what is upf

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, which is a rating system used to measure how much UV radiation a fabric allows to reach your skin. The UPF rating indicates how much of the suns UV radiation is absorbed by the fabric. For example, a fabric with a UPF rating of 50 only allows 1/50th of the suns UV radiation to pass through it, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly. A fabric must have a UPF of 30 to qualify for The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, and a UPF of 30 to 49 offers very good protection, while UPF 50+ rates as excellent. UPF measures both UVB and UVA rays, while SPF measures only UVB. The UPF rating of fabrics is generally tested by spectrophotometer equipment and is not tested using human subjects.