Direct answer
Sun Tan City vs Zoom Tan: budget $9.99–$179 per service. Anything below $9.99 in the documented set is an add-on or a partial service rather than a full appointment, and anything above $179 comes down to an extended or premium booking.
The single most useful habit is to ask for the service name and the tier together. "UV bed - level 1" on its own can map to three different prices on the same menu.
- Working range
- $9.99–$179
- U.S. market midpoint
- $11 per session
- Basis
- 17 price points documented from official sources
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
Key takeaways
- $9.99–$179 is the working range for Sun Tan City vs Zoom Tan, from 17 documented amounts.
- The full documented set spans $9.99–$399 once fees and add-ons are counted.
- The U.S. national median for uv bed - level 1 is $11 per session.
- Add about 24% to any menu price for sales tax and gratuity.
- Maintained twice weekly in season, the annual cost is approximately $528.
- The biggest single variable is bed level — level 1 through level 5 is the primary price ladder.
Published prices from official sources
Everything below was published by a source listed at the foot of this page. Grouping matters: 8 of these 17 lines are actual services and the rest are add-ons, plans or policy charges that should never be averaged together.
| Line | Published | Midpoint | Spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun first-month offer | $9.99 | $9.99 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Sunless first-month offer | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Zoom Tan |
| VIP day pass offer | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| Five-visit offer | $29.99 | $29.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| Wellness first-month offer | $29.99 | $29.99 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Spray session price range | $35–$45 | $40 | $10 | Zoom Tan |
| VIP All Access | $99.99 | $99.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Six-session spray package | $179 | $179 | — | Official advertised package |
| Line | Published | Midpoint | Spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast membership example | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Sun membership | $39 | $39 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Sun membership monthly | $39 | $39 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Instant membership example | $39.99 | $39.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Sunless membership | $59 | $59 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Sunless membership monthly | $59 | $59 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Natural membership example | $69.99 | $69.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| Shared VIP membership | $149.99 | $149.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| Sun annual membership | $399 | $399 | — | Official membership store |
Published prices change without warning. Check the review date above to see how current this set is.
Market ranges: what everyone else charges
Context, not a price list. The point of these numbers is to tell you whether the quote in front of you is routine for the U.S. in 2026.
| Service | Market low | National median | Market high | Unit | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV bed - level 1 | $6 | $11 | $18 | per session | Base-level bed, longest exposure time. |
| UV bed - level 2 | $10 | $16 | $26 | per session | Faster bronzing bed. |
| UV bed - level 3 | $15 | $23 | $36 | per session | High-pressure or hybrid equipment. |
| UV bed - level 4/5 | $22 | $34 | $55 | per session | Top-tier beds and stand-ups. |
| Spray tan (booth) | $25 | $45 | $75 | per session | Booth is lower-priced; hand airbrush costs more. |
| Unlimited tanning membership | $20 | $45 | $110 | per month | Tier decides bed access and spray inclusions. |
Compiled national figures for context only. No brand on this page has published these numbers, and none of them is a bookable rate.
Regional price bands for this service
Rent and wages flow straight into the menu. Applying published metro cost bands to the $11 national median for uv bed - level 1 gives the following planning ranges.
| Market tier | Planning range | Multiplier | Example markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 - highest-cost metros | $15–$19 | 1.35–1.75× | Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, Miami Beach |
| Tier 2 - large metros | $12–$15 | 1.10–1.32× | Chicago, Los Angeles suburbs, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, Portland |
| Tier 3 - mid-size metros | $10–$12 | 0.94–1.10× | Columbus, Kansas City, Charlotte, Nashville, Phoenix, Indianapolis |
| Tier 4 - small metro and rural | $8–$10 | 0.70–0.93× | Smaller cities, county seats and rural markets |
Bands scale the $11 national median by published metro cost multipliers. Planning ranges, not quotes.
Why your quote differs from the menu
Ranking these matters. Most of us compares the headline price of two salons and skip past the four lines below it that end up setting the bill.
- Lotion purchase+$25–$90
The largest and least-expected line on a first visit.
- Contract term and freeze ruleschanges the contract, not the price
Minimum terms and freeze policies change the true cost.
- Enrolment or annual fee+$15–$60
Charged on top of the monthly rate at many chains.
- Bed level+$8–$40
Level 1 through level 5 is the primary price ladder.
- Membership tier+$15–$70
Each tier unlocks a different set of beds and spray inclusions.
