On Good Looking Tan we talk a lot about self-tanning products, but getting a spray tan is another great alternative to the damaging rays of the sun. Although it’s a bit more expensive, it can be a great way to guarantee an even, beautiful, full body tan. When you’re first getting interested in spray tanning, one of the first things you wonder is, “How much does a spray tan cost?”
On average, a spray tan session at a salon will cost you about $40.00, with prices ranging from a low of $18.00 and a high of $100.00 per session. Prices will vary depending on location, quality of salon, type of spray tan, and whether the session is part of a discounted package.
Alright, that is the basic answer, now let’s dive into this just a bit deeper. After which I’ll give you 15 examples of spray tan prices from around the country.
Spray Tanning Costs
When we talk about spray tanning costs, we need to break it out a bit into a few different categories. When people think of spray tanning, they often think of a standard, professional airbrush with a handheld spray gun performed in a studio. However, there are many categories of spray tanning ranging from tans in a salon to mobile tans at your home. To show an example of this, check out this services menu from a tanning salon in Chicago.
Alright, now that you have a little better vision for how many different spray tan costs there are, let’s briefly talk about a few of the more common types, and then we’ll go through some cost examples.
Spray Tanning Machine Costs
On average a tanning machine session will cost you around $25-$35.00, but the price can vary greatly depending on the quality of the machine. More expensive tanning machines will give you a better-looking tan with more even coverage, and by extracting the tanner out of the air so that it doesn’t all fall on your legs and feet.
So although you can find machine sessions for very inexpensive in some places, they are rarely worth it as you will likely be disappointed with your tan. If you love spray tanning in this manner though, you should really consider just getting a home spray tanning kit. These are surprisingly affordable and do a really great job. My favorite is this one from Amazon.
Air Brush Costs
This is my favorite type of spray tan, mostly just because I find that professionals doing this themselves tend to do a better job.
You’ll typically pay around $30-$80 for an airbrush session depending on where you live, the skill of the technician, and whether you want specific areas emphasized. As an example, some people want special attention placed on their abs, breasts, or muscle tone areas, and this extra service can cost a bit more.
Another nice thing about airbrush spray tanning sessions is that you don’t have to get your whole body done. Many tanning salons offer pricing for just certain areas like from your shoulders up. This can be a great option if it is winter and you just want a bit of glow on your face.
9 Examples Of Spray Tan Costs From Around The Country
- Los Angelas, CA – Melrose Tanning Company – $40.00 Per Airbrush
- San Fransisco, CA – Organic Shimmer Tanning – $45.00 Per Airbrush
- Seattle, Wa – Seattle Sun Tan – $45.00 Per Airbrush
- Boise, ID – Bronze Sunless: Spray Tans By Kennedi – $35.00 Per Airbrush
- Salt Lake City, UT – Bella Airbrush Tanning – $35.00 Per Airbrush
- Dallas, TX – Airbrush Dallas – $55.00 Per Airbrush
- Chicago, IL – Spray Of Sunshine – $45.00 Per Airbrush
- New York, NY – Gotham Glow – $75.00 Per Airbrush
- Miami, FL – Sobe Tan – $60.00 Per Airbrush
Mobile Tanning Costs
Mobile tanning is a great option for an event, special occasion, party, or if you just feel like getting pampered. Typically a mobile tan is going to cost you anywhere from $60 – $150 depending on the service, how far away you are from the salon, and your location. Typically you can get discounted rates if more than one person is getting tanned since it saves them costs.
Alright, now that we’ve talked about the average costs of different kinds of spray tanning, let’s compare these prices to some common alternatives.
Alternative Tanning Costs
Although spray tanning is a great alternative to get a realistic and professional looking tan, there are some other good alternatives.
Self-Tanner
Self-tanners are lotions, mousses, and gels that you can apply at home. They almost always contain an ingredient called DHA, which reacts with your skin cells to create pigment, giving you a natural looking, but short-lived tan.
I don’t want to go too in-depth, because I have dozens of articles on self-tanner, including an article just on the typical costs. However, self-tanners typically cost about $10.00, ranging from around $6.00 to over a hundred dollars for high-end products.
If you’re curious about what self-tanner I use, it’s this one you can pick up on Amazon.
Self-tanner is by far the most popular method of sunless tanning, as it’s inexpensive, effective, and extremely easy. If you’re interested in learning tons more about self-tanning, check out my advice section.
Tanning Beds
Tanning beds are the other really common alternative to spray tanning or self-tanning. However, more and more people are recognizing the potential long-term dangers of tanning beds to your skin. They are fairly inexpensive, usually costing around $15.00 per session, but in my opinion aren’t a great option.
Final Thoughts
Spray tanning is another great alternative to tanning under the sun. Most salons have trained professionals that will do a fantastic job making sure your tan has even coverage and looks extremely natural. With the average cost of a spray tan being around $40.00, it is a bit more expensive than a quality self-tanner, but can be a great option if you’re looking for something that is professionally applied.
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