Economic Analysis Shows Wide Range in Annual Sunscreen Expenses
Key Takeaways
Annual sunscreen costs at recommended application amounts varied 36-fold in 2025 retail pricing, ranging from $39.28 to $1,429.42 depending on unit price and clothing coverage.
Unit price among similar SPF formulations differed by up to 17.5-fold, translating to per-application costs of $0.04 to $3.79.
A single beach week with twice-daily application was estimated to cost $6.57 to $135.82 based on product price and extent of exposed skin.
A new 2025 economic evaluation of annual sunscreen costs found wide variation depending on unit pricing and clothing coverage.
Investigators conducted the analysis from July through August 2025, modeling the cost of sunscreen application at recommended amounts using 2025 online retail prices and varying assumptions about clothing coverage and concurrent sun-protective behaviors.
Among three sunscreens with similar active ingredients and sun protection factor ratings, unit price varied by as much as 17.5-fold (per-application cost: $0.04 to $3.79 depending product and size of area of exposed skin).
Projected annual costs ranged from $39.28 to $1,429.42 based on unit price and use of additional sun-protective strategies (wearing more covering and clothing). For a single week at the beach, the estimated cost of twice-daily application ranged from $6.57 to $135.82 depending both the sunscreen's unite price, and on whether an individual wore shorts or a bikini.
“Cost of sunscreen use at recommended amounts varies substantially depending on unit price and concurrent sun-protective strategies,” the authors wrote. “Encouraging the use of lower-priced sunscreens and additional sun-protective behaviors may reduce financial barriers and facilitate adherence.”
Source: Mundada M, et al. JAMA Dermatology. 2026. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.6150