Related cost breakdowns: Airbrush Tan Cost, Spray Tan Cost and Spray Tan Price Components Guide.
What the bill looks like at checkout
Every line below is routine and expected. None of it is a scam — but almost none of it appears on the menu board either.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base service | $86 | The line you see on the menu |
| One typical add-on | $18 | Accepted at the chair without a stated price |
| Subtotal | $104 | Before tax and gratuity |
| Sales tax at 6.1% | $6.34 | Varies by state and city; services are taxable in some states only |
| Gratuity at 18% | $18.72 | Calculated on the service, not on tax |
| Realistic total | $129.06 | 50% above the menu price |
Illustrative. The 6.1% tax figure varies by state - several states do not tax personal services at all.
Plan for the total, not the base. The $43 gap between the two is the part people forget when comparing two salons.
To check a specific quote, calculate your own total.
Twelve months of uv bed - level 1, priced out
Most budgets break at the cadence, not the price. UV bed - level 1 maintained twice weekly in season works out to approximately $528 per year once gratuity is included.
| Provider level | Per visit | Visits/yr | Service spend | Gratuity | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget provider | $6 | 40 | $240 | $48 | $288 |
| National median | $11 | 40 | $440 | $88 | $528 |
| Premium provider | $18 | 40 | $720 | $144 | $864 |
Gratuity is included at 20% because it is effectively compulsory. Strip it out if you budget gratuity separately.
Before hunting a reduction, check the cadence. Going from 40 to 32 visits per year keeps approximately $106 in your pocket at the same quality of work.
Is the monthly plan worth it?
The honest test is your realistic visit count, not your intended one. Most people overestimate by 30–50%. Take the number below and check it against how you behaved last quarter.
| Monthly plan | Per-visit rate | Break-even | Annual visits needed | Annual cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15 / month | $11 | 1.4 visits | 16 visits | $180 | Worth it above 1.4/month |
| $24 / month | $11 | 2.2 visits | 26 visits | $288 | Worth it above 2.2/month |
| $35 / month | $11 | 3.2 visits | 38 visits | $420 | Worthwhile above 3.2/month |
Uses a $11 market per-visit rate. Substitute the rate you were actually quoted.
Use the quoted rate rather than the market one and run your own break-even.
Tipping: the numbers rather than the etiquette
Two rules do most of the work: tip on the service before tax, and tip the person who performed it.
| Gratuity rate | On $6 | On $11 | On $18 | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | $0.90 | $1.65 | $2.70 | Standard for a satisfactory service |
| 18% | $1.08 | $1.98 | $3.24 | Common default in mid-size and large metros |
| 20% | $1.20 | $2.20 | $3.60 | Typical for a stylist you intend to rebook with |
| 25% | $1.50 | $2.75 | $4.50 | Reserved for complex colour, long appointments or a rescue job |
- An automatic service charge ought to be disclosed when you book. Spot one on the bill, ask whether it reaches the provider before adding more.
- Assistants who shampoo or rinse are often tipped on a separate line, generally a few dollars.
- Tip the same on a redo as on the original if the redo was not the provider's fault - and speak to management rather than the provider if it was.
- If the salon owner performed the service, tipping is optional by norm - though rarely refused.
What people get wrong here
These are the errors that show up repeatedly in pricing complaints. All of them are fixed by a single question up front rather than at checkout.
- 1Comparing headline prices across different scopescosts $20–$70
Two "haircut" prices can include completely different work.
- 2Forgetting tax and gratuitycosts $20–$30
Together they add roughly a quarter to the menu price.
- 3Not asking what is required versus optionalcosts $20–$70
Some finishes are effectively mandatory but quoted separately.
If you want the policy detail behind these: How To Compare Salon Prices and What Is An Airbrush Tan.
The booking script, word for word
Read these out. It takes under two minutes and it is the gap between a quote and a surprise. The final question matters most — a written quote settles any dispute at checkout.
- "Is removal of my existing product included, or is it a separate charge?"
- "What add-ons do you normally recommend for this service, and what does each cost?"
- "Do you take a deposit, and does it come off the final balance?"
- "If I join the membership today, is there an enrolment or annual fee on top?"
- "What is the precise price for uv bed - level 1 at my hair length and density?"
- "Is a shampoo, blow-dry or finish included in that price, or billed on a separate line?"
- "What is your cancellation window, and what is the charge if I miss it?"
