Last Updated on April 24, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Hands up if you never apply sunscreen under your clothes. “What’s the point?,” I hear you ask. “The sun can’t get through your clothes, right?” Wrong. Those cute sundresses you’re living in during the summer months are no match for UV rays. They get right through them. But, not all clothes are created equal. Some do provide adequate sun protection – even sans sunscreen. Others need a helping hand to keep you safe from UV harm. It’s easier than you think. Here’s how to make your clothes sun safe:
What Is UPF?
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It’s basically the SPF for clothing. It describes how many UV rays can get through their threads and reach your skin. According to the ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection And Nuclear Safety Agency), here’s how different levels of UPF protect your skin from UV harm.
| UPF RATING | PROTECTION CATEGORY | % UV RAYS BLOCKED |
|---|---|---|
| 15, 20 | Good | 93.3 – 95.9 |
| 25, 30, 35 | Very good | 96.0 – 97.4 |
| 40, 45, 50, 50+ | Excellent | 97.5> |
PRO TIP: For maximum protection, look for fabrics with an UPF of at least 30.
Related: Take A Number: What Level Of SPF Do You Really Need?
How Is UPF Different From SPF?
UPF may be the SPF for clothing, but they don’t exactly work in the same way. For starters, they measure different things. UPF tells you the amount of UV rays that penetrates through your clothes and hits your skin. SPF tells you how many more UV rays you can receive before you get a sunburn.
If you burn after 20 minutes in the sun, SPF 15 will protect your skin 15 times longer. That’s in a lab. In real life, things are a little different. For example, you’ll probably rub or sweat off your sunscreen within a couple of hours. Sunscreen can’t protect you 15 times longer if it’s not on your skin. The other main difference? UPF measures protection from both UVA and UVB rays. SPF only from UVB rays.
Related: What’s The Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays?
How effective is your sunscreen? Sign up to the newsletter below to receive the “Sunscreen Audit” Worksheet and find out if your sunscreen is really up to the job:
What Clothes Provide Adequate Sun Protection?
That cute white crop top may look amazing in summer, but don’t fool yourself it’ll protect you from UV harm. For reference, an average white t-shirt has a UPF of only 5! What should you wear instead? Turns out, the clothes that provide the best sun protection are usually the ones you don’t want to wear in the heat of summer… Typical, isn’t it? Here’s what makes clothes sun safe:
- Colour: Dark and bright colours absorb more UV rays, keeping them from reaching your skin. Choose black over white or bright red over a pastel pink.
- Thickness: Tightly woven fabrics like denim or wool provide more protection that sheer or loosely woven fabrics. If you can see through a piece of clothing when you hold it up to the light, it won’t provide adequate sun protection.
- Fit: Tight clothes can stretch overtime, reducing the level of protection they provide. Opt for loose clothing when possible.
- Coverage: The more skin your clothes cover, the better. No explanation necessary.
- Composition: Shiny fabrics deflect more UV rays than matte fabrics. Unbleached cotton contains natural lignins that absorb UV rays. Fabrics treated with UV absorbers or dyes provide some sun protection, too.
WARNING! It doesn’t matter how high the UPF of your clothes is, if they get wet or stretch too much, they’ll become useless.
How To Make Your Clothes Sun Safe
I know what you’re thinking: “Gio, I don’t want to spend my summer in thick black clothes that make me sweat like a pig. I want to rock my thin sundresses and white, flowing skirts.” Good news: you can. Here’s how to make ALL clothes sun safe:
1. Wear UPF Protective Clothing
The easiest way to make your clothes sun safe? Buy clothes that come with their own in-built UPF. Look for pieces that have a UPF of 30 and higher. Unfortunately, most brands that make UPF protective clothing care more about effectiveness than style. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to look dowdy ever. Not even to avoid sun damage. I like Coolibar and Solbari. Their clothes have a SPF 50+ and are more fashionable than their competitors. The best part? You don’t have to reapply sunscreen (on the covered areas, that is).
