A tanning unit for legs comprising a housing with at least one outer surface and at least one tanning lamp wherein the at least one lamp is arranged within the housing and disposed such that, during operation, tanning radiation is emitted through the at least one outer surface. The housing is shaped to enable a user to straddle the tanning unit such that the inside surface of each leg of the user is adjacent the at least one outer surface. The invention also includes a method of using the tanning unit.