Why Are Tanning Beds Legal? US Laws Explained

By David Gray • Updated May 2026 • Medically reviewed May 2026
indoor tanning

Tanning beds are legal in the United States because no federal law bans them. Instead of prohibiting them, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates them as Class II “moderate-risk” medical devices, requiring warning labels and safety controls. Beyond that, who can actually use a tanning bed is mostly decided state by state.

In other words, tanning beds sit in a gray zone: health authorities openly classify the UV radiation they emit as a known cause of cancer, yet the devices remain widely available and commercially legal. That tension is exactly what makes the question worth unpacking.

Below, we break down why tanning beds are still legal, how they’re regulated, what the laws look like state by state, and the arguments on both sides.

Key Takeaways

  • Tanning beds are legal in the U.S. because there is no nationwide ban — the federal government regulates them rather than prohibiting them.
  • The FDA classifies tanning beds as Class II medical devices and requires a warning that they should not be used by anyone under 18.
  • In March 2026, the FDA withdrew a long-proposed rule that would have barred minors nationwide, leaving age limits to individual states.
  • 44 states and Washington, D.C. restrict minors’ use in some way, and around 20 states plus D.C. fully ban anyone under 18 from using them.
  • The World Health Organization classifies UV tanning devices as a Group 1 carcinogen — the same category as tobacco and asbestos.
  • Melanoma risk rises by roughly 75% when tanning bed use begins before age 30.
  • Some countries, including Brazil and Australia, have banned commercial tanning beds entirely.
  • Tanning beds are not a substitute for medical phototherapy, which uses a different type of UV light under supervision.

Why Are Tanning Beds Legal in the US?

The short answer: Congress has never passed a law banning them, and the FDA has chosen to regulate tanning beds rather than outlaw them.

The U.S. generally favors regulation over prohibition for consumer products that carry risk but also have demand behind them. Tanning beds fall into the same broad bucket as many other things that are legal but restricted — available to adults, labeled with warnings, and limited for minors.

Supporters of keeping them legal usually lean on personal choice and parental decision-making for those under 18, along with concerns about the impact a ban would have on small tanning businesses. Critics counter that the cancer risk is well established and that warning labels do little to change behavior. So far, the “regulate, don’t ban” approach has won out at the federal level.

How the FDA Regulates Tanning Beds

In 2014, the FDA reclassified sunlamp products — the lamps used in tanning beds and booths — from Class I (low risk, like bandages and tongue depressors) to Class II (moderate risk). That change gave the agency more control.

Under Class II rules, manufacturers must go through premarket review and meet requirements for performance testing and labeling. One of the most important labeling rules is a “black-box” warning stating that the products should not be used by anyone younger than 18. Importantly, a warning is not the same as a ban — the device stays legal; the label just has to disclose the risk.

The 2026 Update: FDA Withdraws Its Proposed Teen Rule

Back in 2015, the FDA proposed a rule that would have banned anyone under 18 from using tanning beds nationwide. That rule sat unfinished for about a decade — and in March 2026, the FDA formally withdrew it.

The agency cited the more than 8,000 public comments it received, including arguments about personal choice, parental decision-making, and the compliance burden on small businesses. Notably, the FDA was careful to say the withdrawal “does not mean that exposure to UV radiation does not cause skin cancer.” The practical effect is that age limits remain a state-by-state matter rather than a single national rule.

Tanning Bed Laws by State

Because there’s no federal age ban, states fill the gap — and the rules vary a lot.

As it stands, 44 states and Washington, D.C. restrict minors’ access to indoor tanning in some form. Around 20 states plus D.C. go all the way to a full ban on anyone under 18, regardless of parental consent. California led the way in 2012 as the first state to ban indoor tanning for all minors, and others followed.

The rest of the restrictions fall on a spectrum:

  • Full under-18 bans in states such as California, Texas, Illinois, Delaware, Minnesota, Nevada, and Vermont, where minors can’t tan even with a parent’s permission.
  • Parental consent requirements in states like Indiana, Wisconsin, and New York, often with the parent present to sign.
  • Operational rules such as mandatory protective eyewear, posted warnings, exposure-time limits, and operator training or salon licensing.

Because these laws change and overlap with county and city ordinances, it’s always worth checking the current rule where you live before assuming what’s allowed.

Why Some People Still Use and Defend Tanning Beds

Despite the risks, tanning beds remain popular, and people offer a few common reasons for using them.

Appearance and mood. Many people simply prefer how they look with a tan, and some say a session lifts their mood, especially in dark winter months.

Vitamin D. UV exposure does trigger vitamin D production. But you can also get vitamin D from food, supplements, or brief sun exposure without the cancer risk that comes with a tanning bed.