And when you pay: read the itemised receipt line by line. Unexpected charges are nearly always fixable at the desk and almost never fixable later.
Worth comparing before you commit
The helpful comparison is like-for-like: same service scope, same provider tier, same market. These pages set the comparisons up that way.
What people want to know before booking
How much is Sun Tan City vs Zoom Tan?
Budget $9.99–$179. That is based on 17 documented amounts rather than one quote, which matters because the gap between the lowest and highest line here is $389.01.
Sun first-month offer: what is the published amount?
$9.99. Zoom Tan. Expect roughly $13 once tax and gratuity are added, where gratuity applies.
Fast membership example: what is the published amount?
Fast membership example: $19.99 as published. Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands. Compare that against the $11 U.S. median for uv bed - level 1 before deciding whether it is competitive.
What does sunless first-month offer cost?
Sunless first-month offer is documented at $19.99. Zoom Tan. Which puts it above the $11 national median for uv bed - level 1.
VIP day pass offer: what is the published amount?
The published figure for vip day pass offer is $19.99. Sun Tan City. A fixed $19.99 at one location does not make it a national rate.
What will I actually pay at checkout?
The menu price is not the final price. Budget 24% more - approximately $23 extra on a $94 service - and more if you accept anything offered at the chair.
What is the annual cost of Sun Tan City vs Zoom Tan?
Around $528 annually if you maintain it twice weekly in season. Each visit you skip is about $13 back, which is usually a bigger lever than switching provider.
Why is the price different at another branch?
Mostly geography. The same service name maps to roughly $8 in a rural market and $19 in the most expensive metros, a 2.5x spread. Provider tier and appointment length move it further.
How current is this pricing?
No. Every figure here is either an amount taken from a source listed below, or a clearly marked U.S. market range. Menus change without notice. Last reviewed August 2026.
Sources and how we checked them
Every published figure above traces to one of these. Where a source describes a single location or a time-limited offer, that scope stays attached to the number rather than being generalised.
- Official VIP membership termsLocation variation, payment requirement, cancel/freeze rules · updated 2026
- Official specials pageCurrent day-pass and visit-package offers · updated 2026
- Official shared VIP membershipShared monthly membership price and cancellation flexibility · updated 2026
- Official membership FAQCancellation, freeze and payment requirements · updated 2026
- Louisville Highlands official salon pageLocation-specific VIP All Access price · updated 2026
- Official U.S. brand websiteBrand identity, service scope, location/booking model and official-source gate · updated 2026
- Official pricing and specialsIntro offers · updated 2026
- Official membership storeMonthly and annual prices · updated 2026
- Official UV serviceIntro offer and access · updated 2026
- Official cancellation policyCancellation timing and balance requirements · updated 2026
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction and we will re-check the source.
People also ask
Frequently asked questions
How much is Sun Tan City vs Zoom Tan?
Budget $9.99–$179. That is based on 17 documented amounts rather than one quote, which matters because the spread between the lowest and highest line here is $389.01.
Sun first-month offer: what is the published amount?
$9.99. Zoom Tan. Expect roughly $13 once tax and gratuity are added, where gratuity applies.
Fast membership example: what is the published amount?
Fast membership example: $19.99 as published. Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands. Compare that against the $11 U.S. median for uv bed - level 1 before deciding whether it is competitive.
What does sunless first-month offer cost?
Sunless first-month offer is documented at $19.99. Zoom Tan. Which puts it above the $11 national median for uv bed - level 1.
VIP day pass offer: what is the published amount?
The published figure for vip day pass offer is $19.99. Sun Tan City. A fixed $19.99 at one location does not make it a national rate.
What will I actually pay at checkout?
The menu price is not the final price. Budget 24% more - roughly $23 extra on a $94 service - and more if you accept anything offered at the chair.
What is the annual cost of Sun Tan City vs Zoom Tan?
Around $528 annually if you maintain it twice weekly in season. Each visit you skip is about $13 back, which is usually a bigger lever than switching provider.
Why is the price different at another branch?
Mostly geography. The same service name maps to around $8 in a rural market and $19 in the most costly metros, a 2.5x spread. Provider tier and appointment length move it further.
How current is this pricing?
No. Every figure here is either an amount taken from a source listed below, or a clearly marked U.S. market range. Menus change without warning. Last reviewed August 2026.
Last reviewed . Prices change without notice — report a correction.