of sessions, the melanin response hasn’t been fully built up yet, so there’s less color to hold onto as the skin sheds.

If You’ve Built a Deeper Tan

After 4–6+ sessions spread over a couple of weeks, you’ll have developed a more substantial base tan. This kind of tan tends to last closer to 7–10 days before fading becomes obvious, and with good moisturizing habits you can push that further. For guidance on building up safely, our tanning bed time chart is a good starting point.

How Skin Type Affects Tan Duration

Skin type is one of the biggest variables. People with naturally deeper skin tones tend to develop and hold a tan more easily. Fairer skin types often find their tan fades faster and requires more consistent maintenance to keep looking fresh. If you fall into this category, our tips for tanning tips for pale skin can help you get better results from each session.

For comparison, tanning bed tans last a similar amount of time to a natural sun tan — for more on that, see our guide on how long a sun tan lasts.

What Makes a Tanning Bed Tan Last Longer?

Moisturize Every Day

This is the single most effective thing you can do to extend your tan. Dry skin sheds faster, which means your tan fades faster. Keeping your skin well-hydrated slows down that process significantly.

Apply a good body lotion morning and night, and pay extra attention in the days immediately after a tanning session when the skin can be more dehydrated. Look for a moisturizer without exfoliating ingredients — you want pure hydration, not anything that accelerates cell turnover.

We recommend:
Body lotion — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion
Face moisturizer — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel

Adjust Your Shower Routine

Frequent hot showers are one of the fastest ways to fade a tan. Hot water strips the skin’s natural oils and softens the outer skin layer, making it shed more quickly. Two changes that make a real difference:

Shower once a day rather than twice where possible
Switch to lukewarm or cooler water instead of hot

Shorter showers also help. The less time your skin spends in water, the slower the surface layer breaks down. For more on post-tan shower timing, see our article on should you shower after tanning.

Avoid Harsh Soaps and Exfoliation

Rough or heavily foaming soaps physically remove surface skin cells when you wash — taking your tan with them. During the period you’re trying to maintain your tan, opt for a gentle, moisturizing body wash instead of anything abrasive.

Exfoliation should be avoided entirely while maintaining your tan. Scrubs, loofahs, and chemical exfoliants (like AHAs and BHAs) are designed to accelerate skin cell turnover — which is the exact opposite of what you want when you’re trying to hold onto color.

Use an Indoor Tanning Lotion

Indoor tanning lotions are formulated to work alongside UV exposure — they hydrate the skin during a session and often contain ingredients that help enhance and extend the color result. Using one during your tanning bed sessions can meaningfully improve both how deep your tan develops and how long it holds. Our guide to the best tanning bed lotions covers the top options worth trying.

Build Your Tan Gradually

A deeper, well-developed tan simply lasts longer than a light surface-level one. Instead of trying to rush your color with fewer, longer sessions, spreading your sessions across 2–3 weeks gives the skin time to produce more melanin at a deeper level — which holds much better over time.

How to Maintain Your Tanning Bed Tan

Once you’ve built a base tan, you don’t need to go back as frequently to keep it looking good. Most people find that a maintenance session every 1–2 weeks is enough to keep the color topped up as the surface skin naturally sheds.

If you’re going to be away from a tanning bed for longer — say a few weeks — combining a maintenance session with a good moisturizing routine in between will slow the fade considerably. And if your tan does fade significantly, don’t be tempted to compensate with a single long session; it’s always better to build the color back up gradually across a few shorter sessions.

For more on how the fading process works and what to expect, our article on how long it takes for a tan to go away covers it in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tanning bed sessions does it take to see results?

Most people start to notice a visible difference after 3–4 sessions. A solid base tan typically takes around 6–8 sessions spread over a couple of weeks, depending on your skin type and the intensity of the bed. Starting slowly and building up is both safer and produces better long-term results.

How long should you wait between tanning bed sessions?

It’s generally recommended to wait at least 24–48 hours between sessions. This gives your skin time to complete the tanning response from the previous session and reduces the risk of overexposure. Many salons have a minimum waiting period policy — follow their guidance.

What is 20 minutes in a tanning bed equivalent to in the sun?

This depends heavily on the type of tanning bed. Lower-level beds (Level 1) are less intense, while high-pressure or Level 4–5 beds are significantly stronger. As a rough guide, a moderate-level session of around 15–20 minutes can produce a UV exposure comparable to an hour or more of midday sun — which is why starting with shorter sessions and building up gradually is always the right approach.

Why is my tanning bed tan fading so quickly?

The most common reasons are dry skin, frequent hot showers, use of exfoliating products, or not having built up enough sessions to create a deep base tan. Address moisturizing and shower habits first — they make the biggest difference for most people.

Does a tanning bed tan last longer than a sun tan?

Not significantly — both typically last around 5–10 days, as both are driven by the same underlying process of skin cell turnover. What matters more than the source of the tan is how deep the color is and how well you maintain your skin after tanning.

Can I use self-tanner to extend my tanning bed tan?

Yes — applying a self-tanner as your tanning bed tan begins to fade is a great way to maintain an even color between sessions. Just make sure to exfoliate before applying self-tanner, and wait at least 24 hours after a tanning session before applying it to avoid any irritation.

Final Thoughts

A tanning bed tan typically lasts 5–10 days, with the main variables being how many sessions you’ve had, your skin type, and how well you care for your skin between visits. The science behind it is simple: your tan lives in the outer layer of skin, and as that naturally sheds, the color goes with it.

The most effective things you can do to keep your tan looking good for longer are moisturizing daily, avoiding hot showers and harsh soaps, and going back for a maintenance session every 1–2 weeks. Build your tan gradually rather than rushing it — a deeper, well-developed tan holds significantly better than one built in just a session or two.

For more tips on getting the most from your sessions, explore our full range of tanning bed guides.