Officially it's the top of 'very high', 'extreme' starts at 11. The practical difference is minutes. Australian summer forecasts flip between 10 and 12 depending on cloud and ozone; treat them identically.

How quickly will I burn at UV 10?

Estimated unprotected time to first redness at UV 10: about 13 minutes for type I, 17 for type II, 23 for type III, 30 for type IV, 40 for type V and just over an hour for type VI. These are estimates for standard conditions, reflection off water, sand or snow shortens all of them.

How long can you stay in the sun at UV 10?

UV 10 · Very high

UV 10 is the top of 'very high', one step from extreme. Very fair skin has about 13 minutes here; fair skin under 17. For context: a single school lunchtime spent in full sun at UV 10 is more than enough to burn half the playground.

Burn times at UV 10, by skin type

Estimated from typical minimal erythemal doses. Reflection off sand, water or snow shortens all times. SPF 50 times assume proper application and are capped at 4 hours, reapply every 2. Educational only.
Skin type	Sun reaction	Unprotected at UV 10	With SPF 50+
I: Very fair	Always burns, never tans	13 min	4 h+
II: Fair	Burns easily, tans minimally	17 min	4 h+
III: Light to medium	Sometimes burns, tans gradually	23 min	4 h+
IV: Olive to tan	Rarely burns, tans easily	30 min	4 h+
V: Brown	Very rarely burns, tans deeply	40 min	4 h+
VI: Deep brown to black	Almost never burns	1 h 7 min	4 h+

When and where UV 10 happens in Australia

UV 10 peaks are everyday summer readings for every mainland capital. Sydney, Perth and Adelaide sit at 10 or higher at midday through most of December and January; Melbourne joins them on clear high-summer days; Brisbane spends roughly half the year peaking at 10 or above. Cairns, Townsville and Darwin see UV 10 as a mild day. Alpine snowfields add reflection on top, spring skiing under UV 10 with snow bouncing most of it back up is a double dose.

What protection looks like at this level

Plan the day around the sun, not the other way round: outdoor exercise early or late, errands in the shade, the beach before 10 or after 4 in high summer. When you are out in the middle of the day, clothing and shade do the heavy lifting and sunscreen covers what's left. No sunscreen, however good, makes prolonged midday exposure at UV 10 sensible for fair skin.

Frequently asked questions

Is UV 10 extreme?: Officially it's the top of 'very high', 'extreme' starts at 11. The practical difference is minutes. Australian summer forecasts flip between 10 and 12 depending on cloud and ozone; treat them identically.
How quickly will I burn at UV 10?: Estimated unprotected time to first redness at UV 10: about 13 minutes for type I, 17 for type II, 23 for type III, 30 for type IV, 40 for type V and just over an hour for type VI. These are estimates for standard conditions, reflection off water, sand or snow shortens all of them.

Keep reading

What does UV 10 mean for your skin?

A photo estimates your skin type; the live UV where you stand turns it into your personal burn time.

Check my burn time