Sun Safe Clothing: What UPF Means and What to Wear

Sun safe clothing is clothing that keeps ultraviolet (UV) rays off your skin through a tight weave, a dark or bright color, a loose fit and, above all, coverage. A UPF label is the clearest guarantee, but the garments you wear every day also decide how much sun reaches you. Start with coverage, then check fabric, color and fit. At Shop Nova Online, our long-sleeve polos, collared tops, wide-leg pants and midi dresses give you the coverage that sun protection starts with, in styles you would wear to work or lunch anyway.

TL;DR

• UPF measures how much UV a fabric lets through. UPF 50 blocks about 98 percent of UV rays and lets 1/50th through.
• Weave density, color, fit and coverage matter as much as the label. A dry white T-shirt is only about UPF 7, and a wet one drops to about 3.
• Dark or bright colors, dense fabric, loose fit and long sleeves and legs protect more than thin, light, stretched or wet fabric.
• Clothing covers only what it covers. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin, plus a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Protection fades with washing and wear, so plan to replace key pieces every couple of years.

Table of Contents

• What UPF means on a clothing label
• Which fabrics and features block the most UV
• How to choose sun safe clothing: a checklist
• Fashionable sun safe outfits for everyday life
• Clothing is only part of sun protection
• How long sun safe clothing lasts
• Perspective
• Build a covered-up wardrobe at Shop Nova Online
• FAQ
• Sources

What UPF means on a clothing label

UPF stands for ultraviolet protection factor. It tells you how much UV radiation a fabric lets reach your skin. Cleveland Clinic explains that UPF 30 lets 1/30th of UV rays through, about 3.33 percent. Anything that lets through less than 2 percent is labeled UPF 50+, the highest rating. UPF 15 is the lowest.

The Skin Cancer Foundation puts it plainly: a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays and allows 2 percent to penetrate. A fabric needs a UPF of at least 50 to earn the Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation.

The UPF categories at a glance

The American Society for Testing and Materials has developed standards for making and labeling sun-protective products. UCSF Health summarizes the bands this way:

The right-hand column is simple arithmetic on the UPF number: a UPF of 20 passes 1/20th of UV, a UPF of 40 passes 1/40th. GOV.UK uses the same logic when it says a UPF 20 garment reduces the UV reaching covered skin to 1/20 of what reaches bare skin.

UPF is not SPF

SPF is the sunscreen number, and it mainly speaks to UVB. UT MD Anderson notes that UPF accounts for both UVA and UVB light, while SPF blocks only UVB unless the bottle says broad spectrum. That is why a UPF-rated fabric and a broad-spectrum sunscreen work well as a pair.

Who sets the rules in the US

In the United States, sun-protective clothing guidelines come from the AATCC 183 test method and the ASTM D6603 and D6544 standards. DermNet reports that these guidelines have not established minimum body-coverage requirements. In practice, a UPF label tells you about the fabric, not about how much of your body the garment covers. You have to check that part yourself, and it is where everyday cut and style come in.

Which fabrics and features block the most UV

UPF fabrics get their rating from three things, according to MD Anderson: the material, how tightly it is woven and sometimes how it is processed. Some garments are woven tightly enough to block rays physically. Others are dyed or soaked in solutions, such as zinc oxide, that act like a built-in sunscreen.

The Skin Cancer Foundation lists color, construction, fabric content, fit, UPF, coverage and activity as the factors that shape protection. ARPANSA, Australia’s radiation protection agency, adds fabric thickness, tension and additives such as UV cutting agents. Here is how to apply that when you shop.

Tight weave beats open weave

Hold the fabric up to a window. If you can see daylight through the gaps, UV can pass through them too. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises avoiding loose or open weaves such as lace and choosing dense fabrics. Knits stretched thin across the shoulders and open eyelet or crochet patterns let more through than a dense woven shirt or a thick wool blend.

Dark and bright colors protect more

Dark and bright dyes absorb more UV than pale ones. The Skin Cancer Foundation gives a striking comparison: a white T-shirt offers only moderate protection at a UPF of about 7, while a dark, long-sleeved denim shirt can reach a UPF of about 1,700, in essence complete protection. The AAD quotes the same pairing and advises dark or bright colors with dense fabrics.

