Direct answer
The working number is $9–$75. Across the 18 amounts published for At The Beach Membership Cost, the middle of the range sits at $25.50, the cheapest documented line is $5 and the highest is $75.
The single most helpful habit is to ask for the service name and the tier together. "Unlimited tanning membership" on its own can map to three different prices on the same menu.
- Working range
- $9–$75
- U.S. market midpoint
- $45 per month
- Basis
- 18 price points documented from official sources
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
Before you read on
- $9–$75 is the working range for At The Beach Membership Cost, from 18 documented amounts.
- The full documented set spans $5–$75 once fees and add-ons are counted.
- The U.S. national median for unlimited tanning membership is $45 per month.
- Add about 24% to any menu price for sales tax and gratuity.
- Maintained billed monthly, the annual cost is roughly $648.
- The largest single variable is bed level — level 1 through level 5 is the primary price ladder.
Documented price lines, service by service
Everything below was published by a source listed at the foot of this page. Grouping matters: 10 of these 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canopy walk-in session | $9 | $9 | — | Electric Beach Tanning |
| Single session | $9–$27 | $18 | $18 | Planet Tan; Hollywood Tans |
| TanCard setup fee | $10 | $10 | — | Electric Beach Tanning |
| Hybrid walk-in session | $15 | $15 | — | Electric Beach Tanning — Iowa |
| Entropy walk-in session | $24 | $24 | — | Electric Beach Tanning — Iowa |
| Spray tan | $25–$29 | $27 | $4 | Electric Beach Tanning |
| Wellness first-month offer | $29.99 | $29.99 | — | Zoom Tan |
| Five-session package | $35–$75 | $55 | $40 | Planet Tan |
| Spray session price range | $35–$45 | $40 | $10 | Zoom Tan |
| Natural spray tan | $42 | $42 | — | Tan Your Hide |
| Line | Published | Midpoint | Spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Membership freeze fee | $5 | $5 | — | Glo Tanning; Totally Tan & Spa |
| Lux One membership | $19.95 | $19.95 | — | Glo Tanning |
| Fast membership example | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Spray membership advertised starting price | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Palm Beach Tan |
| VIP membership starting price | $24.95 | $24.95 | — | Image Sun Tanning Centers |
| 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 |
Franchise and independently-owned locations set menus inside a corporate band. Treat these as documented examples.
How this compares with the wider U.S. market
This table is market context, not a brand price list. Its purpose is to show whether a quote you have been given is typical, low or high for the U.S. in 2026.
| Service | Market low | National median | Market high | Unit | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited tanning membership | $20 | $45 | $110 | per month | Tier determines bed access and spray inclusions. |
| 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 less expensive; hand airbrush costs more. |
Compiled national figures for context only. No brand on this page has published these numbers, and none of them is a bookable rate.
The same service, four different markets
Rent and wages flow straight into the menu. Applying published metro cost bands to the $45 national median for unlimited tanning membership gives the following planning ranges.
| Market tier | Planning range | Multiplier | Example markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 - highest-cost metros | $61–$79 | 1.35–1.75× | Manhattan, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Washington DC, Miami Beach |
| Tier 2 - large metros | $50–$59 | 1.10–1.32× | Chicago, Los Angeles suburbs, Denver, Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, Portland |
| Tier 3 - mid-size metros | $42–$50 | 0.94–1.10× | Columbus, Kansas City, Charlotte, Nashville, Phoenix, Indianapolis |
| Tier 4 - small metro and rural | $31–$42 | 0.70–0.93× | Smaller cities, county seats and rural markets |
Bands scale the $45 national median by published metro cost multipliers. Planning ranges, not quotes.
Why your quote differs from the menu
Every one of these is negotiable in the sense that you can refuse it — but only if you know it is coming before you are in the chair.
- 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.
- Enrolment or annual fee+$15–$60
Charged in addition to the monthly rate at many chains.
- 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.
Related cost breakdowns: UV Tanning Membership Cost, Monthly Tanning Membership Cost and Wellness Membership Cost.
