Tip 15% to 20% on a spray tan, the same range you would leave for a haircut or a wax. On a typical $40 airbrush tan that is about $6 to $8. It is a small line item per visit, but it is a real one - and it is the cost most spray-tan-versus-self-tanner comparisons quietly leave out.
How much to tip by tan type
- Custom airbrush (a person sprays you): 15-20%. This is hands-on skilled work, so tip like any personal service. On a $40-$60 tan, that is roughly $6-$12.
- Mobile or at-home artist: lean to 20%+. They haul equipment to you and often work solo, so the higher end (plus a few dollars for travel) is the norm.
- Automated booth (a machine sprays you): no tip expected. No individual performed the service, so most people tip nothing here.
Why the tip belongs in your cost comparison
A $40 tan is not really a $40 tan. Add a $7 tip and you are at $47 before you have paid for parking or a barrier product. Over a year that gratuity compounds fast: at twice a month, a $7 tip alone adds about $168 to your annual spend - more than the entire yearly cost of most self-tanner routines. That is exactly why the spray tan vs self-tanner cost calculator includes a tip percentage field: leave it out and the salon column looks cheaper than it is.
Self-tanner has no tip line at all. A quality mousse runs around $4 an application with zero gratuity, no booking, and no awkward “did I leave enough?” math. If you are weighing the switch primarily on price, the tip is a permanent tax on the salon side of the ledger. See how the per-year numbers stack up in how much a spray tan costs per year.
The bottom line
Budget 15-20% on top of any hands-on spray tan, skip it for the booth, and always fold that gratuity into your real per-tan cost before deciding whether the salon habit is worth keeping. For a fuller look at the hidden recurring costs of staying groomed, the real annual cost of looking put together guide adds up the tips, upkeep, and add-ons that never make it onto the menu price.