Stop throwing your money down the drain at a tanning salon and buy a tanning bed for your home now.

Home tanning beds are becoming ubiquitous. There are so many options out there. That’s why we researched and found the best tanning beds for every price range.

Why to Buy a Tanning Bed

So you’ve decided you’d like to get a tan? Most people agree that tanning makes you look better. But what’s the best way to get tan? The most common methods to get a real tan (as opposed to a fake tan or spray tan) are through tanning beds (see indoor tanning on Wikipedia) and the sun. Tanning beds have a myriad of benefits over tanning in the sun. Here are just a few:

  • You can tan on your own schedule
  • You can tan during any season with any weather
  • It’s safer to tan regularly for short intervals rather than less often with longer intervals
  • You don’t have to go outside (this is especially nice if you’re antisocial like me)
  • Many tanning beds have specialized bulbs for tanning your face and arms
  • It’s easier to get an even tan
  • Many have extra technology built in for a more pleasant experience, such as MP3 players and timers

For me, the overall best reason for buying a tanning bed is that you can use it in your own home. Let me share an analogy. I was never able to keep myself exercising consistently. I’d always go to the gym for a month and then quit. Then 2 years ago, I bought an elliptical machine for my own home, and I’ve been exercising 5 days a week ever since then. The reason I was able to stay consistent is because the machine was in my own home. Similar to that, most people will have a lot better consistency buying a tanning bed for their own home instead of going in the sun or to a tanning salon.

Qualities to Consider Before Buying

There are a few qualities you should consider before making your purchase. You should first decide how many lamps you want on the tanning bed. Generally, the more lamps you have, the quicker you’ll get a tan. For most people, somewhere between 16 and 24 lamps is a good range. If you want to get tan really fast with a low amount of exposure time, then 32 tanning bed bulbs might be right for you. Of course, the price tends to increase when the number of lamps increases.

There are several other questions to consider. Do you prefer a specific brand such as Solar Wave, Solar Storm, or Wolff? Does the tanning bed come with a warranty or a return policy? Does the tanning bed have a facial or arm tanner? These are all questions that may or may not be important to you. For me, I think the most important aspects are the durability of the bed and the cost. My product recommendations below are based on these principles.

Top Pick: Solar Wave 16 Lamp Home Tanning Bed

If you’re looking to buy a tanning bed at a high quality and reasonable price, then look no further than the Solar Wave 16 Lamp Home Tanning Bed. This is a 16-bulb bed, which is enough to get tan fast within a budget. This is a high quality, durable bed, and it will last for much longer than you need to get your money’s worth. It’s easy to assemble, and it fits any normal home power outlet. It also looks very attractive and unobtrusive in your home.

High-End Pick: Solar Storm 32 Lamp Residential Tanning Bed

If you have money to spend on a higher-end bed, we recommend the Solar Storm 32 Lamp Residential Tanning Bed. This is a beautifully designed piece of equipment. The 32 lamps allow you to get tan very quickly. It’s a heavier, more durable bed. It keeps you comfortable by providing cooling fans. You will also get an incredible face tan with the dedicated facial lamps in this bed. While this is more expensive than the Solar Wave bed, it is still very affordable for being such a high end tanning bed.

If you don’t have the money or space to splurge on an old-fashioned tanning bed, there’s still an option for you. We recommend the Sperti Fiji Sun Home Tanning Lamp, which is a great option for someone on a budget or someone just starting with tanning. A major advantage for this product is that it takes up much less space than a tanning bed. It’s also much easier to move around to any room in the house when you need it. This is a must have for anyone that’s serious about getting tan.

Make sure to also check out our Indoor Tanning Lotion review to enhance your tanning experience. Good luck!