What the bill looks like at checkout
Every line below is normal and expected. None of it is a scam — but almost none of it appears on the menu board either.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base service | $39 | The line you see on the menu |
| One typical add-on | $9 | Accepted at the chair without a stated price |
| Subtotal | $48 | Before tax and gratuity |
| Sales tax at 7.2% | $3.46 | Varies by state and city; services are taxable in some states only |
| Gratuity at 18% | $8.64 | Calculated on the service, not on tax |
| Sensible total | $60.10 | 54% above the menu price |
Worked at a $39 base with one add-on. Swap in your own quote and the proportions hold.
The rule of thumb: add around 54% to any menu price for unlimited tanning membership to get your sensible out-the-door number.
You can run the numbers for your own service rather than doing this by hand.
Annual cost of ownership
A single $45 appointment is easy to justify. Maintained billed monthly, unlimited tanning membership becomes a $540 annual commitment at the national median — and that is the number worth deciding on.
| Provider level | Each visit | Visits/yr | Service spend | Gratuity | Annual total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget provider | $20 | 12 | $240 | — | $240 |
| National median | $45 | 12 | $540 | — | $540 |
| Premium provider | $110 | 12 | $1,320 | — | $1,320 |
Gratuity is included at 20% because it is not optional in reality. Deduct it if you track tips apart from service spend.
Before hunting a lower-priced provider, look at the interval. One fewer visit annually is about $54 kept; two fewer is $108. Neither costs you any quality.
Membership break-even: the only maths that matters
The honest test is your sensible visit count, not your intended one. Most of us 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22 / month | $16 | 1.4 visits | 16 visits | $264 | Worthwhile above 1.4/month |
| $35 / month | $16 | 2.2 visits | 26 visits | $420 | Worthwhile above 2.2/month |
| $51 / month | $16 | 3.2 visits | 38 visits | $612 | Worthwhile above 3.2/month |
Uses a $16 market per-visit rate. Substitute the rate you were actually quoted.
Use the quoted rate rather than the market one and check the maths on your quoted rate.
How much to tip on this service
Tip on the pre-tax service amount. If a discount or promotion applied, the norm is to tip on the original value of the work, not the discounted price.
| Gratuity rate | On $20 | On $45 | On $110 | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15% | $3 | $6.75 | $16.50 | Standard for a satisfactory service |
| 18% | $3.60 | $8.10 | $19.80 | Common default in mid-size and large metros |
| 20% | $4 | $9 | $22 | Typical for a stylist you intend to rebook with |
| 25% | $5 | $11.25 | $27.50 | Reserved for complex colour, long appointments or a rescue job |
- Salons that add an automatic service charge should say so at booking. Spot one on the bill, ask whether it reaches the provider before adding more.
- Card tips may be pooled or delayed to the next pay run. Ask if you want it to reach one person directly.
- Assistants who shampoo or rinse are regularly tipped separately, generally a few dollars.
- Do not tip on membership dues, booth rent, deposits, annual fees, gift-card loads or cancellation charges — no service was performed.
Mistakes that cost real money
Ordered by how regularly they happen rather than how much they cost. The fix in every case is a question when you book.
- 1Joining before checking the freeze policycosts $60–$300
A plan you cannot pause bills through the off-season.
- 2Buying lotion at the counter without checking the pricecosts $25–$90
The single largest surprise on a first visit.
- 3Assuming the membership covers every bedcosts $10–$40
Higher-level beds are generally an upgrade in addition to the plan.
- 4Not asking about the enrolment or annual feecosts $15–$60
Charged in addition to the monthly rate at most chains.
If you want the policy detail behind these: Tanning Membership Worthwhile and How Tanning Membership Pricing Works.
What to say on the phone
Read these out. It takes under two minutes and it is the difference between a quote and a surprise. Save the last one for emphasis — a written quote settles any dispute at checkout.
- "What add-ons do you normally recommend for this service, and what does each cost?"
- "If this runs longer than booked, does the price change?"
- "Can you email or text me the quote before my appointment?"
- "If I join the membership today, is there an enrolment or annual fee on top?"
- "Are taxes added at checkout, and do you have a card-payment surcharge?"
- "Do you take a deposit, and does it come off the final balance?"
- "Is a shampoo, blow-dry or finish included in that price, or billed on a separate line?"
