Places / Phuket
UV index at Phuket, Thailand
Check another placeLoading today’s UV…
- Low 0 to 2
- Moderate 3 to 5
- High 6 to 7
- Very high 8 to 10
- Extreme 11+
Hour-by-hour numbers
| Time | UV index | Level |
|---|
The next few days
Each day’s UV curve and peak, drawn on the same scale so you can compare. The forecast reaches roughly four days ahead.
What to do today
About Phuket
Phuket sits at about 8° north, close enough to the equator that the sun passes almost directly overhead for stretches of the year. Patong, Kata and Karon beaches see near-constant high UV whenever skies are clear, whatever the season.
Sand, water and your real UV
The forecast above measures UV from the sky. Add reflection from pale sand (roughly 15% to 20%) and from the sea, and time spent on a longtail boat, snorkeling trip or beach lounger adds up to more dose than the sky number alone implies. Overcast days here can still carry meaningful UV, since cloud only partly blocks it.
When UV is strongest here
Phuket doesn’t really have a low-UV season. The dry season (roughly November to April) brings the clearest skies and the highest readings; the monsoon season (May to October) adds cloud and rain but UV can still spike to high or very high between showers.
On the beach and island tours
Island-hopping boat trips to Phi Phi or Similan keep you on open water for hours with little shade. Snorkeling exposes the back of the neck and backs of the legs, spots that are easy to under-cover with sunscreen.
Sun protection tips for Phuket
- Wear a UPF rash guard on boat trips, where shade is limited and open water adds reflected UV.
- Reapply water-resistant SPF 30+ every two hours, more after swimming.
- Overcast doesn’t mean safe — treat a hazy sky the same as a clear one during the mid-day hours.
- Use reef-safe, mineral sunscreen where marine parks require it, such as around the Similan and Phi Phi islands.
Similar places
Related guides
- What Is the UV Index? A Plain-English Guide to the Scale
- What to Wear Hiking for Sun Protection: A Practical Guide
UV forecasts are model estimates for the area and can differ from what you experience on the ground. This is general information about sun safety and isn’t medical advice. Last updated September 22, 2026.