Gyms with Tanning: The Complete 2026 Guide

Tanning is one of the most widely available gym amenities in the United States. We track 4,394 gym locations with tanning across 17 chains—making it more common than saunas, steam rooms, pools, or almost any other non-equipment amenity.

The reason is simple: tanning beds are relatively inexpensive to install and maintain, members love them, and they serve as an effective upsell for premium membership tiers. For many gym-goers, tanning access is the deciding factor between a base plan and a premium one.

Planet Fitness dominates this category. Tanning is included with their Black Card membership ($24.99/month) at most of their 2,500+ locations. They offer stand-up tanning booths, and it's one of the key perks that differentiates the Black Card from the base plan. If you want tanning at scale and on a budget, PF is the obvious choice.

Crunch Fitness offers tanning at many locations, particularly franchise clubs. It's typically bundled into their higher-tier membership plans.

Retro Fitness includes tanning as a standard amenity at most locations. Between tanning, red light therapy, and HydroMassage, Retro has built out a competitive wellness perks package.

Anytime Fitness offers tanning at a significant number of franchise locations. Given their 24/7 access model, you can often tan during off-peak hours when the gym is otherwise quiet.

Snap Fitness similarly offers tanning at select franchise locations.

Gold's Gym has tanning at many franchise locations, though availability varies by owner. Chuze Fitness, Edge Fitness, Fitness 19, Fitness Factory, Genesis Health Clubs, Onelife, Tru Fit, UFC GYM, VASA Fitness, Vim + Vigor Fitness, and Amped Fitness round out the list.

Chains without tanning include LA Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, EoS Fitness, Equinox, Blink Fitness, YouFit Gyms, and Esporta Fitness. Premium clubs like Equinox and Bay Club skip tanning entirely—it doesn't align with their wellness-forward brand positioning.

We'd be doing you a disservice if we covered gym tanning without being upfront about the health considerations. Unlike saunas or red light therapy, indoor tanning carries well-documented health risks that you should understand before stepping into a booth.

The risks are real. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that indoor tanning increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma by 58% and basal cell carcinoma by 24%. Using tanning beds before age 20 raises the risk of melanoma by 47%. The World Health Organization classifies tanning beds as carcinogenic to humans—the same classification as cigarettes. A December 2025 study published on molecular effects of indoor tanning found that tanning bed users had significantly more DNA damage in their skin cells compared to non-users.

Common myths debunked. The idea of a "base tan" protecting you from sunburn is largely a myth. Harvard Health notes that a base tan provides roughly SPF 3–4 of protection—minimal, and not worth the DNA damage that comes with it. Tanning beds also don't meaningfully boost vitamin D levels, since they emit primarily UVA radiation while your body needs UVB to synthesize vitamin D.

Mood and appearance. Many people use tanning beds because they like how they look and feel afterward. There is some evidence that UV exposure can trigger endorphin release, which may explain the mood boost. And we get it—a tan makes muscles look more defined, skin appears smoother, and for some people, it's simply part of their routine. That's a personal choice.

If you choose to tan. Start with short sessions (5–10 minutes), use the protective eyewear provided, hydrate well, and space sessions at least 48 hours apart. Never tan on already-burned skin. Consider self-tanning products as a safer alternative for the aesthetic benefits without the UV exposure.

We present the data. You make the call.

Based on our database of nearly 10,000 gym locations, here are the major chains where you'll find tanning:

Planet Fitness — The king of gym tanning. Stand-up tanning booths are available at most of their 2,500+ locations and included with the Black Card membership. This is the easiest and cheapest way to access gym tanning in the US.

Crunch Fitness — Tanning beds are available at many Crunch locations, typically included in premium membership tiers. Franchise locations may vary.

Retro Fitness — Tanning is a standard amenity at most Retro locations, alongside their growing recovery suite (red light therapy, HydroMassage).

Anytime Fitness — A significant number of Anytime Fitness franchise locations include tanning. Since each location is independently owned, equipment type and availability differ. Call ahead.

Snap Fitness — Similar franchise model to Anytime—tanning is available at select locations.

Gold's Gym — Many Gold's franchise locations offer tanning beds. Availability depends on the franchise owner.

Genesis Health Clubs — Tanning is available across their footprint in the Midwest.

Edge Fitness — Most Edge Fitness locations include tanning as a premium membership perk.

We also track tanning at Amped Fitness, Chuze Fitness, Fitness 19, Fitness Factory, Onelife, Tru Fit, UFC GYM, VASA Fitness, and Vim + Vigor Fitness.

Several major chains don't offer tanning at any of their locations:

LA Fitness / Esporta Fitness — No tanning beds at any locations across either brand.

24 Hour Fitness — Focused on fitness equipment and group classes rather than cosmetic amenities.

EoS Fitness — Despite their aggressive amenity loading (saunas, steam rooms, pools, hot tubs), EoS doesn't include tanning.

Equinox / Bay Club — Premium brands that lean into wellness and recovery, but not UV tanning.

Blink Fitness — Budget format with no tanning.

YouFit Gyms — No tanning offerings.

If tanning is a must-have, Planet Fitness Black Card offers the best combination of price, availability, and convenience. Retro Fitness and Crunch are strong alternatives with broader amenity suites.

Enter your ZIP code in our search tool above and we'll show you every gym within 10 miles that has tanning.

A few things to keep in mind:

Check the equipment type. Gyms offer different tanning setups—stand-up booths (like Planet Fitness), lay-down beds, or high-pressure units. If you have a preference, ask before committing.

Verify the membership tier. Tanning is almost always a premium-tier perk. At Planet Fitness, it requires the Black Card. At Crunch and others, it may be bundled into a higher monthly plan. Understand the full cost.

Follow safety guidelines. Always use the protective eyewear provided. Start with short sessions (5–10 minutes) and never exceed the recommended time for the bed type. Space sessions at least 48 hours apart. Don't tan on sunburned skin.

Consider alternatives. If you want the aesthetic benefits of a tan without UV exposure, self-tanning products and spray tans are safer options. Many dermatologists recommend these as the best way to achieve a bronzed look without the associated cancer risk.

How many gyms have tanning?

We currently track 4,394 gym locations with tanning across 17 chains in the United States.

Is gym tanning included in my membership?

Usually not in the base plan. At most chains, tanning is a premium-tier perk. Planet Fitness requires the Black Card ($24.99/month). Other chains bundle it into upgraded memberships or charge per session.

How often can I use the tanning bed at the gym?

Most gyms allow one session per day with a recommended minimum of 48 hours between sessions. Planet Fitness Black Card includes unlimited tanning sessions, though responsible spacing is recommended.

Is gym tanning safe?

All indoor tanning carries health risks, including increased risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging. The World Health Organization classifies tanning beds as carcinogenic. If you choose to use them, follow all safety guidelines, wear eye protection, and limit session frequency.

What's the difference between tanning and red light therapy?

Tanning beds emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation that darkens skin but carries cancer risk. Red light therapy uses non-UV wavelengths (630–850nm) that stimulate cellular activity without tanning or burning skin. They're completely different technologies with different risk profiles.

Are spray tans available at gyms?

Generally no. Most gym tanning is UV-based (beds or booths). For spray tanning, you'd need to visit a dedicated tanning salon or spa.

Gym amenity data sourced from gymstracker.com's proprietary database of nearly 10,000 gym locations across 40+ chains. Health information referenced from the American Academy of Dermatology, the Skin Cancer Foundation, Harvard Health, and the World Health Organization. Amenity data is verified through official gym websites, direct outreach, and member reports. Last updated April 2026.