Estimate UV exposure risk, approximate sunburn time, sunscreen-adjusted time, and sun protection guidance from UV index, skin type, SPF, cloud cover, altitude, reflection, and planned exposure time.
UV index:
Enter the forecast or observed UV index for the time and location.
Skin sensitivity:
Select a general skin sensitivity level to estimate how quickly sunburn may begin.
SPF and effectiveness:
Enter sunscreen SPF and an effectiveness percentage to create a more realistic protection estimate.
Environment factors:
Cloud cover, altitude, and reflective surfaces adjust the UV exposure estimate.
A UV index calculator is useful for outdoor work, beach days, sports, hiking, gardening, travel, pool time, snow activities, and estimating sun protection needs before spending time outside.
This calculator gives a rough estimate only. Actual sunburn risk varies by skin, medications, time of day, latitude, altitude, cloud type, shade, sweating, swimming, and sunscreen application.
Your result estimates UV risk after adjusting for clouds, altitude, and reflection. It also estimates an approximate unprotected burn time and a sunscreen-adjusted time based on SPF and sunscreen effectiveness.
A UV index of 6 to 7 is considered high. UV index 8 to 10 is very high, and 11 or more is extreme.
This calculator uses a simple skin sensitivity baseline and divides it by the adjusted UV index to estimate unprotected burn time.
No. Clouds may reduce UV exposure, but UV can still pass through clouds and cause sunburn.
No. Real protection depends on correct application, amount used, sweating, swimming, reapplication, and skin sensitivity.