10 Best Tanning Bed Bulbs 2020 [Buying Guide]

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Heather
Patton

Jennifer
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Samantha
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How to Choose the Best Tanning Bed Bulb

Looking for the best tanning bed bulbs for your home or salon tanning bed? You’ve come to the right place! We did the rigorous research for you and found 10 great options that work in a wide variety of tanning bed brands, so you can stock up on spare bulbs without any extra hassle! There are a few important features you need to consider before buying new tanning bed bulbs, so let’s start there before we get into the reviews.

Wattage: The tanning bed bulbs we reviewed come in 3 different wattage options: 100 watts, 100-120 watts, and 120 watts. Make sure to choose the correct wattage for your tanning bed to ensure it will give you the best tan possible!

Pieces: We’ll let you know how many bulbs come in each, so you can purchase the right number for your machine. You can also stock up on extra bulbs to replace them as they burn out, instead of ordering as you go!

Length: Make sure to measure your current tanning bed bulbs carefully before ordering replacements, so you can ensure you’re getting the correct size! Bi-Pin replacement bulbs are typically 72 inches long, while the RDC replacement bulbs are usually 73 inches long.

Lamp End: In addition to measuring the size, make sure to check which type of lamp end your tanning bed bulbs use! There are two main types: bi-pin and RDC endings. They are not interchangeable, so double-check before you buy new bulbs!

Tanning Hours: To make sure you’re getting the most for your money, we let you know the maximum number of tanning hours you get. This number may vary, depending on the type of bed you use and how long each session runs.

Shape: Finally, we’ll let you know the shape, so you can get the style that fits perfectly into your tanning bed. All of the bulbs we reviewed are tube-shaped, so if you need a different shape, contact your tanning bed’s manufacturer.

Top 10 Products

Now that you’ve checked to make sure you’re getting the right bulbs, let’s get to the reviews! We found a variety of bulbs for every budget and versions that work with most tanning beds out there. Whether you need a few replacements, or you want to replace all bulbs at once, we’ve got what you need! Are you short on time? No worries! Start with our Top Pick and Budget Pick, and then come back later to read the rest!

Wolff System Dark Tan II Bulbs

Our Top Pick to amp up your tanning bed’s effectiveness is these Wolff tanning bulbs in their Dark Tan range. We like this set because it comes with 24 bulbs, which is plenty to do a total replacement of bulbs on most standard home and professional tanning beds. It’s also a good option for stocking up on replacement bulbs for your professional tanning spa, so your clients can get an optimum tan every time. These bulbs are slightly more powerful than the original Dark Tan bulbs, so you can get a deeper tan in less time – a major plus if you’re running a tanning business! They last up to 500 hours, so you can get hundreds of sessions out of one set. We also like that the company is happy to send you replacement bulbs if they arrive broken or defective from the shipment, and they do this quickly so you can get back to tanning without a long wait!

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Cosmetta Full Spectrum Tanning Lamps

If you want to save money on bulbs without sacrificing quality, these inexpensive tanning bed bulbs from Cosmetta give you plenty of bang for your buck! These bulbs fit most standard tanning beds that use 72-inch, bi-pin bulbs, and they come in a pack of 10-32 bulbs, depending on your needs. You can buy a full set to replace all of your bulbs, or grab a set of 10 to replace as your current bulbs die out – no pressure to spend more than you need to! We like that these bulbs emit 4 different wavelengths at once, giving you tons of added benefits besides a dark tan! The UVB light helps your body produce melanin, while the UVA light enhances melanin production to create that deep, rich tan you’re looking for. These bulbs also emit blue light that soothes your skin, and the red light locks in moisture and prevents skin from drying out. That’s a lot from one bulb!

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Bronzing Sun Plus Tanning Lamp

Another great tanning bulb from Wolff is their Bronzing Sun Plus model, an inexpensive yet powerful bulb that’s perfect for professional use! We like these bulbs because they provide both UVA and UVB light, ensuring a deep tan that you can see right away and continues to develop after you leave the tanning bed. They also have a really long life for tanning bed bulbs! In reflector style beds, they last up to 800 hours, and in non-reflector style beds, they can last up to 1,000 hours! This means you can get hundreds of clients a beautiful tan with one inexpensive set of bulbs, which is great for business! You can also buy them in sets of 8-32 bulbs, so you only have to buy what you truly need, which can also help your business save money over time! Their customer service is also great – they’ll send out new bulbs right away if any of yours arrive broken or damaged.

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SunMaster Rejuvenescence Bulbs

Another great use for tanning beds is for Red Light Therapy (RLT), which people use to help with a variety of skin conditions, pain management, and other potential health issues. These RLT bulbs from SunMaster are made specifically for therapeutic purposes, not for tanning, because they don’t emit any UVA or UVB light. To increase the benefits of the red light, each bulb has its own reflector built into one side, which reflects all the light forward, instead of half the light shining on the back of the tanning bed. This means you can have a much shorter session, which is great if you don’t like sitting still for too long! We also like that these bulbs are bi-pin and 72 inches, so you can use them in your regular tanning bed without the need for adapters! You can switch things up in your home bed, or add them to a salon tanning bed to give your clients more options!

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Brilliance Advanced Tanning Bulbs

This next set is one of our favorites if you need a combination of full-body and body/face combo lamps for your home or professional tanning bed! The set of 16 bulbs fits most standard bi-pin tanning beds that use F71 bulbs. It comes with 12 full-body versions you can use on the bottom and sides of your bed, and 4 face/body combo bulbs you can place in the center of the front to focus more tanning power to your face! This set of bulbs gives you better coverage around your face and neck, where shadows can sometimes create uneven tanning spots. We think these are great for using in tanning salons because they provide up to 1,000 hours of power, which allows you to service more clients and make more money! You can also buy these in sets of up to 32 bulbs, so you can have a fully stocked set ready to go the moment a bulb goes out!

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Wolff GoldenBronze II Tanning Bulbs

For more advanced tanners, the GoldenBronze II bulbs from Wolff are great for getting a superior tan in a short amount of time! These are made for shorter 15-20 minute sessions and emit plenty of UVA and UVB rays for people who are already working with a solid base tan, but who want more depth of color. We like that these bulbs fit in most standard home and professional tanning beds that use 72-inch, bi-pin bulbs of just about any brand. It’s also nice that they come in sets of 6-32 bulbs, so you can buy only what you need. Replace a few bulbs as needed, or stock up your salon to keep your beds running smoothly every day! They also provide up to 1,000 hours of tanning power, so you can feel confident they will pay for themselves and more! We think these are great for tanning salons looking to upgrade to more powerful bulbs for their experienced clientele!

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Aurora Series Beach Sun Tanning Lamp

For your level 3 and up tanning clients, these bulbs from the Aurora Series are a great option for getting an even deeper tan in a shorter session time! These are made for people who already have a level 3 base tan, and are looking to amp things up a bit. They provide plenty of UVA and UVB rays to encourage melanin production and develop your tan long after you’ve left the salon. We like that these have RDC ends, and they work well with just about any standard tanning bed that uses those types of bulbs. They work for up to 1,200 hours, and each session only needs to be 11-15 minutes, so you can get the maximum profit and client turnover for your buck! We also like that you can choose sets from 12-32 bulbs, so you’re only buying the bulbs you need to replace one set of bulbs at home or stock up for your whole salon!

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SunQuest Pro 16 Tanning Bed Bulbs

Another great option for people who are looking to deepen their base tan on a budget is this 16-piece replacement bulb set from SunQuest! These SunQuest tanning bed bulbs are great for using with both home and professional tanning beds. They give a rich, deep tan with a short session each time, giving you more time to get things done during your busy day! We think they’re great for businesses because they have up to 1,000 hours of tanning life, so you can make even more money by rotating in more clients with shorter sessions! These bulbs have bi-pin ends, and they’re compatible with a variety of tanning bed brands, so you can feel confident these bulbs will fit perfectly and work consistently with whatever bed you have. Whether you want a cheaper replacement option for your salon, or you want to deepen your base tan at home, these are a great set of tanning bed bulbs to invest in!

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Midday Sun Tanning Lamps

This set of tanning lamps from the Aurora Series are from their Midday Sun collection, which is a slightly less powerful lamp than the Beach Sun lamps we reviewed earlier. They are perfect for level 2 and 3 tanners who are looking to build up their base tan before deepening it with more powerful lights, or for people who pale skin who are looking for a realistic-looking glow. These lamps work in a wide variety of RDC-end tanning beds that use 73-inch bulbs. We like that these bulbs last up to 1,200 hours of 13-17 minute sessions, making them a great investment for your personal or professional tanning beds! You can buy these in sets of 6-32 bulbs, so you can stock up on what you need without going overboard! If your skin isn’t quite ready for a deeper, darker tan just yet, these are a great set of bulbs to start your tanning journey to the tan you want!

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Wolff Velocity Tanning Lamp

Last up is another great bulb from Wolff that provides a dark tan in a short session! This tanning bulb is made specifically to give you a quick surface tan without needing to wait for it to develop over time. It emits a higher amount of UVA light, which encourages melanin production at a faster rate, giving you immediate results. The UVB light will help your tan develop a little over time, but since there is less of it being emitted, the tan you walk away with will be pretty close to how it stays. These lamps are rated for up to 1,000 tanning hours and work well for 15-20 minute sessions. We like that these bulbs work in just about any RDC-style tanning bed, and they come in sets of 6-32 bulbs, so you can buy exactly what you need! If your clients like seeing fast results set them up in a bed with these bulbs for instant gratification!

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About the Author

Kimberly Graf

Expert Researcher and Writer

Kimberly Graf is a researcher and writer for GeekWrapped.com. She covers kitchen, cooking, and home products.

Learn more about Kimberly

Article last updated on:

September 29, 2019

See more reviews:

Best Tanning Bed Bulbs

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Wolff System Dark Tan II Bulbs

Cosmetta Full Spectrum Tanning Lamps

How to Choose the Best Tanning Bed Bulb

Top 10 Products

Wolff System Dark Tan II Bulbs

Cosmetta Full Spectrum Tanning Lamps

Bronzing Sun Plus Tanning Lamp

SunMaster Rejuvenescence Bulbs

Brilliance Advanced Tanning Bulbs

Wolff GoldenBronze II Tanning Bulbs

Aurora Series Beach Sun Tanning Lamp

SunQuest Pro 16 Tanning Bed Bulbs

Midday Sun Tanning Lamps

Wolff Velocity Tanning Lamp

About the Author

TOP PICK

Wolff System Dark Tan II Bulbs