UV Index Checker

UV index 0–2 is considered low — you can be outside without sunscreen for short periods. From UV 3 onward, daily sunscreen is recommended. UV 6+ requires SPF 50, hat, and shade during midday. UV 11+ is extreme — limit outdoor time, even briefly.

We use Open-Meteo's air-quality model, which combines satellite data, ground stations, and atmospheric simulation. Forecast accuracy is ±0.5–1 UV points for major cities. We refresh every 30 minutes from your last visit.

UV intensity depends on the sun's angle and ozone layer thickness, not air temperature. Up to 80% of UV passes through clouds. In Thailand, Australia, or high-altitude cities, UV can reach 11+ on overcast days while feeling mild.

Yes. Fair skin (Fitzpatrick I–II) burns 3–5× faster than dark skin (V–VI) at the same UV. People with fair skin need higher SPF and earlier shade. The tool adjusts recommendations based on what you select.

Every 2 hours when outdoors, or immediately after swimming, sweating, or towel-drying. SPF degrades faster in high UV — at UV 8+, reapply every 90 minutes. The tool shows precise reapply timing for your current UV level.

It's the single most actionable habit for skin cancer prevention. UV levels vary 5–10× across the year and within hours. Knowing today's UV helps you decide on SPF strength, hat use, midday shade, and outdoor scheduling — all of which compound over a lifetime to lower melanoma risk.

UV varies dramatically by latitude, altitude, and time of year. We need either your coordinates (via the browser) or a city you pick to give an accurate reading. Location stays in your browser — it is never sent to our servers.