Loose fit, not stretched fabric

When fabric stretches over the body, the gaps between threads open up. MD Anderson found that dry, dark biking shorts start at about UPF 85 before stretching but fall to about UPF 8 when worn, and to about UPF 4 when wet. A loose, relaxed cut keeps the weave closed, which is one reason a roomy collared shirt or wide-leg pant can protect better than a clingy tee.

Wet fabric loses protection

That white T-shirt falls from about UPF 7 to about UPF 3 when wet, per the Skin Cancer Foundation. MD Anderson reports that a light-colored swimsuit offers only about UPF 4 when wet. If you sweat heavily or swim, a pale lightweight top gives you far less than its dry number suggests.

Cotton, wool and everyday fabrics

Most cotton shirts give an equivalent of about UPF 5 when worn, according to Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Shilpi Khetarpal, MD. That is low, but it is a starting point you can raise. Choose a thicker, denser weave, go darker, and add length to sleeves and hems. ARPANSA notes that cotton-based fabrics often gain UV protection after the first wash as the weave tightens, then lose it gradually as they fade and wear.

How to choose sun safe clothing: a checklist

Use this order when you shop. Each step takes seconds and covers the factors above.

1. Check coverage first. Long sleeves, a collar and long pants or a midi hem protect skin that no label can. A UPF 50 sleeveless dress still leaves your arms bare.
2. Look for a UPF label. If the garment has one, aim for 30 or higher. UPF 50+ is the top rating.
3. Hold it to the light. Dense fabric that blocks the view through it is a good sign.
4. Pick a dark or bright color for the hours of strongest sun. Save pale shades for shade, evenings or layering.
5. Choose a relaxed fit. Stretching opens the weave.
6. Read the care label. If a finish creates the UPF rating, it can diminish with each wash. Cleveland Clinic says the label will typically list how many washes the rating is good for.
7. Add accessories. The AAD lists sunglasses with UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat and shoes that cover your feet as parts of a sun-protective wardrobe.

Fashionable sun safe outfits for everyday life

Sun protection no longer means a stiff fishing shirt. Baltimore dermatologist Anna Chien, MD, a member of the Skin Cancer Foundation Photobiology Committee, says newer fabrics are breathable and moisture-wicking, giving you high-UPF protection in styles that look right for lunch at an outdoor café.

The same principles apply to the clothes you already shop for. Here is how to put coverage, weave, color and fit together for different parts of your life.

For the office and commute

Young professionals spend more time in the sun than they think: the walk from the train, the patio lunch, the drive with the window down. A collared long-sleeve shirt or a long-sleeve polo with a jacquard pattern covers forearms and the back of the neck. Pair it with wide-leg pleated dress pants, whose loose cut keeps the weave from stretching over your legs.

For women, a collared wrap top with wide-leg pants gives full torso and leg coverage in a single, polished set. A long-sleeve midi dress, such as our collared midi dress with PU leather patchwork, covers arms and legs down toward the calf.

For hot, humid days

Covering up in heat is easier when the fabric breathes. Our guides to clothes for hot, humid weather and summer fabrics explain which fabrics keep you comfortable. Pair that comfort advice with the sun checklist above: choose a loose cut, a closed weave and a darker shade, then add a hat.

For casual weekends, a quick-dry polo is a good base. Moisture that dries quickly matters because wet fabric lets more UV through.

For plus-size shoppers

Fit is one of the factors that shape protection, and a relaxed, generous cut helps because the fabric is not pulled tight. Roomy two-piece sets, such as our men’s plus-size shirt and pants set, cover the torso and legs without stretching. Our plus-size summer outfit formulas show how to build cool outfits that keep more skin covered.

For families and kids

Children’s skin needs the same layers: coverage first, then color and weave, then hat and sunscreen on what is left. Choose dense, relaxed-fit tops with sleeves and add a wide-brimmed hat. Check with your child’s pediatrician if you have questions about sunscreen for babies and young children.

What to skip in strong sun

Open-weave knits, lace and see-through panels are lovely for evenings but give little sun protection. Wear them in shade, or layer them over a denser piece. Lace-trimmed sleeveless styles are best treated as night looks, or paired with a long-sleeve layer by day.

Clothing is only part of sun protection

The AAD advises seeking shade and applying a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all skin not covered by clothing. Sunglasses with UV protection, a wide-brimmed hat and shoes that cover your feet complete the set.

