Direct answer
Sun Tan City runs $19.99–$99.99 for the services documented below. That figure comes from 7 separate published amounts, not a single quote. The wider set of charges on this page spans $19.99–$149.99 once fees, add-ons and package items are included.
The menu price is seldom the checkout price. Tax and gratuity alone normally add 28% in addition to unlimited tanning membership, before any add-on is accepted at the chair.
- Working range
- $19.99–$99.99
- U.S. market midpoint
- $45 per month
- Basis
- 7 price points documented from official sources
- Last reviewed
- August 2026
The short version
- $19.99–$99.99 is the working range for Sun Tan City, from 7 documented amounts.
- The full documented set spans $19.99–$149.99 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 biggest single variable is bed level — level 1 through level 5 is the primary price ladder.
Published prices from official sources
These 7 lines come from published sources and are grouped by what they actually are. Folding fees into a service list is how misleading "average" figures come about, so they are separated here.
| Line | Published | Midpoint | Spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIP day pass offer | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| Five-visit offer | $29.99 | $29.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| VIP All Access | $99.99 | $99.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Line | Published | Midpoint | Spread | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast membership example | $19.99 | $19.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Instant membership example | $39.99 | $39.99 | — | Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands |
| Natural membership example | $69.99 | $69.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
| Shared VIP membership | $149.99 | $149.99 | — | Sun Tan City |
Published prices change without warning. Check the review date above to see how current this set is.
U.S. market ranges for comparison
None of these figures belongs to a brand on this page. They describe the wider market, which is what you need in order to judge a quote rather than just accept it.
| 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 lower-priced; hand airbrush costs more. |
These bands describe the national market, not this page's subject. Use them to judge whether a quote is reasonable, not as a price you can book.
Where you live changes the price more than anything else
Location is usually the largest single variable. The national median for unlimited tanning membership is $45; the same appointment can land near $31 in a small market and $79 in a top-tier metro. That is a 2.5× spread on an identical service name.
| 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.
Six things that decide what you pay
Ask about these at booking, not at checkout. All of them are easier to decline on the phone than mid-appointment.
- 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.
- Lotion purchase+$25–$90
The largest and least-expected line on a first visit.
- Enrolment or annual fee+$15–$60
Charged in addition to the monthly rate at many chains.
- Contract term and freeze ruleschanges the contract, not the price
Minimum terms and freeze policies change the true cost.
Related cost breakdowns: Airbrush Tan Cost, Spray Tan Cost and Automated Spray Tan Cost.
Seven questions that prevent a surprise bill
You do not need to negotiate. You need the price to be stated before the service starts. These questions do that without any awkwardness.
- "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?"
- "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?"
- "Do you take a deposit, and does it come off the final balance?"
- "What is the precise price for unlimited tanning membership at my hair length and density?"
- "If I join the membership today, is there an enrolment or annual fee on top?"
At checkout: check the itemised total against the quote before paying. Corrections are simple at the desk and nearly impossible afterwards.
Menu price versus final bill
Work it forwards once and you will never be caught out again. A $56 service does not cost $56.
| Line | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base service | $56 | The line you see on the menu |
| One typical add-on | $10 | Accepted at the chair without a stated price |
| Subtotal | $66 | Before tax and gratuity |
| Sales tax at 7.5% | $4.95 | Varies by state and city; services are taxable in some states only |
| Gratuity at 20% | $13.20 | Calculated on the service, not on tax |
| Realistic total | $84.15 | 50% above the menu price |
An illustration built from the ranges on this page. Your tax rate and add-on choices will differ.
Takeaway: budget $84 when the board says $56. The difference is $28.
Swap in your own base price and calculate your own total.
Twelve months of unlimited tanning membership, priced out
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 | Per 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 |
Cadence comes down to typical maintenance intervals. Your own interval is the largest variable.
Dropping one visit annually saves roughly $54. Dropping the cadence by a quarter saves about $162. Compare that against what you would save by moving to a less expensive provider before you switch.
Membership break-even: the only maths that matters
Ignore the marketing and do one division. If the plan costs more than your sensible monthly visit count × $16, it loses money. The table shows the crossover for common plan prices.
| 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 |
Excludes enrolment and annual fees. Add those before comparing plans over twelve months.
Before signing, check the maths on your quoted rate.
