How Much to Charge for a Mobile Spray Tan
Price a mobile spray tan above your studio rate — commonly $45–$80 for a single session depending on solution tier — then add a travel fee on its own line to cover the drive and setup. Bill bridal and group bookings per person off one travel fee, sell packages and memberships for repeat clients, and charge a stated premium on prom and wedding weekends. ShowTheReceipts saves your session and travel lines so every booking prices the same way twice.
Start above your studio rate
Mobile is a premium service. The client is paying for convenience — no drive, no waiting room, tanned in their own bathroom or garage. Your mobile session rate should sit above what the same tan costs in a studio, before travel is even added.
The travel fee is a line, not a secret
The mistake that kills mobile margins is folding travel into the tan price. Keep them separate:
- Session — solution tier (classic, rapid, organic) at your mobile rate
- Travel fee — flat within a radius, by distance beyond
- Add-ons — contouring, competition prep, extender products, each on its own line
A visible travel line is normal. A quietly inflated session price is what makes clients compare you to the studio down the road.
Price the drive and the season, not just the tan
| Situation | How to price it |
|---|---|
| In-zone single session | Session rate + flat travel |
| Out-of-zone | Session rate + distance-based travel |
| Bridal / group | Per person + one travel fee for the trip, minimum headcount |
| Peak weekend (prom, wedding season) | Base rate + stated premium |
| Package / membership | Discounted per-session rate, travel still applies |
Groups are the real margin
One drive, one tent setup, eight bridesmaids — the per-person group rate is often the most profitable line in mobile spray tanning. Set a minimum headcount and take a deposit from the organizer so the booking is real.
What not to do
- Don’t match your studio price for a service that costs you a drive
- Don’t hide the travel fee inside the session rate
- Don’t charge travel per person on a group booking — charge it once
- Don’t discount peak-weekend slots that are one-time inventory
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for a mobile spray tan?
More than a studio visit — you're bringing the tent and solution to them. A single mobile session commonly runs $45–$80 depending on solution tier (classic, rapid, or organic), before the travel fee is added. Start from your studio rate and build up, not down.
How do I price the travel fee?
Flat within a set radius, by distance beyond it. Put it on the invoice as its own line so the client sees the tan price and the travel cost separately — a visible travel fee reads as normal; a padded session rate reads as expensive and gets shopped around.
How do I price bridal parties and groups?
Per person, with a stated minimum headcount and one travel fee for the trip rather than one per person. A bridal party of six to ten is the most profitable booking in this trade — one drive and one tent setup covers everyone.
Should I charge more on prom or wedding weekends?
Yes — a stated peak-weekend premium. Those slots are one-time inventory that can't be refilled if lost to a no-show, and the clients booking them are usually the least price-sensitive customers you'll see all season.