One reader trap deserves a direct answer. Sun-protective clothing works better than sunscreen on the skin it covers, so you do not need sunscreen under the fabric. But a sleeveless UPF 50 shift dress still leaves your arms exposed, so those arms need sunscreen or a shawl, the Skin Cancer Foundation notes. Sunscreen goes on your neck, face, hands and ears, and on any skin that peeks out between hem, cuff and collar.

If you have a history of skin cancer, take medications that make you sun-sensitive or notice a changing mole, see a dermatologist for guidance specific to you.

How long sun safe clothing lasts

Protection does not last forever. Cleveland Clinic says you can reasonably expect UPF apparel to last two or three years, though it breaks down with frequent use. DermNet puts the range at one to two years of normal wear, tear and laundry. A finish-based rating can fade with each wash, so follow the care label.

A few habits stretch the life of your clothes:

• Wash in cool water and skip harsh bleach if the care label says so.
• Air-dry when you can, to protect fibers and finishes.
• Retire pieces that look thin, faded or stretched out. You can hold them to the light to check whether the weave has opened up.

Because fabric wears and fades, a wardrobe of affordable, well-made layers is easier to refresh than a few single-purpose pieces. You can swap in a new long-sleeve polo or a fresh pair of pants each season without a big spend.

Perspective

Our view is simple: the best sun safe clothing is the clothing you will actually wear every day. A rated shirt in the closet does nothing on the days you reach for a tank top because it is hot or because the outfit does not fit your plans.

That is why we think about sun protection as coverage you build into a wardrobe. Long-sleeve polos, collared tops, relaxed wide-leg pants, midi dresses and wool blends cover skin and keep the weave closed, and they suit work, school pickups and weekends alike. Our range runs across men’s, women’s and children’s clothing in a wide range of sizes, because coverage should be available to every body, not only to one cut.

We also design our seasonal collections around comfort and fabric quality. Comfort is what keeps a long sleeve on in July. When you combine a dense fabric, a darker shade and a relaxed fit with a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen on exposed skin, you have a routine that works.

Joseph Kvarnstrom

Build a covered-up wardrobe at Shop Nova Online

If you want everyday pieces that cover more skin without looking like gear, start with our men’s clothing collection and women’s clothing collection. You will find polos, dresses, coats and jackets, sweaters and suits in a range of sizes and at competitive prices.

Browse the full range at shopnovaonline.net/collections/all and filter your cart by the checklist above: coverage, weave, color and fit.

FAQ

What does UPF clothing mean?

UPF means ultraviolet protection factor. It shows how much UV radiation a fabric lets reach your skin. UPF 50 lets about 2 percent through, which is why it is the top rating, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Which fabric is best for blocking sunlight?

Dense, tightly woven fabrics in dark or bright colors block the most. Loose or open weaves such as lace let more UV through. Fit and condition matter too, because stretched or wet fabric protects less.

What is the best shirt for sun protection?

Choose a long-sleeve shirt with a collar, a dense weave, a dark or bright color and a relaxed fit. A UPF label of 30 or higher is a plus. Pair it with a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen on the skin it does not cover.

Do I still need sunscreen if I wear UPF clothing?

Yes, on any skin the clothing does not cover. The American Academy of Dermatology advises a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed skin. Sunglasses with UV protection and a hat add more cover.

How long does sun-protective clothing last?

Cleveland Clinic suggests two to three years is a reasonable expectation, and DermNet says one to two years with normal wear and laundry. Follow the care label, because finishes can fade with each wash.

Sources

• How UV Light Protection Clothing Works, Cleveland Clinic
• Find Your Sun Protection Style, Skin Cancer Foundation
• Sun-Protective Clothing, Skin Cancer Foundation
• Protective Clothing for Skin Cancer Prevention, UCSF Health
• Ultraviolet radiation: frequently asked questions, GOV.UK
• UPF, sun protection and clothing: 7 things to know, UT MD Anderson
• Sun Protective Clothing, DermNet
• Sun protection using clothing, ARPANSA
• What to wear to protect your skin from the sun, American Academy of Dermatology

Recommended

• Hot, Humid Weather: Clothes, Outfits, and a 6.3°C Cooling Fabric
• Summer Fabrics Guide: What to Wear When It’s Hot
• Six Plus Size Summer Outfit Formulas That Keep You Cool
• Copy Six Men’s Summer Outfit Formulas to Build an 18 Piece Capsule