Skin conditions like psoriasis. This one needs a clear correction. Medical phototherapy can help psoriasis — but that uses carefully dosed narrowband UVB light under a doctor’s supervision. Commercial tanning beds mostly emit UVA, which is far less effective for psoriasis and carries the cancer risk without the controlled dosing. That’s why the National Psoriasis Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology discourage using tanning beds as a stand-in for real treatment. If you’re curious about the medical angle, see our guide on whether tanning beds help psoriasis.

The Case Against Tanning Beds

The reason so many experts oppose tanning beds comes down to a strong, consistent body of evidence.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies UV-emitting tanning devices as a Group 1 carcinogen — its highest category, shared with tobacco smoke and asbestos. The same analysis found that the risk of melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, increases by about 75% when tanning bed use starts before age 30.

Other research backs this up. A large review of European data found that any sunbed use raised the relative risk of melanoma by roughly 20%, with the risk climbing the younger a person starts. A 2021 meta-analysis found the link was especially strong for early-onset skin cancer, with about a 75% higher risk of early melanoma in indoor tanners.

Beyond cancer, the UV radiation from tanning beds also drives premature skin aging — wrinkles, age spots, and loss of elasticity — and can damage the eyes, raising the risk of conditions like cataracts. Because sessions are intense and can be repeated year-round, some experts argue tanning beds can deliver more concentrated UV exposure than midday sun.

Are Tanning Beds Legal in Other Countries?

The U.S. is actually on the more permissive end of the spectrum. Several countries have gone much further:

  • Brazil and Australia have banned commercial tanning beds for cosmetic use entirely.
  • Many European countries, along with the UK and Ireland, restrict tanning beds with age limits (commonly banning under-18s), mandatory warnings, and salon licensing.

So while tanning beds are legal in the U.S., the global trend has been toward tighter limits — and in some places, outright bans.

Safer Ways to Get a Tan

If the look is what you’re after, you don’t have to accept the UV risk to get it. Sunless options have come a long way:

  • Self-tanners and spray tans use DHA, a color additive that reacts with the top layer of skin to create a tan-like color with no UV exposure. Our self-tanning guides cover how to apply them evenly.
  • Gradual tanning lotions build color slowly and are easy to control.

It’s worth noting that even competitive bodybuilders, who need a deep stage tan, almost always rely on spray tans rather than UV beds — a good example of how to get a dramatic tan without the sunbed. And if you do choose to tan outdoors, our sun tanning tips can help you do it more carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should tanning beds be illegal?

Those who argue tanning beds should be banned point to the cancer risk. UV radiation from tanning beds is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, can cause DNA damage to skin cells, and has been linked to a 75% higher melanoma risk when use starts before age 30. Some also note that tanning can become habit-forming, making the exposure harder to cut back on.

Will tanning beds be banned in the US?

There’s no national ban on the horizon. In March 2026, the FDA actually withdrew its proposed rule that would have barred minors nationwide, leaving the question to individual states. For now, tanning beds remain legal for adults across the country, with restrictions on minors varying by state.

In what countries are tanning beds illegal?

Brazil and Australia have banned commercial cosmetic tanning beds outright. Many other countries — including the UK, Ireland, France, and much of the EU — allow them but impose age limits, warning labels, and licensing requirements rather than full bans.

Are tanning beds worse than the sun?

They can be. Tanning beds deliver concentrated UV at a steady intensity and can be used year-round, whereas sun exposure varies with weather and season. People also tend to expose more of their body in a tanning bed. Both are sources of harmful UV, which is why health authorities recommend limiting both.

Can minors use tanning beds?

It depends entirely on the state. Around 20 states plus Washington, D.C. ban anyone under 18 from using tanning beds, even with parental consent. Others allow minors to tan with a parent’s permission, and a handful have looser rules. The FDA’s labeling already warns against use by anyone under 18.

Do tanning beds have any real benefits?

The benefits are limited and come with significant risk. Tanning beds do trigger vitamin D production, but that’s easily obtained from diet, supplements, or short sun exposure. For skin conditions like psoriasis, medical narrowband UVB phototherapy — not a commercial tanning bed — is the treatment doctors recommend.

Conclusion

Tanning beds are legal in the United States because the country regulates them as Class II medical devices rather than banning them, and because no federal law prohibits their use. With the FDA’s proposed teen rule withdrawn in 2026, the most meaningful limits now come from individual states — many of which ban anyone under 18.

Still, “legal” doesn’t mean “safe.” UV tanning devices are a recognized Group 1 carcinogen, and the link to melanoma — especially in younger users — is well documented. If you love the look of a tan, sunless options give you the glow without the UV risk, which is the safest call most dermatologists would make.

References

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