Related: Do You Really Need To Reapply Sunscreen Every 2 Hours?
2. Wash Your Regular Clothes With Sun Guard®
If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to buy a whole new summer wardrobe. Especially if you don’t dig the style of UPF clothing… What if I told you there’s a way to add sun protection to your regular, every day clothes? Enter Sun Guard®. It’s a laundry aid with UV filter Tinosorb® FD that adds sun protection in your clothes as you wash them. Studies show that “a single treatment of Rit Sun Guard sustains a UPF of 30 for approximately 20 launderings.” Impressive, isn’t it?
3. Apply Sunscreen All Over Your Body
If you can’t be bothered with UPF clothing and just want to wear what you want when you want (*raises hand*), simply apply your sunscreen all over your body before getting dressed. It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing a long, flowy skirt or a long-sleeved top, apply sunscreen underneath to be on the safe side. Sure, reapplication is a little tricky, but even just one generous application in the morning is better than no sunscreen at all.
Best Picks:
- EltaMD UV Pure Broad-Spectrum SPF 47 ($43.00): A gentle, water-resistant mineral sunscreen the whole family can use. Available at Dermstore and Walmart
- La Roche Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 60 ($20.99): A oil-free, matter sunscreen best suitable for oily skin. Available at Dermstore and Ulta
- Paula’s Choice Super-Light Wrinkle Defense SPF 30 ($39.00): My fave mineral sunscreen. It’s tinted and super lightweight. Available at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, and Paula’s Choice
Related: Are You Applying Sunscreen The Right Way?
FAQs
How do I know if my clothes are sun-safe?
The most reliable way is to check whether they carry a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating. A UPF of 30 means only 1/30th of UV radiation reaches your skin, while UPF 50 allows just 2% through. If your clothes aren’t UPF-rated, look at the fabric. Tightly woven, darker, thicker fabrics generally block more UV than lightweight, pale, or sheer materials. Synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon often provide stronger protection than lightweight cotton or linen. A simple rule: if you can easily see light through the fabric, UV can penetrate more easily too. Wetness and stretching also reduce protection significantly, especially in cotton fabrics.
Do I really need sunscreen under all clothes or only certain fabrics?
You don’t strictly need sunscreen under all clothes, especially in winter. But when in doubt, especially in the summer, do apply. It’s a must under clothes that are thin, loosely woven, light-colored, stretched tight, or likely to get wet. These fabrics can allow a substantial amount of UV rays to pass through. For example, a lightweight white cotton T-shirt may have a UPF as low as 5, meaning about 20% of UV rays still reach the skin. In contrast, thick, tightly woven, dark-colored fabrics provide much stronger protection and usually reduce the need for sunscreen underneath. The need depends on the garment, not simply whether the skin is covered.
Does sunscreen under clothing still need reapplication?
Usually less often than sunscreen on exposed skin. Covered areas receive less direct UV exposure, so sunscreen underneath clothing is not breaking down at the same rate. If the clothing stays on, remains dry, and does not shift much, one thorough morning application is often sufficient for routine daily wear. Reapplication becomes more important if you are sweating heavily, changing outfits, exposing the area later, or wearing fabrics that rub against the skin and remove product. The key factor is whether the sunscreen remains in place and whether the skin becomes exposed over time.
How much UV actually gets through regular clothing?
It varies widely depending on the fabric. Regular clothing can range from UPF 5 to over UPF 100. A white cotton T-shirt often tests between UPF 5 and 7, meaning 14-20% of UV radiation can still pass through. Lightweight linen and sheer fabrics can perform similarly or worse. Polyester blends and tightly woven synthetics often reach UPF 15-50, while dense fabrics like denim may exceed UPF 100. Wet or stretched clothing provides less protection than when dry and relaxed. This means two garments that look similar can differ dramatically in how much UV they allow through.
The Bottom Line
Most clothes don’t provide adequate sun protection. Unless you’re willing to invest in clothes with a UPF of 30 or higher or have access to Sun Guard®, you need to apply sunscreen all over your body.