Quick Answer
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It tells you how much UV radiation a fabric allows to reach your skin. A fabric rated UPF 50 allows about 1/50th of UV radiation through — blocking around 98% of UV. Cancer Council Australia recommends UPF 50 and UPF 50+ as excellent protection. For serious outdoor use, look for UPF 30 to UPF 50+, with UPF 50+ preferred for long-duration, high-UV, water, altitude, or Australian conditions.
What UPF Actually Measures
UPF measures how much ultraviolet radiation passes through fabric. The higher the rating, the less UV reaches your skin. This is different from SPF, which is used for sunscreen. SPF mainly refers to protection from UVB-related sunburn. UPF applies to fabrics and measures protection against both UVA and UVB radiation — a broader job than SPF does.
| UPF Rating | Protection Level | Approx. UV Passing Through |
|---|---|---|
| UPF 15 | Minimum | About 1/15th |
| UPF 30 | Good | About 1/30th |
| UPF 50 | Excellent | About 1/50th |
| UPF 50+ | Excellent | Less than or around 1/50th |
According to Cancer Council Australia, UPF 50 and UPF 50+ are recommended as excellent protection for outdoor use.
The One Thing UPF Clothing Does That Sunscreen Can't
UPF clothing has one major advantage over sunscreen: it doesn't need to be reapplied. That makes it especially valuable for long outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, golf, fishing, boating, running, skiing, gardening, and outdoor work.
A long-sleeve UPF shirt can protect your arms and torso for hours without a second thought. Sun gloves protect the backs of your hands. A wide-brim hat reduces exposure to the face, ears, and neck. The CDC recommends long-sleeved shirts and long pants where practical, and notes that a wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one — a detail that matters a lot for anyone sweating, swimming, or caught in rain.
UPF Clothing by Activity
Hiking: UPF sun hoodie or long-sleeve shirt, lightweight trousers or sun pants, brimmed hat or cap with neck flap, sunglasses, SPF lip balm, sunscreen for exposed skin.
Cycling: UPF cycling sleeves, lightweight long-sleeve jerseys, sun gloves, neck gaiter or collar, UV-protective sunglasses. Pay attention to helmet vents, which can leave the scalp exposed.
Golf: UPF polo or long-sleeve golf shirt, sun sleeves, wide-brim golf hat, sunglasses, sun gloves, sunscreen for face, ears, neck, legs, and hands.
Fishing and Boating: UPF hooded fishing shirt, neck gaiter, sun gloves, wide-brim or cape-style hat, UV400 polarized sunglasses, lightweight trousers, water-resistant sunscreen for exposed areas.
Running: Lightweight UPF shirt, running cap or visor plus sunscreen on ears and neck, sunglasses, SPF lip balm, sunscreen for exposed skin.
Six Things That Affect Fabric UV Protection
1. Tighter weave — tightly woven fabrics usually block more UV.
2. Darker or more intense colours — darker colours may offer more protection, though colour alone isn't enough to judge a garment.
3. Thicker fabric — generally blocks more UV, but may also feel hotter.
4. Less stretch — when fabric stretches, gaps can open between fibres, allowing more UV through.
5. Dry fabric — wet fabric may allow more UV through, especially if not designed for wet conditions.
6. Good coverage — a UPF 50+ tank top protects less total skin than a UPF 30 long-sleeve shirt. Rating matters, but coverage matters just as much.
Hats, Gloves, and the Areas People Forget
A baseball cap protects the top of the face but leaves the ears, neck, and side of the face exposed — some of the most commonly sun-damaged areas on the body. Better options include broad-brim hats, bucket hats with a deep brim, legionnaire hats, and technical sun hats with chin cords.
Hands and forearms receive a huge amount of cumulative UV exposure — often more than people realise, because they're constantly out in front of you, gripping handlebars, poles, reels, or tools. Sun gloves and sleeves are useful for cyclists, golfers, anglers, drivers, hikers, paddlers, and gardeners.
Key Takeaway
UPF clothing is one of the easiest ways to make sun protection more reliable. Sunscreen is still important for exposed skin. But UPF shirts, hats, sleeves, gloves, trousers, and neck gaiters protect covered areas without reapplication — essentially removing entire body parts from the sunscreen equation. For serious outdoor use, look for UPF 30 to UPF 50+, prioritise coverage and comfort, and match the product to your activity.
Sources
- ARPANSA — Australian sun protective clothing
- Cancer Council Australia — Sun protective clothing
- Skin Cancer Foundation — Sun-protective clothing
- CDC — Sun safety facts and protective clothing
Last reviewed: June 2026. All sources are peer-reviewed or published by recognised public health authorities.