A high or very high UV band shortens the time before burn risk, especially near the daily peak and with reflection from water, sand, or snow.
UV can stay high under cloud cover, and altitude plus reflection can push real exposure above the displayed band.
No UV band makes tanning safe, and this is general planning guidance, not medical advice; medication and recent procedures can raise your real risk.
UV bands explained
What UV Index Is High?
On the EPA scale, UV 6-7 is high and UV 8 and above is very high to extreme, while UV 3-5 is moderate and UV 0-2 is low. So yes, UV 6 and UV 7 both count as high. From UV 3 upward WHO recommends sun protection, and from the high band on, the time before burn risk gets short enough that shade, SPF, and reapplication matter most. These are estimates, not medical advice.
UV 6-7 High band: EPA labels 6-7 as high; both UV 6 and UV 7 count.
UV 8+ Very high+: UV 8-10 is very high and 11+ is extreme on the EPA scale.
UV 3 Protect from: WHO recommends sun protection once UV reaches 3, before the high band.
Good to know before you go out
The practical safety context for this page, in plain language.
The EPA UV bands, number by number
The EPA UV Index uses fixed bands so the same number means the same risk level worldwide. TanPilot uses these bands to turn a bare number into timing and protection context, and never treats a lower band as risk-free.
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UV 0-2 (low) and 3-5 (moderate)
Low UV is generally the least demanding, but reflection and sensitive skin still need care. WHO recommends sun protection from UV 3, so the moderate band already calls for sunscreen, shade, and a hat.
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UV 6-7 (high)
This is the high band, so both UV 6 and UV 7 are high. Time before redness gets shorter; seek shade around midday, wear a hat and sunglasses, and apply broad-spectrum SPF.
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UV 8-10 (very high) and 11+ (extreme)
Burn risk rises quickly and unprotected skin can redden in a short time. Minimize midday sun, prioritize shade and clothing, and treat any tanning window as a burn-risk problem first.
What to do when UV is high
In the high band and above, shift from chasing a tan to limiting burn risk. The FDA recommends broad-spectrum SPF 15 or higher, applied generously and reapplied at least every two hours and after swimming or sweating, alongside shade, clothing, a wide-brim hat, and sunglasses. TanPilot rounds toward earlier reminders and shows your live band so a high reading prompts protection, not a longer session.
UV bands TanPilot uses
These bands anchor the advice language across timing, SPF, and burn-risk pages.
0-2
Low
3-5
Moderate
6-7
High
8-10
Very high
11+
Extreme
- 0-2 Low
- Usually lower risk for the average adult, with extra care still useful around reflection, altitude, or very sun-sensitive skin.
- 3-5 Moderate
- Protection starts to matter. WHO recommends sun protection when the UV Index is 3 or higher.
- 6-7 High
- Plan shorter exposure windows, avoid the daily peak, and use shade, clothing, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- 8-10 Very high
- Burn risk can rise quickly, especially near midday. Treat tanning time as a short, monitored exposure.
- 11+ Extreme
- Extra protection is needed. TanPilot should nudge toward shade-first planning rather than longer exposure.
Questions
Short answers for the exact search intent, without hiding the safety caveats.
Is UV 6 high?
Yes. On the EPA scale, UV 6-7 is the high band, so UV 6 is high. Time before burn risk is shorter than in the moderate band, so use shade, SPF, and protective clothing, especially near midday.
Is UV 7 high or very high?
UV 7 is the top of the high band, not yet very high. The very high band starts at UV 8. Either way, protection matters and unprotected skin can burn quickly.
What UV Index is considered dangerous?
Risk rises across the scale, but UV 8 and above is very high to extreme, where unprotected skin can redden in a short time. Even moderate UV 3-5 warrants protection, so treat no band as risk-free.
Related TanPilot pages
Move from the UV number to timing, burn-risk, skin type, and app setup.