☀️ UV Index Calculator
Enter a UV index value to see its WHO category and action band, then follow the official WHO and EPA guidance for that level.
☀️ Which UV Category?
What is a UV Index Calculator?
It takes a UV index value, the figure your weather service reports, and places it in its WHO category and in the matching band of the WHO action table (0 to 2, 3 to 7, 8 and above). A value above a category's top is always placed in the next category up.
It gives no time to burn and no sunscreen pick. For protective actions, use the WHO UV index guidance and the EPA UV Index scale; for the day's value, your national weather service's UV forecast (in the US, the NOAA UV Index forecast). General awareness information, not medical advice.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UV index?
The UV index is an international scale developed by WHO with the UN Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization and ICNIRP. WHO: “The values of the index range from zero upward - the higher the UVI, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eye, and the less time it takes for harm to occur.” The usual categories are 0 to 2 Low, 3 to 5 Moderate, 6 to 7 High, 8 to 10 Very High and 11 or above Extreme.
Why does this tool not give a time to burn or an SPF?
Because no official source publishes one figure that fits everyone: real exposure depends on skin type, altitude, reflection off water, sand or snow, and the time of day. The tool places your value in its category, rounding any in-between value up to the next category, and points you to the protective actions WHO and the EPA publish for that level.
Where do I find today's UV index?
Many national weather services publish a daily UV forecast. In the US, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center posts a UV Index forecast, updated daily. WHO notes the reported value is the day's maximum, which occurs during the four-hour period around solar noon.