Gratuity, converted from percentages into money
Two rules do most of the work: tip on the service before tax, and tip the person who performed it.
| 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 |
- If the salon owner performed the service, tipping is optional by convention - though rarely refused.
- If more than one person worked on you, ask reception how tips are split before assuming the lead provider receives all of it.
- Holiday tipping is a separate norm from per-visit tipping and is usually a one-off larger amount.
- 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.
What people get wrong here
Every one of these is common, avoidable, and has a dollar figure attached. None of them require haggling — just one question asked at the right time.
- 1Buying lotion at the counter without checking the pricecosts $25–$90
The single largest surprise on a first visit.
- 2Not asking about the enrolment or annual feecosts $15–$60
Charged on top of the monthly rate at most chains.
- 3Joining before checking the freeze policycosts $60–$300
A plan you cannot pause bills through the off-season.
- 4Assuming the membership covers every bedcosts $10–$40
Higher-level beds are typically an upgrade in addition to the plan.
If you want the policy detail behind these: Prepare For UV Tanning and Salon Cancellation Fees.
Your other options, and when each wins
The helpful comparison is like-for-like: same service scope, same provider tier, same market. These pages set the comparisons up that way.
Regularly asked - with the maths
What is the real price of Sun Tan City?
The working range is $19.99–$99.99, drawn from 7 published amounts. 3 of those are core services; the rest are add-ons, memberships or fees that should not be averaged in. The median documented line is $29.99.
Fast membership example: what is the published amount?
Fast membership example: $19.99 as published. Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands. Compare that against the $45 U.S. median for unlimited tanning membership before deciding whether it is competitive.
How much is vip day pass offer?
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.
Five-visit offer: what is the published amount?
The published figure for five-visit offer is $29.99. Sun Tan City. A fixed $29.99 at one location does not make it a national rate.
What does instant membership example cost?
Documented at $39.99 for instant membership example. Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands. Figures of this kind are verified periodically and can move without warning.
What does this cost once tax and tip are added?
Add around 28%. On a $60 service that is about $77 once sales tax and a 20% gratuity are counted - before any add-on accepted during the appointment.
What does unlimited tanning membership cost per year?
Around $648 annually at 12 visits (billed monthly), gratuity included. That figure is far more helpful than the $45 per-visit price when deciding whether to commit.
Why do Sun Tan City quotes vary so much?
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.
What extra fees come with a membership?
Frequently. Enrolment and annual fees of $15–$60 are charged on a separate line from the monthly rate at many chains. Ask for the twelve-month total, not the monthly figure.
Can I pause my membership?
Freeze rules vary and are the single most important clause if you tan seasonally. A plan you cannot pause bills through the off-season regardless of use.
Sources and how we checked them
8 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 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
- Risks of tanningUV risk facts · updated 2026
- Tanning overviewUV risks · updated 2026
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction and we will re-check the source.
People also ask
Frequently asked questions
What is the real price of Sun Tan City?
The working range is $19.99–$99.99, drawn from 7 published amounts. 3 of those are core services; the rest are add-ons, memberships or fees that should not be averaged in. The median documented line is $29.99.
Fast membership example: what is the published amount?
Fast membership example: $19.99 as published. Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands. Compare that against the $45 U.S. median for unlimited tanning membership before deciding whether it is competitive.
How much is vip day pass offer?
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.
Five-visit offer: what is the published amount?
The published figure for five-visit offer is $29.99. Sun Tan City. A fixed $29.99 at one location does not make it a national rate.
What does instant membership example cost?
Documented at $39.99 for instant membership example. Sun Tan City — Louisville Highlands. Figures of this kind are verified periodically and can move without warning.
What does this cost once tax and tip are added?
Add roughly 28%. On a $60 service that is about $77 once sales tax and a 20% gratuity are counted - before any add-on accepted during the appointment.
What does unlimited tanning membership cost per year?
Around $648 a year at 12 visits (billed monthly), gratuity included. That figure is far more helpful than the $45 per-visit price when deciding whether to commit.
Why do Sun Tan City quotes vary so much?
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.
What extra fees come with a membership?
Often. Enrolment and annual fees of $15–$60 are charged on a separate line from the monthly rate at many chains. Ask for the twelve-month total, not the monthly figure.
Can I pause my membership?
Freeze rules vary and are the single most important clause if you tan seasonally. A plan you cannot pause bills through the off-season regardless of use.
Last reviewed . Prices change without notice — report a correction.