Then do one thing at checkout: ask for an itemised receipt. If a line appears that you were not told about, that is the moment to raise it — not after you have left.
How this compares with the alternatives
Price is not normally the deciding factor. Line up the inclusions first — what is actually included — and only then the price.
Common questions, answered with numbers
At The Beach Membership Cost - what does it cost?
Plan on $9–$75. Across the 18 amounts documented here the median line is $25.50, the cheapest is $5 and the dearest is $75. The wider spread covers add-ons, plans and policy charges rather than the core service alone.
How much is membership freeze fee?
The published figure for membership freeze fee is $5. Glo Tanning; Totally Tan & Spa. A fixed $5 at one location does not make it a national rate.
What does canopy walk-in session cost?
$9. Electric Beach Tanning. Expect roughly $11 once tax and gratuity are added, where gratuity applies.
Single session: what is the published amount?
Expect $9–$27 for single session, midpoint $18. Planet Tan; Hollywood Tans. Ask which end of that band your booking sits at before you commit.
Is there a price for tancard setup fee?
TanCard setup fee is documented at $10. Electric Beach Tanning. That is below the $45 national median for unlimited tanning membership.
How much more than the menu price should I expect?
Expect about $53 on a $42 booking. Tax and gratuity alone add close to $11, and that is with no upgrades.
How much will I spend on this in a year?
Roughly $648 a year at 12 visits (billed monthly), gratuity included. That figure is considerably more useful than the $45 per-visit price when deciding whether to commit.
Why does the same service cost different amounts at different locations?
Rent, wages and local demand set the menu. Scaling the $45 national median by published metro multipliers gives about $31 in a small market and up to $79 in a top-tier metro - before provider tier is considered.
Is there a fee on top of the monthly price?
Normally yes - $15–$60 in enrolment or annual charges is common. Always compare annual totals.
What happens if I stop tanning for a few months?
Only if the contract allows a freeze. Otherwise you are billed year-round for a service you use for part of the year.
Sources and how we checked them
3 sources were reviewed for this page. Official brand pages are used for brand claims only; nothing here extrapolates one location's menu into a national rate.
- Official U.S. brand websiteBrand identity, service scope, location/booking model and official-source gate · updated 2026
- Risks of tanningUV risk facts · updated 2026
- Tanning overviewUV risks · updated 2026
Found an error? Report it here - corrections are logged and dated.
People also ask
Frequently asked questions
At The Beach Membership Cost - what does it cost?
Plan on $9–$75. Across the 18 amounts documented here the median line is $25.50, the cheapest is $5 and the dearest is $75. The wider spread covers add-ons, plans and policy charges rather than the core service alone.
How much is membership freeze fee?
The published figure for membership freeze fee is $5. Glo Tanning; Totally Tan & Spa. A fixed $5 at one location does not make it a national rate.
What does canopy walk-in session cost?
$9. Electric Beach Tanning. Expect roughly $11 once tax and gratuity are added, where gratuity applies.
Single session: what is the published amount?
Expect $9–$27 for single session, midpoint $18. Planet Tan; Hollywood Tans. Ask which end of that band your booking lands at before you commit.
Is there a price for tancard setup fee?
TanCard setup fee is documented at $10. Electric Beach Tanning. That is below the $45 national median for unlimited tanning membership.
How much more than the menu price should I expect?
Expect about $53 on a $42 booking. Tax and gratuity alone add close to $11, and that is with no upgrades.
How much will I spend on this in per year?
Around $648 a year at 12 visits (billed monthly), gratuity included. That figure is far more useful than the $45 per-visit price when deciding whether to commit.
Why does the same service cost different amounts at different locations?
Rent, wages and local demand set the menu. Scaling the $45 national median by published metro multipliers gives about $31 in a small market and up to $79 in a top-tier metro - before provider tier is considered.
Is there a fee on top of the monthly price?
Normally yes - $15–$60 in enrolment or annual charges is common. Always compare annual totals.
What happens if I stop tanning for a few months?
Only if the contract allows a freeze. Otherwise you are billed year-round for a service you use for part of the year.
Last reviewed . Prices change without notice — report a correction.