Effective UV protection requires a quality sunscreen and depends on the clothing you wear. However, not all garments offer the same level of protection. Which clothes should you choose to protect against the sun? Read our recommendations below.
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T-shirt, swimsuit, sweatshirt: how to choose clothing for UV protection?
Summary
- UV-protective clothing: allies for sun protection
- Which parameters influence the sun protection of clothing?
- Sources
Published June 25, 2025,
updated on June 25, 2025,
by
Pauline, Chemical Engineer
—
6 min read
UV-protective clothing: allies for sun protection.
When considering sun protection, sunscreens are the first options mentioned. However, they cover only one aspect of effective protection. Ultraviolet-blocking garments provide a direct physical barrier against solar radiation and represent a favored approach. They are useful when sun exposure is intense or prolonged. For example, during a summer bike ride or a mountain hike, UV intensity rises by about 10% per 1,000 meters of elevation. Wearing clothing designed to filter solar rays is beneficial for covering body areas that are hard to protect with sunscreen, such as the upper back and shoulders.
A UV-blocking garment is a textile whose structure, composition, or treatments block a portion of ultraviolet rays before they reach the skin.
The performance of these garments is expressed by the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), a textile equivalent of SPF (Sun Protection Factor) used for sunscreens. To qualify for an anti-UV rating under the AS/NZS 4399 standard, a garment must have a UPF rating of at least 15, but some exceed 50. Certain designs retain their protection after many washes, ensuring consistent performance over multiple summers.
| UPF index from 0 to 15 | UPF rating from 15 to 24 | UPF rating of 25 to 39 | UPF rating of 40 and above |
|---|---|---|---|
| The garment does not offer UV protection. | The garment provides moderate protection and filters 93% to 95% of UV radiation. | The garment provides effective protection and filters 96% to 97.4% of UV rays. | The garment offers high protection and filters 97%–98% of UV rays. |
Protection levels guaranteed by UPF ratings.
Good to know : UPF accounts for UVB and UVA rays, while SPF only measures erythemal UV (85% UVB and 15% UVA-II).
Certain populations at greater risk during sun exposure benefit from UV-protective clothing. The babies and young children, whose skin is delicate and who must avoid any direct sun exposure, people with fair skin, those with photosensitizing conditions, or with a history or predisposition to cancer have an increased need for sun protection.
Schematic representation of UV rays passing through (a) unprotected skin and (b) skin protected by UV-protective clothing.
Source: Butola B. S. et al. UV Protective Clothing. Advanced Functional Textiles and Polymers (2019).
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Which parameters influence the sun protection of clothing?
Not all clothing offers the same sun protection. When a garment carries a UV-protective label and states its UPF, its ability to shield skin from sunlight is easy to gauge. The same does not apply to everyday clothes that, while not labeled UV-protective, can still help block solar rays. Before concluding that your wardrobe provides no sun protection, consider the following.
Weave density.
A fabric protects through its structure: the tighter the weave, the less UV can pass through. Conversely, a lightweight garment with a loose knit, such as some summer shirts in fine cotton, lets UV pass. A simple test is to hold the fabric up to light. If you can see through it, UV will pass through. Textiles such as polyester, wool, denim, and some heavy cotton weaves provide better protection. For example, dark blue jeans can reach a UPF above 50 to protect skin. A white t-shirt in fine cotton has a UPF of only 7 to 10.
The color of the garment.
A fabric’s ability to shield skin from UV rays depends on its color. Dark shades absorb more UV rays than light shades such as white or yellow. If you expect extended sun exposure, choose a black T-shirt rather than a white one.
The composition of tissue.
The fibers used and treatments applied directly alter garments’ UV performance. For example, unbleached cotton contains lignins, molecules that absorb some UV. Satin silks reflect part of the sun’s rays. Finally, when the fabrics are treated in factories with UV absorbers, often optical agents, they gain sun protection.
Moisture and garment wear.
Even protective fabric can lose effectiveness under certain conditions. When wet, garments transmit more light. For example, a white T-shirt rated UPF 7 drops to UPF 3 when wet. Natural wear from fabric loosening over time and washes also reduces UPF. When a garment is stretched, its fibers spread slightly and create gaps invisible to the naked eye but permeable to UV rays form.
Sources
DIFFEY B. L. Sun protection with clothing. British Journal of Dermatology (2001).
DAS B. UV radiation protective clothing. The Open Textile Journal (2010).
HUANG Y. & al. Construction of anti-ultraviolet “shielding clothes” on poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole) fibers: metal organic framework-mediated absorption strategy. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2018).
BUTOLA B. S. & al. UV protective clothing. Advanced Functional Textiles and Polymers (2019).
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