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Are you looking to buy the best tanning lamp to use at home?
Then you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re looking for the best deals or you want to make sure you invest in a high-quality product, this list of the best tanning lamps will help you make the right choice.
Because knowing which tanning lamps are the best-selling products month after month can help you narrow down your search for which tanning machine or sun lamp you should buy.
The best-selling tanning lamps made it onto this list because they’re highly rated and reviewed by customers just like you who have found a great product at a reasonable price.
You can be confident in purchasing any of these best tanning lamps because each device featured on this list has also gone through my own strict review process.
This means you’ll be getting the best value for your money.
So, enjoy this list of the best home tanning lamps below and choose the one that’s right for your needs!
Before looking at the best tanning lamps list below, there are a few key terms you should know in order to fully understand how each product compares in our tanning lamp reviews and ratings.
Make sure to familiarize yourself with these short definitions:
- 21 CFR 1040.20 – This is the US Food and Drug Administrations electronic product performance standard for sunlamp products (1). Not all tanning lamps on the market meet these recommendations.
- UVA/UVB – These are the two types of ultra-violet rays that reach the earths surface. UVA rays have a longer wavelength and are associated with skin aging. UVB rays have a shorter wavelength and are responsible for sunburn and most skin cancers (2).
Disclosure: I hope you enjoy the free information in this guide. My goal is to help you find the tanning lamp for your needs, so I only recommend products that are high quality. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links on this page. If you buy a qualifying product, you’re not charged a penny more, but I’ll receive a small commission that helps support my work.
If you’re looking for the best-rated tanning lamp you can buy today, this is definitely it.
I consider the Sperti Fiji Sun Home Tanning Lamp to be the best home tanning lamp because it is FDA-cleared (21 CFR 1040.20), it’s light and portable, you can adjust the angle so it can be used for face tanning and body tanning, and you only need to use it a few minutes a day to see results.
No other at-home tanning lamp has all of these features.
This device also includes:
- Four custom-made UV tanning bulbs – these last for 1000 hours and are easy to replace when they run out
- 15 minute auto shut off timer – important for safety
- No warm up time – this is one of my favorite features. You don’t have to sit around waiting for the device to be ready to use. Simply turn it on and start.
- Energy efficient – electricity cost can add up, so it’s good to know that this device isn’t expensive to run.
- 7 year warranty – if someone goes wrong, this device comes with a generous 7-year warranty
Additionally, the Sperti Fiji Sun is one of the only FDA-cleared home tanning lamps and comes with a set of UVA blocking eyewear. While self-tanning lotions and spray tans are the safest way to tan if you want to use a tanning lamp instead, buying one that is FDA-cleared is the best option.
I’ll be honest – this is one of the more costly good tanning lamps out there.
But if you can afford it, you’ll have the best possible at-home tanning lamp that delivers great results and is FDA-cleared.
Now, that is the top choice if you’re after a tanning lamp that will actually tan your skin.
The following sun lamp recommendations don’t emit UV rays but do provide light therapy benefits.
This Circadian Optics Light Therapy lamp is actually the lamp that I own and use through the winter and fall.
It’s lightweight, portable, and actually looks stylish unlike some of the clunkier sun lamps on the market.
The size of this sun lamp is perfect – its slimline body means that you can set it up virtually anywhere.
I like to set it on my bedside table on the weekends and read a book while I get my daily light therapy dose. During the week, I set it on my desk and use it while working.
One thing to note about this particular sun lamp is that you can’t operate it wirelessly – it needs to be plugged into a wall outlet. Make sure to take that into account and think about where you’re likely to want to use your sun lamp.
If there’s no wall outlet nearby, you’ll need to either choose a different lamp or a different location.
Some more of my favorite features of this lamp include:
- UV free – this lamp doesn’t emit harmful UV rays
- 50,000 hours usage – the bulb in this lamp lasts 50,000 hours. If you use the lamp daily for 60 minutes, it’ll be approximately 833 days (over 2 years) before you need a new bulb.
- Easy to use – this lamp is extremely easy to use. There’s basically an on/off button and 3 brightness settings – that’s it. Some people may prefer more options but others (like myself) prefer the simplicity of a model like this.
Another product that tops the best tanning lamps list is this Sunrise Sensations Bright Box.
What makes it so highly rated?
For starters, the fact that it’s both functional and stylish. The Circadian Optics lamp has that sleek, modern look about it that some people love.
However, this sun lamp is made from sustainable solid wood – it almost looks like a picture frame and blends in nicely with your decor.
But it’s not all about looks – you also want to know whether this sun lamp works well, right?
The answer is yes. This sun lamp has 10,000 LUX, full-spectrum UV-free light which means you’ll get the benefit of sunlight without the potentially harmful effects of UV rays.
This model also comes with a handy remote control that allows you to adjust the color and brightness. I particularly like this feature, as it gives you the option to go from morning to evening sunlight, so you can match the light to the time of day.
I should note though – although this model does come with a remote control, it still needs to be plugged into a wall outlet.
Do you suffer from eczema, psoriasis or want to improve your skin texture?
If so, then you’ll want to make sure you take a closer look at this infrared sun lamp.
Overexposure to UV rays is one of the leading causes of skin aging, so if you’re a tanning fan (or you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun or sunbeds in the past) this feature is definitely going to be of interest to you.
Red light therapy can also be an effective complementary therapy for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. In fact, as a sufferer of eczema, I frequently use red light therapy on my hands and creases of my arms (where I suffer from eczema.)
This sun lamp isn’t quite as stylish looking as the Circadian Optics lamp, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a sleek lamp that you can leave out while you’re not using it.
However, it’s the best sun lamp for eczema or psoriasis – think of it as functional rather than stylish.
My final pick is another top seller that has some really desirable features.
It’s considered one of the best large sun lamps on the market because of the LED BrightZone Technology.
Unlike some other sun lamps that require you to sit very close to them, the LED BrightZone technology delivers the maximum dose of 10,000 LUX at 12 inches which means you don’t have to be sitting right up against it to get the benefits.
This sun lamp is quite a bit larger than the others on the list, so you will need a bigger space if you choose this option.
I’ve personally found that Circadian Optics lamp is large enough to provide the sunlight that I need. However, if you live in a region that has very little sunlight or you want a lamp that multiple people can use at the same time, then this model is the best option for you.
There is a lot of confusion about the difference between tanning lamps and sun lamps.
Tanning lamps emit UV rays. While UV rays are responsible for tanning skin, they are also responsible for sunburn, skin cancer, sun spots, and premature skin aging.
There are very few tanning lamps on the market and there is only one tanning lamp that is FDA-cleared – the Sperti Fiji Tanning Lamp, which is the top of the list of home tanning lamps.
If you want to purchase a tanning lamp that emits UV rays and tans your skin, then I highly recommend choosing the option that is FDA-cleared.
On the other hand, sun lamps do not emit UV rays, which means you will not get a tan from using them. You are also not exposing yourself to the risks involved with overexposure to UV rays (sunburn, skin cancer, premature aging.)
These sorts of sun lamps are used for light therapy and while they don’t tan you’re skin, they are an excellent addition to your home.
References:
- https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/home-business-and-entertainment-products/sunlamps-and-sunlamp-products-tanning-bedsbooths
- https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays