Tanning Bed Bulbs: A Full Buying Guide

Tanning beds need several bulbs (also known as lights or lamps) to function. Some require a dizzying array of 50 bulbs, while others burn out fast.

As such, it’s fair to claim that the quality of bulbs on your tanning beds affects your entire tanning experience!

So, how do you choose the finest tanning bed replacement lights?

How can you adjust the lighting in your tanning bed, whether it’s a lie-down or a stand-up bed?

This review will show you tips on maintaining your tanning bed lights bright, the various types of lamps, and which lights we recommend for shipping to your home.

7 Best Tanning Bed Bulbs

Finding the best set of tanning bulbs is usually tricky.

You need to make sure that the bulbs last long and will not harm your skin.

To help you decide on the best tanning bed light bulbs on the market, check out our top 7 recommendations!

1. Wolff Dark Tan II – Editor’s Choice

The Wolff Dark Tan II is NOT your typical lamp. These bulbs are little suns designed just for your bronzing beauty needs.

Let’s look at why tanning salons favor Wolff Dark Tan II tanning bed light bulbs over others.

Features

The Wolff Dark Tan has a power of 100 watts yet uses less energy than rivals with the same wattage.

This is most likely due to the reduced amount of materials used in its production.

It is also lightweight, compact, and shaped like a fluorescent tube. The tube is universal in size and is specifically intended for the 16rs beds.

The most attractive feature of this award-winning bulb is its long lifespan. It is claimed that the Wolff Dark Tan II may be used for 1000 HOURS while remaining reasonably priced.

If you’re looking for an excellent tanning bulb, this one could be a good buy!

2. Wolff Bronzing Sun Plus – Top Bronzing Tanning Light Bulb

The Wolff System is a well-known brand that offers the BEST TANS without being too hot on the skin.

Most tanning salon owners also favor these bulbs because they are health-safe and energy-efficient.

So, what sets the Wolff Bronzing Sun apart from the competition?

Features

Some cheap tanning bed bulbs get too hot quickly, posing health risks to users such as sunburn, abnormal skin sensitivity to UV rays, etc.

Fortunately, the Wolff Bronzing Sun is a health-safe product that gives you a snatched tan without causing damage to your body!

It also won’t break the bank because it operates on a 100 wattage, which can help you save a large amount of money on your power bills.

If your house gets cold, you may even use it as a heater!

You won’t have to worry about this product if you’re new to installing tanning bed bulbs because it features a simple installation system.

It would take LESS THAN 15 MINUTES to set this up in your tanning salon!

However, if you’re not a handyman, hiring a professional electrical technician is not a bad idea to perform the installation.

The main disadvantage is that it does not last as long as other tanning bulbs. However, you may use it for up to 800 hours, which is still a terrific deal.

3. Brilliance Bronzer F73 – Best Value Choice

Because of its long-lasting tanning effects (with no burns) and relatively inexpensive price, the Brilliance Bronzer is a smart investment in 2022.

These tanning bulbs also release non-harmful UV light, making them safe for your skin.

Check out these features if you’re thinking about purchasing this item!

Features

Brilliance is a good tanning bulb ideal for folks who are just starting with changing tanning bed lights.

It is simple to install and has a life expectancy of 1000 hours, so you do not need to replace them right away.

You may achieve the tan of your dreams and enhance your tanning experience for an extended period.

And unlike cheap tanning bed bulbs that contain harmful UVB rays, the UV rays emitted by this product are SAFE when exposed to human skin.

However, compared with other tanning bed bulbs, you may wait for some time for this lamp to tan your body.

4. Wolff Diamond Sun Tanning Bulbs

The Wolff Diamond sun tanning lamp may not be everyone’s cup of tea compared to most tanning bulbs.

However, if you’re searching for an amazing product to gain a snatched tan and are prepared to spend a few bucks, why not give this one a shot?

Features

Wolff Diamond Sun tanning bulbs offer a 100-wattage power rating perfect for high-maintenance sun beds.

Compared to most tanning bulbs, which have a life expectancy of 1000 hours, these lights can only go for 800 hours. 

As such, you may find yourself replacing them more often than other lights.

This weakness, however, is easily compensated for by its durability. Its intensity is precisely right, and it doesn’t grow too hot straight away!

People who even swear by this product say that after a lengthy period of operation, it doesn’t overheat. 

In fact, some folks use them as home lights, too!

5. X Power Twister Tanning Lamp

Cheap tanning bed bulbs are nothing compared to the X Power Twister.

It’s known for its stunning visuals and its unique functions.

We recommend trying these high-quality tanning lamps to get your desired results for beauty enthusiasts in search of perfection.

Features

As the name itself suggests, the X Power Twister lamp comes in the shape of a fluorescent twister tube.

The shape doesn’t help with how the bulb operates, but it is visually appealing. You also get the optimal wattage of 100 to give UV light a seamless combination.

Once it reaches your doorstep, you can rely on its life expectancy of more than 1000 hours.

6. Sperti Salon Quality Fiji Sun Home Tanning Lamp

This Sperti tanning bed light is one of the most significant investments you can immediately ship to your bronzing salon.

What makes it stand out from the tanning bulbs business? Let’s find out!

Features

This is one of a kind in the tanning business because it has an auto-off mechanism for tanning control. You don’t need to wait for the timer to remind you about your tanning time.

After 15 minutes, Sperti will turn off the tanning bed! Any worries about future skin burns and excessive tanning bed heat are out of your hair!

The manufacturer of this tanning lamp also made sure that there is a customizable angle option. You can pick categories on which part of your body should be bronzed!

If its features sound too complicated for you, there’s no need to panic. These tanning bulbs are intuitive and easy to use!

The best thing about these lights is that once you ship this to your home, you can expect that everything you need to set up the lamps is already included in the package.

7. Midday Sun High-Quality Tanning Lamps

The Midday tanning lights are simple to install and are effective at replacing tanning lamps.

They are also known to be great lamps that deliver high performance!

However, if you think it’s easy to get your hands on this replacement bulb, you are entirely mistaken.

Because it lasts a long time, it’s a highly requested tanning bed bulb for enthusiasts. So if you get this hot item, you’re a lucky duck!

The tanning sessions using Midday are brief. It only lasts for 15 to 20 minutes, and you’ll have the perfect tan you want!

This light lamp can also go on working for 12000 hours. You might even think this tanning light has existed for a lifetime because it can endure extended periods of tanning sessions.

You’ll also like that the tool sockets of these bulbs work well with many tanning beds such as Sun Quest, Wolff, and others.

If you’re also short on cash but still need those rays and lights to meet your bronzing needs, the Midday tanning lamp is economical and only needs 100 wattage of power to operate.

What Are the Different Types of Tanning Bed Bulbs?

Different types of bulbs give out a different tanning experience.

So, which one’s for you?

Check out the various types of tanning lamps and our tips on which one’s your perfect match.

1. Regular or Bronzing Bulbs as Tanning Bed Replacement Lights

With UVA and UVB radiation intensity, it’s unavoidable to face the negative cost of tanning bed bulbs.

This includes darkening the skin or irritation due to the hot rays.

That’s why it’s necessary to know whether the bulb you are shipping to your home is an ordinary or bronzing one.

• Ordinary tanning bulbs use 95 percent of UVA rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin, thus stimulating the development of bronze melanin.
• As for the UVB rays, it uses 5 percent only. UVB rays damage the top layer of your skin, which causes it to become pink/red (burn).

We suggest trying out the ordinary tanning bulbs on your table if you’re still a rookie to tanning or if you have fair skin.

But be careful when using it because bulbs like these can cause a burn!

Bronzing bulbs use a higher percentage of UVA rays than ordinary ones. They range from 98 percent or higher.

As for the UVB rays, it only uses 2 percent or less.

You can expect a quick tan with these bulbs, and they can also increase the depth of the base tan. However, we suggest trying this one if you’re already an expert.

2. Face, Body, or Combination Bulbs

Not all parts of the body tan at the same rate.

For example, our face and arms get brown faster because they have greater sun exposure than our belly and legs.

We recommend getting some tanning bed replacement lights that cater to the part of your body that you want to focus on.

For instance, face or arm tanning bulbs use more significant UV radiation to achieve an even tan from head to toe.

Depending on the size of your tanning bed and how many bulbs it can accommodate, you can place “face” bulbs in the center, “arm” bulbs on the sides, or both in the same tanning bed.

When Should You Replace Tanning Bed Bulbs?

When a tanning bed bulb burns out, the instinct is to replace it.

After all, waiting for so long to replace them can affect your tanning results and can even cost uneven coloration on your skin.

Tanning bed lamps usually have a lifespan of 1,000 hours or more.

Although some tan bulbs can light up for that long time, they will no longer be as effective as they were after 50 hours of use. It will take longer and longer to achieve the same results.

Most tanning lamps lose enough efficacy after 500 to 800 hours of usage, which is already a signal for their replacement.

It’s critical to change all bulbs at once to avoid uneven lighting and, consequently, uneven tans!

How to Replace Tanning Bed Bulbs

Changing the tanning bulbs in your tanning beds can be done on your own—no technician required!

You just need to do a little research and follow our tips on how to replace bulbs.

1. Remove the Faulty Light Bulb

Remove the defective light bulb first by detaching the grill and any attached components. To do this:

• Locate the four screws along the top of the end cap’s ridge.
• Carefully unscrew them
• Remove the metal grid from the bed and slide it out.

Afterward, slowly remove the bulb by:

• Turning the bulb one-quarter turn
• Slowly detaching the bulb from the socket

2. Replace the New Bulb

After successfully removing the light, you need to replace it with a new bulb. But, before doing so, make sure that:

• The old and new bulbs are of the same type and wattage.
• The same bulb type was used as a replacement (if possible)

Utilizing a different kind of bulb can sometimes void the warranty. So make sure to read the instructions upon purchase. To replace the bulbs:

• Insert the bulb’s pins into the bulb holder’s slots.
• Turn it over a quarter.
• Slowly secure the bulb from both ends.
• Replace the end cap and grill.

Final Thoughts

A piece of advice before you go to the nearest market and choose; always replace the old tanning bulbs with new and safe ones.

Also, remember that tanning lights are fragile, so you must be extremely careful when handling them.

Otherwise, it could cause some serious injury or, worse, cause life-threatening accidents.

Finally, we hope we were able to help you choose the finest tanning bed bulbs for yourself!

Happy tanning!

FINAL TIP: Of course, you must protect your eyes from the harmful rays of tanning light bulbs. Find yourself a nice pair of tanning goggles here!